Cops, cars and guns ...

[spin]

Baltimore Police Issue 2nd Amendment Decal Warning
Monday, June 6th, 2011 at 9:20 AM



Maryland --(Ammoland.com)- On May 29, 2011, the Baltimore Police Criminal Intelligence Section issued an “Intelligence Bulletin” warning officers about persons displaying the 2nd Amendment decal pictured here. The bulletin contains the following caption in bold red letters:

“….while the individual who is displaying the symbol may not be armed, the presence of the symbol provides an early warning indicator that you MAY be about to encounter an armed individual.”
http://www.ammoland.com/2011/06/06/baltimore-police-issue-2nd-amendment-decal-warning/

New Mexico Supreme Court Lets Cops Grab Guns During Stops
By The Newspaper on May 31, 2011

Police officers in New Mexico can take guns away from drivers who pose no threat. The state supreme court ruled on May 20 that “officer safety” is more important than any constitutional rights a gun-owning motorist might have. The ruling was handed down in deciding the fate of Gregory Ketelson who was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over on November 13, 2008.

During the stop, Hobbs Police Officer Miroslava Bleau saw a 9mm handgun on the back seat floorboard. Ketelson and the driver of the car were ordered out and away from the car while Officer Shane Blevins grabbed the gun. The officers later learned that Ketelson, as a convicted felon, could not legally possess a firearm. The court, however, only considered whether the officers acted properly in taking the gun before they had any reason to suspect Ketelson, who was entirely cooperative during the encounter, of committing a crime.

***snip***

Because a gun would only taken for the duration of the traffic stop, the court decided such seizures were reasonable.

“The retrieval of the gun from the vehicle during the limited context of the traffic stop was at most a minimal interference with the suspect’s possessory interest,” Maes wrote. “Our decision in this case, which addresses a temporary separation of a firearm from the occupants of a car during the duration of a traffic stop, does not depend on any requirement of particularized suspicion that an occupant is inclined to use the firearm improperly.”
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/05/new-mexico-supreme-court-lets-cops-grab-guns-during-stops/

Cops pull guns on 'Piranha 3D' stars Kelly Brook, Jessica Szohr en route to Las Vegas
BY GATECRASHER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, August 19, 2010

Kelly Brook got a nice fright during the production of the horror film "Piranha 3D," but it had to do with the fuzz, not fanged fish. Brook tells us that during a break in filming, she and co-star Jessica Szohr decided to drive from the film's set in Lake Havasu, Ariz., to Las Vegas for a little R&R, but ended up lost late at night at the Hoover Dam.

"The next thing I know, there are three police cars following us," says the British Brook. "In England, the natural reaction is to get out of the car and ask for directions, which is what I did," she explains. Unfortunately, she says, this prompted the cops to jump out of their squad cars with weapons drawn.

Brook, who bares all in the film, which opens Friday and on the pages of this month's Playboy, says: "Next thing you know, we have got our hands on the bonnet of the car and we're trying to assure we're just actresses on our way to Vegas.


"To have a gun pulled on you and then be asked for your autograph in the space of a minute is just a bizarre turn of events." Yes, but we bet those cops went home happy.
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-08-19/gossip/27073000_1_johnny-weir-squad-cars-cops

[MineralMan]

1. Why would anyone put that decal on their car in the first place?

I don't get it. Some sort of signal to others? Can someone explain?

[brendan120678]

2. Why put any of these decals on your car:

Just to show support for a cause/issue/etc.

[MineralMan]

3. Yes, well...all of those are obvious at a glance.

This 2nd Amendment decal is not. So, most people seeing it will get no message at all regarding 2nd Amendment rights. My question remains unanswered.

I'm a Minnesota CCW license holder. I can't imagine the utility of such a decal.

[hack89]

10. Is this obvious at a glance?

[petronius]

13. Or this?

http://www.funbumperstickers.com.nyud.net:8090/images/BostonBruins2.gif

(I've got to not dilly around when posting - you beat me by a country mile...)

[jeepnstein]

23. Or this?

I used to get lots of flak for one like that on my Jeep. Some people used it as a sure-fire indicator that there were drugs in the car. Wrong-O boys, and if you would have spotted that little gold five-pointed star opposite it you could have saved some time.

Stickers on cars are useless. You approach every car as if the occupants are armed and getting ready to do you violence. I'm more interested in seeing hands and eyes than bumper stickers.

[TheWraith]

30. A Carebear as rendered by someone on an acid trip?

:wtf:

[jeepnstein]

33. You pretty much got it.

I really miss going to Grateful Dead shows.

[krispos42]

32. What is the meaning behind it, anyway? If I may ask. n/t

[MineralMan]

16. No. Nor at second glance.

I have no idea what it's supposed to mean. It conveys nothing to me.

[MineralMan]

18. So, I looked it up on Google. Here's one I like lots better, and

nobody has to try to figure out what the heck it says:

[hack89]

21. It is a gay rights sticker - very common where I live. nt

[MineralMan]

22. OK. It's from the HRC flag.

Like I said, I looked it up. I prefer statements that are clear and obvious to anyone who sees them.

[petronius]

11. Perhaps they're hoping it will eventually catch on? A lot of stickers aren't

obvious at first glance - did you know what this was the first time you saw it?

http://anotherwaytosayitgreetings.com.p6.hostingprod.com.nyud.net:8090/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/EqualRights_Sticker.291224257_std.jpg

On the other hand, not every sticker is intended to convey a message to the unfamiliar viewer, many are just shout-outs to fellow travelers...

