So I should have put that 'some philly cops don't know the gun laws'...
However I find it curious that there were about 5-6 officers involved and not one of them said 'uh guys, this dudes right, he can carry openly'. In the article it mentions that plenty of cops in PI had inquired about his open carry in previous incidents and it went without incident...
I get nervous from a lot of the quotes from the PD, not just these officer's whose ignorance of the law is no excuse. I can't get away with the "I didn't know the speed limit wasn't 85" excuse...why does it work for these guys? Officers who see someone carrying openly have the "right" to ensure they are licensed to carry. What about the bill of rights? I thought those were written for those of us on this side of the government, you know, the side with less guns, less power, and no badge?
So much for probable cause. Start pulling over every car...better make sure they're licensed to drive. Or start checking every Hispanic's green card, wouldn't want them to be here illegally...
Cops can't shake down the dealer on the corner unless you catch him red handed and he isn't already on the take as an informant, but a guy in the autozone with a licensed firearm in a holster definitely deserves an officer to put a gun in their face. After his recording hit youtube, the philly DA levied more charges against him. Good luck with that, considering the NRA is drooling to drop their lawyers into this mix, especially considering recent gun rights victories. Violent east coast city with their priorities all fucked up? Imagine that.