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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Philadelphia Police Announce Plans To Harass Legal Gun Owners |
| 2011-05-25 |
| Police are warning gun owners that they will be "inconvenienced" if they carry unconcealed handguns in the city. A police Lieutenant spokesman for the Philadelphia city police, announced that that gun owners who open carry, which is legal in the city, may be asked to lay on the ground until officers feel safe while they check permits. The threat to gun owners comes after Mark Fiorino, a suburban Philadelphia IT worker, posted an audiotape to YouTube of his tense, 45-minute encounter with police in February over his exposed handgun. The video went viral and captured national attention. After Fiorino released the audiotape, he was charged with disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment. He now faces up to two years in prison. "The police department and assistant district attorney are coming after me, in my opinion, to make an example of me because I stood up to them and exposed them for their lack of knowledge," Fiorino said, who called the trial "absolutely inappropriate and a waste of taxpayer money." Fiorino said he did nothing reckless, nor did he endanger anyone's life. "I had a gun pointed at my chest," he said. On Feb. 13 a police sergeant who was unaware of the law -- which dates back to at least 1996 when the state Supreme Court referenced it in an unrelated ruling -- stopped Fiorino, who was walking to an auto parts shop in Northeast Philadelphia with a gun on his hip. Sgt. Michael Dougherty can be heard yelling out to Fiorino as "Junior," and asking him to show his hands as Fiorino protests having a gun pointed at his chest, prompting Dougherty to call for backup. Dougherty grows increasingly agitated as Fiorino offers to show his permit when he is ordered to get on his knees, causing Dougherty to threaten to shoot if he makes a move. Dougherty then unleashed a string of profanities as the two argued over the legality of open carry. "Do you know you can't openly carry here in Philadelphia?" Dougherty yells. "Yes, you can, if you have a license to carry firearms," Fiorino responds."It's Directive 137. It's your own internal directive." When several other officers arrive, Fiorino is forced to the ground as he tries to explain that he's not breaking the law. "Shut the f---- up!" Dougherty yells. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #5 I wonder if the ACLU won't show up to address the profiling issue. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2011-05-25 22:55 |
| #4 I see the guy's point, I also see the police's not knowing if he has a permit they must check and in order to do so must secure the suspect. That being said, here's a random. Metropolis, since superman left town, needs to hire police officers. The standards for application are lowered in order to hire more. Something like this happens, go to court. Could the defense of the police officers argue that because the standards no longer require an officer to be (as) familiar with local regulations so they are dismissed of charges, reasoning being that by acting in good faith ignorance of the law is a valid excuse? Guess that is up to the jury? Need help on this question, I am ignorant on PA and Philly law process... |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2011-05-25 22:20 |
| #3 He will certainly have a number of very good lawyers attending to his needs. The NRA will see to it. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2011-05-25 20:24 |
| #2 Interesting how police departments and prosecutors are never, ever in the wrong. After Fiorino's criminal case is dismissed, he could use some high-priced legal assistance to file a civil suit for assault and battery against the individual police officers. Sue them for their entire net worth. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-05-25 18:27 |
| #1 Best to Disarm the police until they can behave like citizens. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2011-05-25 17:40 |