Mayor Whitmore Stop The B.S. HPD Cadets Can Buy Their Own Guns

Written by Michael Thervil

Enough is enough already. Houston Mayor John Whitmire made the statement [paraphrasing] that Houston Police Cadets can’t afford to purchase their own firearms and thus it is a barrier to them obtaining employment as a Houston Police Officer. We at VEDA Magazine are going to call bullshit on that. In a country that is renowned as the largest arms manufacturer in the world, just about one can easily obtain a quality firearm at a reasonable price. What qualifies us to make this argument is that not only because we are United States Military Veterans here at VEDA Magazine, but we have a firearm educator, a high-risk security contractor, Houston based security officers and Personal Protection Officers, and someone with experience in firearm sales.

Today we are going to demonstrate that Houston Police Cadets can in fact purchase a quality brand new firearm at a reasonable price. Of course, as always, one can go to their nearest pawn shop as there are many in the City of Houston and purchase a firearm. Popular firearms such as GLOCK, Sig Sauer, and Smith & Wesson are just a few that both police officers, security personnel and the average citizen tend to purchase. But for those that have fed Mayor John Whitmire the lie that one of the reasons why Houston Police Department recruitment levels are so low is because potential HPD cadets can’t afford a firearm is nothing but bullshit.

Coming in at number one is the Ruger Security 9mm with a 15-round capacity. It's only $300.00 brand new at a local Academy Sports in Houston Texas.

Another quality pistol that comes with a lifetime guarantee is the Taurus G3 which comes in at $300.00 and has a magazine capacity of 17 rounds. This pistol can also be found brand new at a local Houston Academy Sports.

Then there’s the Canik pistol which again cost $300.00 from Houston's Academy Sports and comes with a whooping an 18-round magazine capacity, full kit, and holds an ISO rating of 9000 (quality control). GLOCK, which is the most used firearm by law enforcement on an international scale, doesn't even have that. 

There are more reputable firearms and firearm manufactures like Stoeger and the Smith & Wesson SDVE 9 that are not mentioned here, that are taking advantage of the Budget friendly firearm sector of the industry.

Now we know what you’re thinking. These budget pistols are nothing that I want to trust my life with. This kind of thinking is illogical because we have owned all three of these “Budget Pistols” and have shot more rounds through them than what they will fire at the Houston Police Academy. Also, it should be known that the potential cadets don’t have to stick with any one of these firearms once they graduate from the academy. In fact, the Houston Police Academy Cadets get paid bi-weekly during their cadet training to nothing less than a $1,000.00 bi-weekly so there is no excuse.

Now if HPD places firearm restrictions on their cadets, that’s something different. And if that’s the case, both HPD’s and Mayor John Whitmire’s argument of not being able to recruit new police cadets is their own fault, not an economic one.