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Letters: Legal gun-toter vs. city police: The debate rages on

RE CAPT. Joseph DiLacqua's letter on Mark Fiorino openly carrying his gun: I am and always will be in full support of the police. I'm a retired officer myself. But regardless of Fiorino's intentions that day, the fact remains that he broke no laws, was properly permitted to carry a firearm and was wrongly treated.

RE CAPT. Joseph DiLacqua's letter on Mark Fiorino openly carrying his gun:

I am and always will be in full support of the police. I'm a retired officer myself. But regardless of Fiorino's intentions that day, the fact remains that he broke no laws, was properly permitted to carry a firearm and was wrongly treated.

That officers stopped him at gunpoint is fine, but what followed after it was known he was properly permitted is the problem. It's a shame Fiorino could quote a police directive and the officers on scene could not! The city will be sued every time someone's constitutional rights are violated, and rightfully so. Maybe it's time for some retraining in the Philadelphia PD.

S. Griffin, North Wales

As a retired police officer with 22 years on the Philadelphia force and 24 years as a school police officer, I don't know of any off-duty officers who'd walk the streets anywhere with their guns in plain view.

Mark Fiorino was, I believe, intentionally walking down Frankford Avenue with a Glock strapped on his side, along with a gun permit and an audio recorder in his shirt pocket - flaunting his knowledge of Police Directive 137 (which most active police are unaware of). This scenario was bound to create problems. It may be legal, but only an idiot looking to cause turmoil and possibly a lawsuit would do something like that.

Charles Veterano, Philadelphia

Your story on this topic is what's irresponsible.

To tell people the victim was irresponsible for exercising his legal rights is absurd. To report your blind accusations that the victim was looking to set up the police is absurd. The victim did nothing wrong, yet his life was threatened by someone supposed to be protecting citizens.

James T. Mardis, Enola, Pa.

nolead begins

Lord of the ring

Re: the continued political posturing over the credit due President Obama or President Bush for the locating and killing of Osama bin Laden: Obama is Pat Gillick; Bush is Ed Wade. Both had their hands in the building of the championship Phillies, but only Gillick gets to wear the World Series ring.

Jim Malazita, Philadelphia