Ohiothoritarians arrest Free Stater

Dada Orwell

[BlueLu]

If the cops had any reason other than seeing weapons in his car or on his person to suspect him of being a criminal, then your argument, that he was a legitimate criminal suspect, would be valid. As it is, his exercise of this Constitutional right is being used as defacto evidence of criminal activity.

This would not happen if gun owners around the country took the advice of Texas Land Commissioner, Jerry Patterson, and exercised their right to carry arms in situations where they are not usually carried. His example was checking them as baggage on airplanes, but it applies just as well carrying them while driving through states with restrictive carry statutes.

[basil]

I do that--but I don't go speeding through these states--I follow all the road laws to the letter!

[templar]

That only sounds like a lot if you've never gone shooting before.

I kinda thought the same. I generally keep more than that stashed behind the seat in case I get off early and want to take off for the range without going home first.

[spodefly]

Once on a drive from Atlanta down to Andersonville, where I hunt and where we have a range where I was heading to prep for deer season and generally do some shooting, I had a 9mm Beretta on the seat next to me (loaded, with a couple of extra mags), a Steyr 7mm RemMag, a Winchester 94 .44Mag, and the trusty Colt "Colteer" .22, plus around 1500 rounds of ammo for the various guns in OD ammo cans. All the long guns were laying on the floor and seat in the back of the Jeep. There were a couple of knives here and there, and a can of pepper spray attached to the visor as well.

Drove into a license check manned by 4 State Troopers. As the Trooper walked over to the jeep, I placed both hands on the edge of the door and mentioned to him that I had weapons in the vehicle.

His response: "That's fine, we're not checking for weapons, just drivers license and proof of insurance." As he reviewed the DL and insurance card, he did look around the interior of the vehicle and saw all the guns. "Where are you headed?" I told him. "Alright, have fun. Be careful."

A similar thing had happened years before when I had a .45 auto on the passenger seat and pulled into a license check. That Trooper asked me if I was "plannin' on shooting somebody". I said, "Not unless I have to." He smiled.

I love Georgia. I'll never live anywhere else.

[Badray]

"This would not happen if gun owners around the country took the advice of Texas Land Commissioner, Jerry Patterson, and exercised their right to carry arms in situations where they are not usually carried. His example was checking them as baggage on airplanes, but it applies just as well carrying them while driving through states with restrictive carry statutes."

Sounds like you were at the GRPC in Houston this past September. Jerry makes a lot of sense, doesn't he?

[Badray]

"I do that--but I don't go speeding through these states--I follow all the road laws to the letter!"

basil, are you goin' yella on me? It ain't no fun if'n you ain't speeding. ;-)

[Badray]

You just made me want to move to Georgia.

I wish the cops up here (PA) had the same attitude. We have one of the most unrestricted concealed carry laws, but I've just heard two stories recently that guns were confiscated during routine traffic stops recently from men with their CCL with them. In one case, the cop ripped up the licence and threw it in the face of the driver and said "Well, they just issue too many of these", and he refused to give the man a receipt for the handgun that he confiscated. He said that they had to check the ballistics to see if it was involved in any crimes. What a crock! They tend to use the CCL as proof that you are up to no good -- the exact opposite of what reality is.

The State Police have been maintaining a database of gunowners for a long time in violation of both State and Federal laws. They have been sued and we're waiting for a ruling by the State Supreme Court on it now. We've been waiting for almost a year.

[BlueLu]

I saw Patterson at the RLC-Texas meeting in Addison, at the beginning of August.

[AppyPappy]

In one case, the cop ripped up the licence and threw it in the face of the driver and said "Well, they just issue too many of these",

Don't believe everything you hear.

[BlueLu]

I do that--but I don't go speeding through these states--I follow all the road laws to the letter!

You have a very good point, basil. It was pretty imprundent of him, but I still need to see better evidence of his being more than caught speeding to quell my outrage.

[ActionNewsBill]

bookmark

[LexBaird]

Any one who considers 2 handguns, 1 rifle,7 knives, 2 swords, and some teargas an arsenal, doesn't get out much.

Heck, I've got five swords in the back of my car right now.

[basil]

I've slowed down a bit, Badray---getting old, I guess--LOL

[spodefly]

I've just heard two stories recently that guns were confiscated during routine traffic stops recently from men with their CCL with them. In one case, the cop ripped up the licence and threw it in the face of the driver and said "Well, they just issue too many of these", and he refused to give the man a receipt for the handgun that he confiscated. He said that they had to check the ballistics to see if it was involved in any crimes. What a crock! They tend to use the CCL as proof that you are up to no good -- the exact opposite of what reality is.

I think war would break out if that sort of crap started happening down here. You may want to investigate the veracity of those stories, because that is WAY over the line.

I almosty always carry a pistol when I am on the road. It stays in plain view on the passenger seat next to me. That is the law in most states in the South -- either have a CCW permit, or keep it in plain view. Over the past 25 years, including at least once after 9/11, I have been pulled over or driven into license checks at least 7 or 8 times. Every single time, including times with Atlanta PD, Georgia and North Carolina State Troopers, Henry County Sherrifs, et al., the responses from the officers have been similar. I always say to them before they get to the vehicle, "Officer, I have a firearm in the vehicle." And every time, it has been a non-issue. In fact, more often than not, we end up talking about firearms, what they carry, what I carry, ammunition types, etc. I have never even received a ticket from officers during these encounters, although twice for speeding, I did get written warnings. Friendly and professional, every time.

[Badray]

"Don't believe everything you hear."

I don't. But when I get it from reliable sources, I do have a tendency to put some credence to it.

There are several police departments here in Allegheny County that a corrupt and abusive of it's citizens. Confiscating guns that end up in the personal collections of police officers happens a lot. There has been more than a few cases that have gone to trial, but the worst that happens is the cop gets a slap on the wrist or fired. No jail time though, for oppression under the color of law or theft by deception or any of the other truly applicable charges.

[Badray]

"I saw Patterson at the RLC-Texas meeting in Addison, at the beginning of August."

We could certainly use more like him.

[Badray]

Not older. Just less in a rush.

It's been 8 & 1/2 years now since my last speeding ticket. I used to get at least one a year and I talked my way out of getting ticketed the other times that I got pulled over. I used to get pulled over a LOT (60 or 70 times).

I am just not in a hurry anymore on the road.

[Badray]

It's not all the cops in all of the different departments here. It's just a few that are over the top. In this county, there are about 134 municipalities and except for a few, they all have their own police. The City of Pittsburgh, the Penn Hills and the Wilkinsburg Police Departments are among the worst. They tend to view the gun as 'bad' and not to trust the individual.

The cops know before they get to the car if you are a gun owner because of the illegal gunowner database that the State Police operate. But that only tells you who owns the guns legally. If they assume that those not on the list don't have a gun, they are going to get killed one day. It's stupid to believe that the bad guys are on that list.