Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo stressed Tuesday that law enforcement agencies across the country do not support Texas gun legislation that would allow adults to carry a pistol without a background check, license and training.
“From bosses to sheriffs to police officers, we do not support unlicensed, open carry measures,” said Acevedo, the former Houston police chief.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that he will sign the bill. Proponents of the law call it “constitutional carry”, arguing that requiring a permit or license hinders their constitutional right to carry arms.
“We don’t support it. It is not needed … so he will support it too [police] in word and deed or just in word, “said Acevedo.
Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
In an interview with CNBC’s The News with Shepard Smith, Acevedo added that “the most responsible gun owners” also do not support unlicensed, open broadcasts.
Host Shepard Smith also asked Acevedo about falling police recruits and the mass exodus of officials leaving the force. Nearly a quarter of Minneapolis officials have resigned or taken vacations since George Floyd’s death. This comes from a report from the Minneapolis-based outlet The Center Square. Seattle police officers say they are losing officers at a “record pace”, with at least 249 officers leaving last year.
Acevedo told Smith that policing was “in flux” right now, but the departments should use this as an opportunity to move the profession forward.
“It’s a difficult time being a cop in our nation, but I think it’s also a time when there is a big chance what happened to George Floyd last year,” said Acevedo. “There are good opportunities to be the next generation, the change agents that our community wants,” said Acevedo.
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