SouthernBoy
Regular Member
And that officer did something that the officer in the video did not. The lawnmower cop broke the law, going beyond the authority specifically given him by the law. The analogy falls apart on this critical point.
The law permitting officers to stop carriers is likely unconstitutional, but, until a court says so, I would recommend that all citizens and officers handle themselves in such a civil manner as demonstrated in this video. IMO, the laws in Alabama that bar carry at demonstrations and require permits to OC in a car are unconstitutional. Until they are ruled as such, I will follow them and will praise officers who enforce them in a professional and civil manner. You see, MO doesn't matter. The O of the courts does.
However, your analogy would be spot on for making the argument that the court should find the law permitting those stops in California to be unconstitutional.
I'm sure you know that my analogy had an air of humor mixed with a slight touch of cynicism in it. The unfortunate thing for those of us who carry is that we do encounter LEO's who overstep their lines of permitted authority and sadly, that can lead to problems for the carrier well beyond the inconvenience of the stop. I would like to see laws in place that punish departments and individuals for usurping the rights of those who carry when it is clear the carrier is abiding by the law. There is no room or place for an LEO's personal beliefs or feelings when it comes to such things.
Mowing a lawn, be it one's own lawn or that of a business or church, taking a walk, or legally carrying a firearm are not actions which offer grounds for police investigation. When we get to that point, we have a term for it: police state. Of course, there are some states in the country where this environment already exists. I would fear for my life were I to OC in New Jersey for example, based upon comments and remarks I have read on other sites about this very thing (I'm talking OC'ing on your own property).
Those of us who live in states where this is just not a problem or concern, easily tend to forget that there are places where citizen's rights are more than trampled upon. The citizens themselves are open to "legal" retribution.
So easy to get lulled into a state of placid tranquility when you're not having to look over your shoulder for the next lit up blue light bar that has your name on it.
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