Former Seattle police chief calls for repeal of 2nd Amendment
ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. -- A former Seattle police chief is calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment, and the controversial idea is drawing both praise and scorn.
Norm Stamper lives away from the gritty streets of Seattle on what he calls his own slice of paradise on Orcas Island.
But the former police chief recently shattered his peace and quite when he went public with his opinion that the Second Amendment -- the right to own a gun -- should be done away with.
Stamper said he knew his proposal would cause a fire storm, but he went ahead with it anyway.
"Because I really believe in the need for us to examine the Second Amendment," he said. "I've come to the conclusion that that amendment is actually more harmful than good."
He said the amendment is out of date and "bears no resemblance to what's happening today."
Stamper, who was squeezed out of his job as police chief after the WTO riots, said owning a gun should be allowed as a right, but only with broad restrictions.
He said responsible people should be able to own certain guns, but they should be required to take classes, have certain qualifications and the guns should be tracked.
"I am not, in any way, suggesting that guns be confiscated, that guns be taken away from Americans," he said. "But I don't think people on city streets, in urban and rural areas of this country, need to be armed for war."
Stamper's controversial opinions aren't sitting well with many gun owners, and some have been less than constructive with their criticism.
"There are people who have made threats. And shame on them. Who do you think you are to threaten me?" he said.
Others, such as Alan Gottlieb's Second Amendment Foundation, have offered up a more thoughtful reaction.
"If put to a vote of the people, I'm sure he would lose," Gottlieb said.
Many people have called for tougher guns laws, but few can claim to have as deep a background in law enforcement as Stamper.
"In some circles, my views definitely carry more weight, because of how I spent 34 years of my adulthood," he said. "I was around guns. I carried one every day for 34 years. I've seen what bullets do to bodies."
It's those very sights and experiences that have helped shaped Stamper's current views on guns.
"I shot and killed a man. In 1972. I wish to God I had not been put in a position to have to use lethal force, but I did," he said.
Norm Stamper lives away from the gritty streets of Seattle on what he calls his own slice of paradise on Orcas Island.
But the former police chief recently shattered his peace and quite when he went public with his opinion that the Second Amendment -- the right to own a gun -- should be done away with.
Stamper said he knew his proposal would cause a fire storm, but he went ahead with it anyway.
"Because I really believe in the need for us to examine the Second Amendment," he said. "I've come to the conclusion that that amendment is actually more harmful than good."
He said the amendment is out of date and "bears no resemblance to what's happening today."
Stamper, who was squeezed out of his job as police chief after the WTO riots, said owning a gun should be allowed as a right, but only with broad restrictions.
He said responsible people should be able to own certain guns, but they should be required to take classes, have certain qualifications and the guns should be tracked.
"I am not, in any way, suggesting that guns be confiscated, that guns be taken away from Americans," he said. "But I don't think people on city streets, in urban and rural areas of this country, need to be armed for war."
Stamper's controversial opinions aren't sitting well with many gun owners, and some have been less than constructive with their criticism.
"There are people who have made threats. And shame on them. Who do you think you are to threaten me?" he said.
Others, such as Alan Gottlieb's Second Amendment Foundation, have offered up a more thoughtful reaction.
"If put to a vote of the people, I'm sure he would lose," Gottlieb said.
Many people have called for tougher guns laws, but few can claim to have as deep a background in law enforcement as Stamper.
"In some circles, my views definitely carry more weight, because of how I spent 34 years of my adulthood," he said. "I was around guns. I carried one every day for 34 years. I've seen what bullets do to bodies."
It's those very sights and experiences that have helped shaped Stamper's current views on guns.
"I shot and killed a man. In 1972. I wish to God I had not been put in a position to have to use lethal force, but I did," he said.
It's this "Protect from Tyranny" thing again. It's a garbage concept that means absolutely nothing at all (and in any event isn't anywhere in the Constitution).
Â
Tyranny is highly subjective and one person's tyranny is another 's utopia. The second amendment DOES NOT give the right for people to band together and oppose the lawful government. That's called treason, and that IS in the Constitution.
Â
I was therefore slightly amazed at our ex-chief of police, sagely nodding his head in agreement about tyranny. If this man is a deep thinker then I'm that green 305 foot tall woman who hasn't moved in years stuck in Upper Bay, New York ....
NOOORMMAN ,WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE,NOT GONA HAPPEN.
Nooooooooorm, no man is an island. So, you could only have a gun if you have enough money and political connections. People like you decide who has guns, I don't think so. If a person disagrees with you I doubt if you would all them to have a gun. Finally, Nooooorm, thanks to this article, everyone knows your name and face. Got any guns at home?
"There are people who have made threats. And shame on them. Who do you think you are to threaten me?" he said.
