[Old Soldier]

DEFENDING FIREARMS RETAILERS . . . NSSF is speaking out on behalf of a firearms retailer, who also happens to be a Baltimore County policeman, in response to a new department rule (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.guns07jul07,1,6827257.story?ctrack=1&cset=true) that bars officers from outside work involving sale of firearms. A department spokesman said, "We don’t want our police officers doing things that could besmirch the reputation of our organization." In a letter to the department, NSSF’s Lawrence G. Keane wrote, "The notion that employment . . . in a federally licensed retail firearm store could besmirch the reputation of anyone, including the Baltimore County Police Department, is highly insulting and damages the reputation of the honest, law-abiding men and women who are employed in our industry." The rule was made after a legally sold gun was used by a criminal. The local police union is suing to challenge the rule.