Florida open carrier stopped by police (vid)

Let me guess... gr is a cc'er not an oc'er!

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Originally Posted by PilotAlso

If, Glockrocker is who he says he is, God help usl.

Laws must mean something. Society cannot allow those charged with enforcing the laws to knowingly break them. A LEO having a bad feeling about open carry must maintain a LEGAL course of action when confronted with an OC'r. He/She cannot disregard laws and legal precedent simply because they don't like/trust open carry.

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Lets not forget that Florida does NOT have open carry. The legislators "gave us" the hunting, fishing, and camping clause.
Florida LE are not accustomed to seeing open carry, especially in town. Being that the "tool" in this video did not have his fishing equiptment with him, (it was already on the pier) The officer had every right to question him.

Speaking of "tools" let us not forget...Florida would have had open carry in last years legislative session, had Pinellas county Sheriff Jim Coates not told the legislators his dept. would "draw down" on anyone carring a weapon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqrLRePn8Js

No problem with questioning him. It is perfectly legal to do so.

In fact, I'd expect it and would myself. If the guy cooperated, Great, easy encounter. When it became apparent it was going to be a test, it was time to confirm intent to fish/hunt, then evaluate the situation for what it was.

Let's see, decent looking vehicle, pulls up right in front of my squad, gets out with holstered weapon in plain view, locks car, happens to have video camera running, near fishing pier, in the middle of the day, doesn't appear to be impaired.

Thank you for showing your fishing gear sir, have a nice day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PilotAlso

If, Glockrocker is who he says he is, God help usl.

Laws must mean something. Society cannot allow those charged with enforcing the laws to knowingly break them. A LEO having a bad feeling about open carry must maintain a LEGAL course of action when confronted with an OC'r. He/She cannot disregard laws and legal precedent simply because they don't like/trust open carry.

Yes the guy in the video is an ass but he did NOTHING illegal. He cooperated beyond the legal minimum. The LEO appears to have run an illegal detainment.

When will LEO's wake up and figure out they are giving these guys just what they want, PUBLICITY.

Think about it, how much of a threat is an OC'r obviously pulling up in front of your squad in the middle of the day and not trying to hide the fact that he is carrying?

Is the LEO response more EGO than an attempt to "serve and protect"?

I'm way more afraid of Glockrocker's attitude than the OC goof's.

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I disagree entirely on all points.

Wow, there really is a significant differnece of opinion here.
the 4th and 5th amendments (and the 14th) are pretty important. I don't think itis a good idea for people, especially those whose job is to serve, protect, enforce the laws, and maintain peace to ignore those amendments - ever.

OTOH, I think that a polite request for someone to identify themselves - assuming there is NOT probable cause to interdict, arrest or restrain - is not at all unreasonable. By the same token there is no requirement that an American citizen need comply with such a request.

Still, it makes sense to cooperate with a REASONABLE request which does not require an unreasonable effort.
LEO's have a difficult, dangerous, stressful very complex job that calls on them to make split second decisions. We are all aware of that. I have seen ohter YOUTUBE videos in which officers have approached OC'ers in a reasonable fashion and have had no problem. I don't think the OC'ers should have a problem with it either - most of the time. I also think we should have Neimoller's thoughts engraved on the slides of our weapons...

open carry your gun or conceal carry your gun how to handle a police traffic stop by masaad ayoob - YouTube
Oceanside open carry - YouTube