As long as government stays within specified guidelines, I have absolutely no problem with government doing their job.  We have had multiple court decisions making those facts quite clear; there are fundamental rights people have which may not be restricted through a vote of the people nor other government action.  Thus, the people's right to Freedom of Association, yes, the First Amendment, could not be restricted through Amendment 2 in Colorado, nor Prop. 8 in California.  The right to self-defense, and the means of self-defense, was confirmed in the Heller vs. DC decision, meaning a cop was no less a citizen when off-duty as when on-duty (instant case), nor is any citizen less valuable simply by not being employed by a government agency.  Legitimate government is absolutely acceptable, but loses that acceptability when it crosses into authoritarianism and totalitarianism.  We witnessed this many, many times in the 20th century as well as in Venezuela and other totalitarian regimes.