[ileus]

4. Go UCONN!

[Bold Lib]

5. Lets see, if a notice went out to be especially wary of AIDS when a

gay pride sticker is sighted on a car would that be considered profiling?

[saras]

8. only if gays had a well-established habit of raping police officers during traffic stops

Cops get shot way too often for just pulling a car over.

[petronius]

15. Do pro-RKBA activists have a "well-established habit" of shooting officers during traffic stops?

Or any history of that at all, really? :shrug:

Your reasoning is ludicrous, and you've completely failed to address (or understand?) the point you were replying to...

[GreenStormCloud]

19. They are almost never shot by a legal gun owner.

I have a Texas CHL and am required to inform an officer that I am armed if I am stopped. So far the officers haven't blinked an eye and it hasn't bothered them.

[Euromutt]

36. Not necessarily a gay pride sticker

An "AIDS Awareness" ribbon, on the other hand...

[safeinOhio]

6. No different than having a NRA sticker in the window.

They'll figure you are armed.

[one-eyed fat man]

17. From the link in the OP

"This Association has already submitted a Public Information Act request for information regarding similar bulletins involving NRA decals, patches and license plates."

An NRA sticker will assuredly get your car searched at some Canadian border crossings. In someplaces a DoD sticker is bait for the local speed traps. GI's may well remember Phenix City, AL or West Point, KY as infamous towns where the local JP clipped you for a month's pay.

[spin]

24. I doubt that many violent criminals have NRA stickers on their cars ...

as, if anything, they probably favor strong gun control.

In Florida it is very common for people to carry loaded firearms in their car in their glove box or on their person if they have a concealed weapons permits.

Most of the police that I know approach every car stop as if the occupants had firearms in the vehicle. In reality they aren't worried about honest people with firearms, just the bad guys.

[one-eyed fat man]

38. It's not usually the street cops...

Remember Janet Napolitano's pronouncement that all veterans, etc should be viewed as potential right wing extremists?



The source of the words she finds so offensive...

Executive_Order_10631Executive Order 10631

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and as Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, I hereby prescribe the Code of Conduct for Members of the Armed Forces of the United States which is attached to this order and hereby made a part thereof.

Every member of the Armed Forces of the United States are expected to measure up to the standards embodied in this Code of Conduct while he is in combat or in captivity. To ensure achievement of these standards, each member of the armed forces liable to capture shall be provided with specific training and instruction designed to better equip him to counter and withstand all enemy efforts against him, and shall be fully instructed as to the behavior and obligations expected of him during combat or captivity.

The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to the Coast Guard except when it is serving as part of the Navy) shall take such action as is deemed necessary to implement this order and to disseminate and make the said Code known to all members of the armed forces of the United States.



Dwight D. Eisenhower
The White House,
August 17, 1955.

Code of Conduct for Members of the United States Armed Forces

I
I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.


II
I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.


III
If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.


IV
If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.


V
When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am bound to give only name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.


VI
I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

[ileus]

7. I like that one nice and subtle, like my peace and American flag

stickers I have side by side on my jeep.

[MicaelS]

9. There are so many idiots out there today...

I don't put ANY stickers on my car that aren't required to be there.

[Glassunion]

12. Tell me about it.

I had a sticker on my old truck that simply read ETB. It was the initials of a local band.

I was at a red light one day and some guy was blowing his horn and giving me the finger. All he said before I pulled away was something out me supporting the terrorists and tree hugging. I dunno? But that was the last time I put a sticker on my car. I'm still pondering to this day what he thought the ETB stood for.

[benEzra]

26. I guess you needed one of these instead.

http://paintcreekbicycles.com/about/wtf-sticker-pg131.htm

[AtheistCrusader]

28. Probably functionally illiterate, and thought it said ELF

[spin]

14. No stickers on my vehicle. (n/t)

[ileus]

20. Yup...my jeep is never parked anywhere but my home.

If it's out of the garage I'm in it, or it's parked in the woods.

[petronius]

25. I think we're all missing the key issue in this OP: "Kelly Brook ... bares all ... 3D"

Yup!

:thumbsup:

:D

[spin]

27. Someone finally commented...

:evilgrin:

[ileus]

29. Guns and Girls...something we all should be able to agree on...

[Euromutt]

37. Silly me; I was thinking "how do you set a movie about piranhas in the frickin' desert?!"

Did this movie get made without reference material or something?

[-..__...]

31. "Unclassified/For Official Use Only/Law Enforcement Sensitive"

Gee, looks like someone let the cat out of the bag on this one...



Why the secrecy?

Available here... http://www.legallyconcealed.org/lc_products.html

Just stay the hell out of Baltimore if you do get one and display it (I just might order 3-4 myself )B-)

[spin]

34. Interesting that a banner on the Web site says,

"Thanks to all of you in law enforcement and to those of you serving in the military!"

http://www.legallyconcealed.org/index.html

[Euromutt]

35. This sort of thing seems counter-productive to me

It's just like the argument for registration that it allows cops responding to a domestic disturbance to know that there's a firearm in the house. But surely the cops are more at risk if there's an unregistered firearm in the house (assuming registration is legally required), so they should always act as if the possibility exists of a firearm being present.

Similarly, during traffic stops it shouldn't make any difference whether there's a 2nd Amendment decal on the car or not, as the presence of the decal is neither a sufficient nor a necessary condition for there to be a loaded firearm in the vehicle (which is illegal in Maryland, by the way).