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A police organization is petitioning the NFL to allow off-duty officers to carry guns at stadiums during games.
National FOP president Chuck Canterbury sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, asking him to change a rule in place since 2013. The rule prevents off-duty and retired police officers from bringing their guns to any NFL facility.
The letter is in direct to response after terrorist bombs exploded outside a soccer stadium in Paris last month during their deadly attacks.
Steve Amos is the president of the local Fraternal Order of Police.
“What do all sports venues have 80,000 - 90,000 people compacted into one space. It's a very target-rich environment for terrorists,” Amos said.
A league spokesman released the following statement to Action News Jax:
"We have the highest respect for people in law enforcement and the full confidence in their ability to enforce the law and protect public safety. Our policy was reached after an extensive process, including consultation with a wide range of law enforcement personnel and security experts.
"We concluded that public safety inside NFL stadiums on game days would be best-served by the carrying of firearms by on-duty officers specifically assigned to work the game as part of the comprehensive public safety plan for the event. This approach has been certified by the Department of Homeland Security under the SAFETY Act (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies).
"Security on gameday includes on-duty uniformed armed law enforcement officers in addition to unarmed civilian security personnel. These officers are trained in facility specific response procedures and security protocols; they have specific game day assignments, responsibilities, and duties and they are subject to an established chain of command. They train together on a regular basis and they are well known to each other.
"Off-duty officers attend games as spectators and are unknown to working law enforcement officers and security personnel. They may not have the same training and do not participate in the weekly preparation meetings. They are not included in the on-site chain of command. The well-intentioned display or use of gun could have serious unintended and potentially tragic consequences."
“We need to have a real comprehensive sit down and discuss this. The safety of the public is paramount,” Amos said.
The league spokesman said the policy came after a long process involving law enforcement.
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