Badge may have saved officer a felony gun charge

[beevul]

Badge may have saved officer a felony gun charge

ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis County police officer accused of pointing a pistol at a parking attendant could have faced a felony charge in the incident if it hadn't been for his badge, officials said.

Missouri law exempts police officers, along with a variety of other professions, from being prosecuted for several felony weapons violations.

An amendment added in 2003 when conceal-carry legislation was enacted says that even off-duty officers cannot be prosecuted for crimes such as shooting from a vehicle, carrying a gun into a school or waving a gun in public.

Investigators said Officer Ryan O'Connor, 34, who was charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault in the March 17 incident, was accused of drawing his weapon and using racial slurs when a parking lot manager asked him to move his vehicle during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Dogtown.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/BA8C388AA336AEDA862574210011245B?OpenDocument

How can this be possible?

Do lawmakers not know what the laws they're passing make possible?

Edited for a phrasing f-up

[AX10]

1. pigs!

[virginia mountainman]

2. Sara Brady's elites at it again...... nt

[liberal4truth]

3. Cops are "civilians" when off-duty. Shooting gun from a vehicle is a serious offense here, but then

we don't have an exemption for police officers for that sort of crime. These police officers need to be punished that same as any criminal, when they commit these sort of gun-related offenses.

I don't have a problem with police officers carrying a gun off-duty, but they need to be circumspect
to the same gun-laws as all civilians when they pull that gun out and start shooting, no matter what.

I'm just damn glad I don't live in the "police officers' heaven" of Missouri!

[friendly_iconoclast]

4. What *are* the gun laws there in Astroturf Estates?

I've read a few of your posts about "here", and you never say where "here" is.

Really now, why they coyness about where it is you live?

Sunnybrook Farm? Tasteful Meadows? Springfield, a few blocks from the Simpsons?

Anywhere near Landover Baptist Church?

Are we to just accept how good it is on you say-so?

[liberal4truth]

5. Clue: I never said I live in "astroturf estates" only that if you commit a gun crime you will be

prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

I will say this much: not far from where I live, 15 or 20 miles or so, there are cities where gun-crimes are committed frequently. They are not committed here, as our police forces know how to spot possible criminal suspects, and they are quickly given that "flashing red and blue" light treatment, when they make the huge mistake of coming into our towns, presumably to commit more of their crimes, mistakenly.

Needless to say, that just doesn't happen here:

If you look like you are "trouble with a capital "T": you are stopped by the police, your license or ID is run through the criminal law-enforcement computer system , and if any wants or warrants are out on you, you get to spend a few days in the jail, until you can post bail if you are allowed to, that is, depending on what the suspect is accused of, of course.

If any contraband is found in the suspects vehicle, including ANY illegal firearms, all the more reason to slap the hand-cuffs on for a stay at the "gray-bar hotel"!

Take my word for it: we all _LIKE_ it that way, very much!

[WWFZD]

6. I wanna move to where you live

How wonderful it must be to live where "our police forces know how to spot possible criminal suspects" and search their vehicles for contraband. How do they identify them? "Darkies"? "South-of-the-border" types? Those with worn out shoe leather?
Are the undesirables ever allowed within the city limits?
Who cuts your grass, grooms your poodles and serves you your Cobb salads and designer martinis?
If anybody liked the old PH show. Yes, you too can live in the loverly gated community of Western Estates. The Magnolia phase is under construction with lots starting at 1 point 5. You will have to pass a rigorous background check. Elderly relatives are not allowed and we will check your children for lice every month. The Dooley's will interview you soon.

Seriously though, you have to be a joke, nobody who lives and thinks like you've described here and on other posts could possibly dwell in a progressive guns forum. Didn't you come up with the multiple point gun ban plan to cordon off areas where gun owners reside, force neighbors to reveal who owns guns and where they are, then use law enforcement to lay siege upon the non-compliers?

[friendly_iconoclast]

7. A shining example of *ipse dixit* . Or a disruptor

Or a really transparent attempt to make gun controllers look bad.

DU doesn't need that kind of "help", thank you very much.

liberal4truth does not say where they allegedly live as we would then be able to research their laws and crime rate for ourselves. And that would Just Not Do, would
it?

[iverglas]

8. gee

Sometimes a great notion ... I'd say great minds, but I wouldn't want to induce swelled heads ...

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. I guess we know it's in the deep south now.

I'm glad your cops keep THOSE people out of your otherwise friendly town. I think I'll just stay here where everyone is free, thanks.

David

[bossy22]

10. ahh something we agree on

"I don't have a problem with police officers carrying a gun off-duty, but they need to be circumspect
to the same gun-laws as all civilians when they pull that gun out and start shooting, no matter what."

off-duty cops should abide by the same gun laws as all civilians do- but it will never happen because those who propose the laws always make exceptions for police to get them on their side

[Callisto32]

11. One law...

for me. Another for thee.

Seems to be common reasoning when dealing with LEO's....

Here's a personal example.

Once, we had a police officer come to the house looking for my step-brother. No warrant or papers to serve, just wanted to ask him some questions about something they were investigating. Being told he was not home the "peace officer" proceeded to throw a little-kid-like hissy fit and kicked our steel storm door, damaging it fairly severely in the lower left-hand corner. We went through official channels, and despite the fact that there were 3 witnesses on our side of the story...the cop's story (read: lies) were immediately accepted over and above ours. Now three eyewitnesses with corroborating stories, that's pretty good evidence. But you know, the investigating officers even went so far as to suggest that we made the story up and rehearsed it beforehand, and that is why all of our stories matched. If it had been anybody who was not a cop on the giving end of that boot, I'd place a bet that we would have gotten a new door out of it, or at least repair fees.