Charity and giving come in many shapes and sizes, especially during the holidays. Parents all over the world wrestle with the same conundrum Ralphie’s did in A Christmas Story over the coveted Red Rider BB Gun, but David Spade was happy to put fifty AR-15 rifles under the Phoenix Police Department’s Christmas tree.
Spade said he wanted to make the donation after seeing a TV news report about Phoenix officers having to buy their own rifles. Spade grew up in the Phoenix area and graduated from Arizona State University.
Phoenix Police Sgt. Alan Hill says the rifles will be given to patrol officers and that the agency was grateful for the gifts.
“These guys need to be able to do their jobs and I am just happy I could help,” Spade said in a statement released by his publicist
[From AP via Breitbart]
I live in the country, so my knowledge about how badly city cops need high powered rifles is limited to Law & Order. But if the guns are something they need in the line of duty, it’s more than a little disturbing that the officers were having to buy them themselves. While most people are thinking about blankets for the homeless, toys for tots, and other more “holiday” sounding charities, I guess the occasional multiple high powered weapons donation is important sometimes, too.
The great part about this, though, is that Spade hasn’t gone so Hollywood that he doesn’t know what’s going on in his hometown. It’s good to hear someone giving back, even if it isn’t warm and cuddly gifts. He obviously still pays attention to what’s going on “back home” and cares enough to do more than read about it.
It feels weird to feel this way about lethal weapons, but I do feel warm and fuzzy about this Christmas gift.
David Spade is shown at the premiere of Bedtime Stories on 12/18/08. Credit: PRPhotos
What the hell are Phoenix cops having to buy their own guns for? That’s disgraceful, especially in such a law and order type state as Arizona. It’s not like Phoenix is poor, is it?
I agree, good for David Spade. Merry Christmas Phoenix cops!
Agreed…good for him for stepping up. And what the hell are they doing with their budgets in that community? Time to vote some people out!!!
David Spade is one of those low profile donators… he does a lot for animals, which I highly respect – this is just icing on the cake. Serial dating aside, he seems like a good guy.
“But if the guns are something they need in the line of duty, it’s more than a little disturbing that the officers were having to buy them themselves.” Agree 100% Ceilidh.
Thanks for this write up, I saw this on TV and was impressed with such a generous gift.
Well done David!
ugh i hate HIM so much. whatever he does is so sleazy!
What a wonderful gift you gave. Mr. Spade, you are a class act.
Hell, I’m a Quaker, and it makes me warmfuzzy too.
I have to agree that I’m not sure why officers need high-powered rifles as opposed to just regular service weapons, but if they were something the police department did need and was making the officers pay for, then the donation really was very kind and generous. David Spade seems to do a lot of that sort of thing, which is why I can never bring myself to dislike him.
I actually really like David Spade. He always keeps his community in mind. This isn’t the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. He’s donated to the Phoenix humane society, his old high school, to the family of a cop killed during duty, and now this. And he never makes a stink about it either. He just does it because he wants to.
It’s a real damn shame that we can’t even provide our law enforcement with the tools necessary to uphold peace.
But are you all that shocked when some places can’t even provide schools with computers and books?
Good for Dave. 🙂
Good for him. Phoenix is a crime nightmare! Please write up something on his baby if possible. Sooo curious here.
It’s not uncommon for police officers to be asked to buy their own weapons because most police departments work on an amazingly shoestring budget.
As the daughter of a cop, I’m doubly warm and fuzzy to hear that Spade bought weapons for the officers. I would have loved to see someone do the same in my hometown.
ditto…. We need to give back to all sorts of people – yay for the cops….
Police need high powered rifles becuase the criminals have them. High powered rifles are more accurant at a distance than a Gloc. Many police offiers in this country have to buy their own guns and gun belts for a total cost of around $1500.
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