So this really isn't any news, but in 2010 an off duty Maryland State Trooper attempted to make a traffic stop on a motorcyclist who was speeding. The video linked below shows that incounter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHjjF55M8JQ
The speeding motorcyclist then was arrested and charged with 6 felonies regarding the wiretapping laws in Maryland for posting the video. The case was eventually thrown out. But my question comes into play with the use of firearms in this situation. First off, Maryland is a commy state and does not issue CCW permits. However, if this were to happen in our neighboring state Virginia where the fire arm laws are much more relaxed, what would have happened if there was a shoot out.
In watching this video, there is a lot of room to debate about the cop pulling out his weapon and not identifying himself immediately rather than saying "get off the bike". A question I have is, if a shoot out would have ensued, do you think the motorcyclist would have been justified? The cop does take a couple of seconds to identify himself as a cop. And from the time he opens his door and draws his gun, until he identifies himself as a cop, this looks like an ambush car jacking with a gun. If the motorcyclist would have been carrying, that really seems like it could have escallated into a fire fight type of situation.
What do you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHjjF55M8JQ
The speeding motorcyclist then was arrested and charged with 6 felonies regarding the wiretapping laws in Maryland for posting the video. The case was eventually thrown out. But my question comes into play with the use of firearms in this situation. First off, Maryland is a commy state and does not issue CCW permits. However, if this were to happen in our neighboring state Virginia where the fire arm laws are much more relaxed, what would have happened if there was a shoot out.
In watching this video, there is a lot of room to debate about the cop pulling out his weapon and not identifying himself immediately rather than saying "get off the bike". A question I have is, if a shoot out would have ensued, do you think the motorcyclist would have been justified? The cop does take a couple of seconds to identify himself as a cop. And from the time he opens his door and draws his gun, until he identifies himself as a cop, this looks like an ambush car jacking with a gun. If the motorcyclist would have been carrying, that really seems like it could have escallated into a fire fight type of situation.
What do you think?