Â
Sir, who do you think you are to threaten us? The amendment is there for a reason. To protect us from people like you. If it was gone, then the crap you would spew would be "we need to limit what people say so someone is not offended. Freedom of speech causes hate and cannot be tolerated." Sir, I have seen what free speech causes to others and I still believe it needs to be upheld, just like the 2nd amendment.
How about we ban anti-depressants, instead?http://ssristories.com/index.php?sort=drug&p=school
Â
This guy is probably a paid thug agent to continue fomenting more fury around this issue showing how 'sound minded CODE ENFORCERS' (not) should be the only ones to shoot weapons, and as if his (and other CODE ENFORCERS) stupid opinion is somehow valid or worthy of consideration on such a ridiculous amendment is totally a psy-ops story.  He is bias, arrogant, stupid, and a control freak... actually he is probably an actor for the Obama media. How arrogant to cause millions to be thrust into harm by a tyrannical government because he was a cop once upon a time.
Â
Perhaps Stamper needs to read history ... how about him studying what happened when Mao took over, and the Russian Revolution. Maybe Stamper is on medications or watches too much TV to have a brain that can reason or do anything other than parrot what his handlers are telling him to say.Â
Â
The second amendment is not to be infringed on... that means, like it or lump it Stamper. He seems to have this arrogant police attitude that only those who are enforcing tyranny should hold a gun.Â
I bet he has plenty of weapons and won't get rid of them... what a jerk. Go get another vaccination, it will take you further away from reality and more embedded in your foolish 'deep thoughts' . This guy has no bearing on anything dealing with reality or facts.Â
Norm needs to get the word out there about his book. Humm.. think of something and call KOMO. They will run a story and shamelessly push his book......
That's all this story is about.
I think Stamper's right to free speech should be repealed.
 @gscott It will be, once the 2nd Amendment is gone.
Protect and Serve? If you go through police officer training and the schooling you KNOW that lethal force may come up in your job. No Law abiding citizen wants you to use lethal force but there are criminals in this state and country that do not care about abiding by the law. By this man saying I know what bullets do to bodies is like saying I know the human body needs water and food to survive. It is common sense. A bullet when shot at a person is ment to do bodily harm. Criminals in the city of Seattle and any other city know this they choice to be but in harms way by there actions and I am sorry that this police officer doesn't like guns and the harm they do. But I am pretty sure he signed up for the job and took pay from his job for 34 years. Seems hypocritical to me for him to talk
Gee, I wonder if Stamper has one of those "Gun Free Zone" signs posted on his property? Hey Stamper, you shouldn't be so bold with your moronic assertions. Did you flunk out in American History? I'm sure the Founding Fathers would be impressed with your vitriolic expressions about the 2nd Amendment!Â
LETS BANNED THE MENTALLY ILL!
It's obvious that whatever Norm Stamper, and similar mushrooms see on TV, they actually beLIEve what they see. Sandy Hook was a "drill" and a hoax. Do some investigating. It's all out there. But Abel Danger Global Intel seems to have the lead. www.abeldanger.net Wow.
Let's all STOMP on STAMPER. This useful idiot should be euthanized, as it's obvious his Alzeimer's is uncurable.
 @Skycaptain Violent much?
Criminals prefer unarmed victimsÂ
Dictators prefer unarmed citizens
*****************************************
To conquer a Nation, first you disarm its citizens.............Adolf Hitler
Â
Â
 @tshirt Actually, Hitler never said this. What he did was loosen gun control laws to Aryans (non-natives) specifically.
Norm must be a scared old man.
Hard to believe this clown was ever associated with a police department.
Â
Any attempts at repeal would simply be the start of the second civil war. Perhaps he wants it, but I would rather not.
So the guy that turned out to be completely impotent in dealing with the WTO riots thinks we should repeal the 2nd amendment. Yawn. Why would he get this exposure? I heard a guy that said there were aliens living among us, another that swears he saw a sasquatch, shouldn't they get equal exposure.
 @TheOne He just used this as a publicity stunt to push his book.
There, you fruit-bat flower-power naysayers. People are talking about banning guns. It's official. Now come and take them, Stamper. You gonna bring your guns to do it, I suppose, and then shoot me if i don't comply, aren't you?You hypocrite.
anyone who sacrifices a little freedom for a little security deserves niether
He just proves that YES, we do need to protect our Constitutional rights. Where do these sick "Liberals" come from? Would be nice if we didnt have to worry about being robbed every day, or mugged, killed by meth fueled idiots, or a government hell-bent on driving our country into the ground, but we cant depend on that. The 2nd amendment is there to protect us and the country from tyranny from an opressive government. WAKE UP AMERICA>>>>>>>
 @BusyhandsÂ
"It's George Bush's Fault"'
Â
Barak Obama
Everyday since running for election
@Ventura66 @BusyhandsÂ
So not true--
Â
However, how many people have died because of George Bush's misdirection re: Iraq?
