LEAA: Not the True Voice of the Police

The Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA), was founded in 1991 with seed money from the National Rifle Association (NRA). Formerly named Law Enforcement for the Preservation of the Second Amendment, the LEAA claims to represent the views of police officers, yet their positions on issues have consistently been contrary to those of the major national and state law enforcement organizations in this country.

The LEAA Works Against Law Enforcement

The LEAA, along with the NRA, worked in opposition to the majority of national law enforcement organizations to oppose the passage of the Brady Law and the assault weapons ban. The LEAA belief is, "gun control is not crime control." The LEAA and the NRA even went so far as to lobby for the unsuccessful repeal of the assault weapons ban in 1995.

In contrast, the following law enforcement organizations do support responsible gun laws such as the 1993 Brady Law, and the 1994 assault weapons ban; and opposed the 1995 attempt by the gun lobby to repeal the assault weapons ban.

• Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association
• International Association of Chiefs of Police
• Major Cities Chiefs Association
• National Association of Police Organizations
• National Black Police Association
• National Fraternal Order of Police
• National Sheriff's Association
• Police Executive Research Forum.

The LEAA does not represent the majority opinion of law enforcement professionals. It does follow the same agenda as the NRA. Although, claiming to represent "victim's rights" and "pro-police" issues, LEAA's mainstay is fighting gun control measures.

Unlike the other state and national law enforcement organizations, LEAA membership is not limited exclusively to law enforcement professionals. Anyone can join the LEAA by simply paying the membership dues. In an undated letter, LEAA Executive Director Jim Fotis describes the LEAA as "An organization made up of pro-gun [his emphasis] law enforcement officers allied with citizens and crime victims to fight violent crime."  Furthermore, "The LEAA is the only organization where law enforcement and private citizens work shoulder-to-shoulder all across America in strong opposition to Clinton's gun control schemes. Our lobbying efforts on behalf of law-abiding gun owners have been widely recognized as among the most effective in Washington."

The LEAA Wants Assault Weapons on US Streets

Assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines were used in the deaths of over 30% of police officers killed in the line of duty from January 1, 1994 through September 30, 1995. Military-style assault weapons are used in a disproportionate number of violent, gun-related crimes, especially against police officers. Yet, the LEAA does not support the law designed to limit the availability of assault weapons. The LEAA even asked Congress to repeal the assault weapons ban, testifying, "Enacting laws that restrict the ownership or right to bear arms does not help the police."

Since the enactment of the assault weapons ban, the evidence suggests that the use of assault weapons in crime has decreased. Nationwide, there were 18% fewer assault weapons traced to crime in the first eight months of 1995 than there were during the same period in 1994.

The LEAA Opposed the Brady Bill

Despite overwhelming support from major law enforcement organizations and the American public, the LEAA opposed the passage of the Brady Bill, a law that requires a background check and a waiting period of five days before a person can take possession of a purchased handgun. In a description of their organization, the LEAA states, "[The] LEAA believes that any law requiring the registration of firearms or a waiting period for the purchase of firearms benefits the criminal, not the law-abiding citizen." Also, in a letter to US Representative Fortney Stark, Jim Fotis, the LEAA Executive Director, criticized Rep. Stark's support of the Brady Bill, calling the waiting period "a nuisance rather than a help to law enforcement."

Law enforcement has supported the Brady Law because it has proven effective. According to US Department of Justice statistics, the Brady Law has kept 242,000 prohibited purchasers from being able to legally buy a handgun. Also, the FBI Uniform Crime Report indicates that the percentage of violent crimes committed with firearms has decreased since the implementation of the Brady Law.

Carry Concealed Weapons (CCW) Laws: LEAA Position Puts Officers at Risk

The LEAA has also taken positions in opposition to law enforcement on the state level. The LEAA and the NRA have backed campaigns to weaken carry concealed weapons laws in states across the country, so more private citizens can carry concealed firearms. These carrying concealed weapons (CCW) laws allow anyone who is not a convicted felon to obtain a permit to carry a loaded, hidden handgun just about anywhere within the state. "The right to carry a concealed firearm is the private citizen's last line of defense against a criminal element," states the Spring 1996 issue of the LEAA Advocate, the LEAA's membership periodical.

In many states law enforcement has taken the lead in opposing the weakening of CCW laws. Law enforcement is concerned that weakening these laws will lead to more violence and will further endanger police officers. In expressing his concerns for the weakening of CCW laws, Neil Behan, Legislative Liaison for the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the former Chief of the Baltimore County, MD Police, said, "If guns were the answer to the threat of violent crime, we'd sell them at police headquarters."  And Chief Louis Graham, of the Marion County GA Police Department, echoed the sentiment by stating, "I'm afraid we're going to have police officers killed because everyone's going to have a gun."

LEAA's Link to the NRA

In 1986, most national law enforcement organizations broke ranks with the NRA when it opposed a bill that would have prohibited the manufacture of Teflon-coated bullets capable of penetrating police officers bullet-resistant vests. A few years later the NRA supplied funding to start the LEAA in order to get law enforcement support for the gun lobby agenda. Jim Baker, a spokesman for the NRA, admitted that the NRA provided assistance to form the LEAA by stating, "We've given them some seed money." The NRA supported the LEAA, according to Baker, "In order to show that there is a great body of law enforcement out there that doesn't support gun control."

• The NRA bankrolled the LEAA in early 1991, spending $100,000 to get it up and running. According to NRA's Law Enforcement Activities Division Deputy Director, Craig Sandler, when the NRA decided to close down it's law enforcement relations division in 1992, "some of those duties went to [the LEAA]."
• Besides receiving financial assistance from the gun group, founding LEAA Executive Director Leroy Pyle was a NRA board member, once given an award as the NRA "Man of the Year."
• The current LEAA Executive Director, Jim Fotis, is a former NRA employee. Prior to his November 1991 hire as Executive Director, Fotis was a liaison in the law enforcement relations division in NRA headquarters in Washington, DC.
• "Together, LEAA and the NRA can accomplish much…" stated Marion Hammer, the President of the NRA.