imported post
I was born and raised in Hammond. My Dad is a retired Hammond cop. I share his name. It wouldbe interesting if I got the same treatment while OCing in the WalMart there. I'm not easily intimidated by the local PD or SO. I grew up around lots of these types and know how full of feces they can be in cases like this.
Regarding the OP, he mentioned that upon entering he walked over to 'identify' himself to the Rent-A-Cop* at the door. I feel that if I'm not doing anything illegal I have no reason to say anything to anyone of authority. I'm there to shop/spend money like everyone else. Walking up to shoot the breeze or 'check in' with the Rent-A-Cop smacks a bit of wannabe. Like the guys who listen to scanners and follow fire trucks to calls. Looking at it from another way, the cop carrys a gun and so do I. That doesn't mean that we have anything in common. They have their reasons for being armed and so do I. Until I do something illegal I have nothing to say to them and they have no reason to say anything to me.
As soon as she said that the Lt wsa enroute I'd have asked if I was free to go and do the shopping I came there for. If not I'd have asked if I was being detained. I'm not going to discuss the law with her. She should already know that Louisiana doesn't require gun permits for anything except concealing a pistol.
The OP did right by asking for legal help but arguing the case on the sidewalk while freezingmy butt off is not the way I'd spend 3 hours of my night. The cops clearly tried to intimidate the OP and made false statements. For instance,
He says "son I know the law"
He says it doesn't matter and that he knows I was carrying my firearm legally but the law doesn't matter since he is going to take me to jail for something else.
Sounds alot like what Mark was told by Gonzales PD after his illegal arrest.
Even better is when they start making stuff up on the spot. Such as...
he states that in 1994 LA put a law into affect that requires all firearms to be registered to their owner.
He knew this was BS when he said it. They want you to be intimidated by their authority and to start second guessing yourself and your rights.
He's also full of feces when he told you-
there are federal laws that say you can't walk into a bank with a firearm,
There is no such federal law. You can walk into any bank in this state and unless they have posted their front door with a No Guns sign you are good to go. I go to the Hancock Bank on Bluebonnet Ave in Baton Rouge every payday and Open Carry inside every time I go. The tellers and branch manager have all seen me and my pistol numerous times and have never been anything but friendly and professional. The manager tells me that he doesn't have a problem with my pistol as long as I'm a customer with them.
we have 5 agencies looking into the matter.
The more the merrier. That just means more agencies Mr Delgado can get to cut checks.
I hope this works out and the Nazis at HPD and TPSO learn that they can't harrass law abiding citizens.
I already have John Delgados phone number programmed in my cellphone. Maybe I should send LaCarry a contribution to his Law School fund and get his phone number for my cellphone list.
Could come in handy.
Happy Thanksgiving.
*=the term Rent-A-Cop refers to a uniformed LEO who is working what is often called an "Extra Duty Assignment" This is not an "off duty" job. The officer/deputy is in uniform, often with a marked city owned police unit parked nearby. The LEO is ON DUTY. The business has contracted with the City/Parish to have 'X' number of LEOs provide a police presence over and above the normal patrols the city normally does. The LEO is basically making overtime in addition to their regular 40 hour schedule. It's no different than if any of us went in to work on our day off. The WalMart is just their particular 'precinct' for that shift.
I work security and the use of the term Rent-A-Cop to refer to Security Guards is a particular peeve of mine. Guards have very limited authority and are in no way cops. On the other hand, the uniformed Hammond Police Officer standing at the door near a marked Hammond Police Department car is the definition of a Rent-A-Cop.
Sorry for the rant. I had to make it clear what I meant when I used anadmittedly derogatory term.
