Order for Police Officers to leave firearms home reduces ability to protect the Pope

PBA President Lynch said: 

“The message ordering New York City Police Officers to leave their weapons at home if they are off-duty and attending a Papal event is dangerous.  Our officers are fully trained professionals who are on-duty around the clock and would represent additional response resources in the event of an emergency.  Limiting their ability to intervene is foolish and flies in the face of common sense and public safety. It reduces the city’s ability to protect his Holiness, it doesn’t enhance it.” See /media/1883/pr150923-pope.pdf.