Are Police Officers Really Required to Be “On Duty” and Armed at All Times?

In our agency, we were required to carry our badge and gun when off-duty unless we were drinking alcohol.

No. Let’s examine the nuance in the question. The emphasis on the word “required” is significant. While many laws permit officers to carry concealed weapons while off-duty, there is rarely a requirement to do so “at all times.”

Logistical Considerations

Imagine if officers were required to always carry a gun. How would their daily lives function? Would they be able to work out at the gym? Picture them placing a pistol in a locker and hoping it’s there later, or using a treadmill while the gun might come out of a shoulder holster. What about the actual dangers? Is it the trivial fitness center robbery that doesn’t happen, or the greater risks of accidental discharge or theft from a locker?

Private Life and Concealment

Would all officers need to give up alcohol because they cannot drink and carry a pistol safely? Is there really a requirement for them to carry a gun during religious services, weddings, or while going dancing? For millions of people in law enforcement, concealing a gun on their person should not be impossible, impractical, or dangerous.

In the United States, no law mandates carrying a weapon 24/7. Even if someone assumes there is such a requirement, it is likely only a permit that allows it, not a mandate. If anyone is aware of a law that tries to mandate gun carrying 24/7, please share a link.

Financial and Practical Feasibility

It’s important to note that no law enforcement agency in the U.S. requires officers to be on duty 24/7. No agency could afford to pay every single person for 24 hours a day, given that no services can be rendered while an officer is sleeping and living a normal life. Officers might be called in for emergencies, but this is entirely different from being on duty around the clock.

The Constitutional Aspect

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery a long time ago, and in the UK and other countries, laws against slavery were made illegal even earlier.

Therefore, the idea that police officers are required to be “on duty” and armed at all times is a misunderstanding. This rule does not exist as a legal mandate in most places, and for practical and safety reasons, it would be nearly impossible.