 @gscott Wars are profitable and a racket. It is the American War Economy that is doing the killing.... big bucks, and lots of blood, and for what? You know the leaders in many countries use children as target practice? And BTW the weapon of mass destruction was the refusal of the dollar in the oil trading business....... Refusing the dollar is a weapon of mass destruction to the psychopathic elite.Â
@flashlight The war time death rate is lower than during peace time. Non deployed soldiers die at a higher rate than those deployed.
T]he mainstream press is constantly bombarding us with the number of military casualties, and it is clear that the reports are meant to incite anger about the Iraqi war. How refreshing it would be if partisan politics could be set aside and reporters put news in the proper perspective without bias.
The total military dead in the Iraq war between 2003 and this month stands at about 3,133. This is tragic, as are all deaths due to war, and we are facing a cowardly enemy unlike any other in our past that hides behind innocent citizens. Each death is blazoned in the headlines of newspapers and Internet sites. What is never compared is the number of military deaths during the Clinton administration: 1,245 in 1993; 1,109 in 1994; 1,055 in 1995; 1,008 in 1996. Thatâs 4,417 deaths in peacetime but, of course, whoâs counting?
Less than were killed by Saddam's use of WMD. Or are you a WBD naysayer?
 @Ventura66  @Busyhands Doesn't matter Bush or Obama its the current political atmosphere... it lacks oxygen!
Â
 @R.a. Hensel  @Ventura66  @Busyhands i am a republican but you are correct. the best times in this country have been when the politicians have compromised for both parties and met in the middle.Right now both sides will not compromise. I believe it is 60 percent the left's fault and 40 percent the rights but either way both sides should do what the will of the people want
There's a pretty credible argument that the Second Amendment was originally a concession to the Southern slavers--the "militia" in the Southern states meant slave patrols, and this was more obvious in the wording of the amendment's original text. This would mean that by all rights the Second Amendment should have been nullified when the Thirteenth was passed. Certainly the Framers would not have intended the barbarianism that has resulted from pursuit of the misinterpretation which the gun fetishists would have the rest of us accept--or they had, shame on them!
 @Arthur Marriott whatever your smoking it must be wicked stuff.. the second amendment had nothing to do with slave owners.. it was so the citizens of the newly formed country could defend themselves and not be subjected to a tyrants rule again. sounds like you slept through American History
Â
 @Arthur Marriott That's a pretty harsh accusation you are making. Cite your sources, please. Or are you going to use the ambiguous "*some* people might say..." and leave the accusation hanging, without any actual, you know, evidence. Just claim that someone, somewhere might have evidence that might be, perhaps, arguable. If that's your plan, not gunna bite, troll.
 @RN1 He cannot site any creditable sources. That is how you know you have won an argument with a liberal. They suddenly call you (or any amendment) racist.
What a moronic idea.Â
Â
I wish I could get a nice little slice of land on Orcas Island to call my own. I'm guesssing Norm doesn't own any guns........hmmm..........
One of the worst ides Obama had was a universal gun background check. How are they going to do that with private sellers? They can't, there's no way to do it. I suppose they could try to close the gun show clause but then a lot of the people that sell at gun shows are private citizens and there's no way for them to run background checks even if they wanted to. I would encourage anyone that wants and needs a firearm to get it quick. The laws will now be so messed up it will end up like cannabis legalization where no one knows what the law is any more.
Wasn't he the one who left his gun in the squad car and it got stolen? Maybe I have my idiots mixed up.;)
 @MajorSkeptic It was Gil Kerlikowske's car, still an idiot though.
Crawl back under your rock, Norm. You ain't gonna stand a chance.
Not hard to see why he lost his job. This guy is a nit wit.
Call up the Militia, then watch the Gun fanatics hide or cry out loud! So, Mr. President, call on the militia since we are still in war zones.
 @Gary D Gary us "gun fanatics" as you put it are the militia.. or don't you know the difference between military and militia? Militia... armed and organized citizens
 @Gary D Call up the militia and see what happens, Gary. Go on, do it.
Â
You're sending somebody else's kids to do your work for you, aren't you? Why don't you come take them yourself?
 @Playanekes He cant. He sits behind a keyboard all day and lacks the intestinal fortitude to do anything that requires physical effort. Watch out though, if he gets real mad, he will turn on the caps lock feature.....
Uncle Norm should just stay retired
Why in the world would anyone seek his opinion, he is a joke in the law enforcement community. Without a doubt the one voted "most far out". I know first hand !!
@ boppa  EXACTLY!!! He is NOBODY!!! Who cares what he has to say.
Fortunately this man isn't in a position of authority. He's entitled to his opinion, but it is just that his opinion.