Been a while since I've posted over here; life's been way busy... besides hearing about NH just makes me depressed lately, as I'm stuck in CA a while longer.
So, I was sitting in my car on the road next to the park the other day, enjoying the peace and quiet and reading my newest book, Ron Paul's The Revolution. I look up because I see something flashing in my periphery, and see a Turlock Police car race up and create a half-assed roadblock up the street from me. In my rear view mirror, I notice two more units rolling up on me Code 3. 3 of Turlock's finest step out, guns drawn, and order me out of my car. I'm not one to argue with men pointing guns at me, so I comply with all their orders. They execute a standard 'felony stop', cuff me, and confiscate my firearm, magazines, pocket knife, and wallet. I am placed in the back of one of their cars and told I am "under arrest for carrying a concealed firearm." I am read my rights, and then questioned.
Now this particular police car could comfortably seat a 10-year old girl in the back seat. Let's say my frame is a bit larger than that. Add to that the fact that I have chronic back pain from injury in a car accident years ago... Add to that the fact that the officer that handcuffed me put one of the cuffs on at a 45-degree angle... so within minutes I am wracked with pain. So, to make my detention as short as possible I cooperated and answered their questions - though I had to dodge a few questions that were obviously designed to get me to incriminate myself. I did offer recitation of the relavent penal code to the officers, who dutifully spent 5 minutes reading the law they already announced I was under arrest for.
Then they searched my car without my permission - they didn't even ask. I yelled out the window that I did not consent to a search of my vehicle, and asked why there was an officer in my car. I was told that they wanted to make sure I didn't have any other concealed weapons in my car. They ran my license - spotless driving record. Background - clean and clear. Firearm - registered per state law when I purchased it 3 days prior. Vehicle - hell I had a copy of the purchase contract in the glove box, current registration and mandatory proof of insurance.
Then they stood around and chatted for another 30 minutes. I couldn't hear what was being said, but it was obvious they were not discussing business. They were joking and laughing and enjoying themselves... while I was still in the back of the car in a lot of pain.
Then they ask me to step out of the car - quite a task when you can't feel your hands or feet. They take the cuffs off, and order me to sit on the sidewalk. They then stand around me and talk down to me like a child, telling me that I have no business carrying a gun, it's dangerous, it scares people, etc. They threaten me with, "our hours are billable" and tell me I'm wasting their time. They plead with me, saying, "This is a [small] town, we don't have the resources to deal with these calls. Please just don't do it here anymore." I state my disagreement with pretty much every comment they make, but stay polite and respectful. 10-15 minutes of this goes by, then the lead officer tells me he put my ammo in the car and then he puts the pistol in the trunk and tells me not to touch it until they leave. He tells me I'm free to leave.
I immediately inventory all the items they took from me. One round was ejected from a magazine, so I put it back and place both mags in my mag holders. I put my wallet and knife in my pockets and put stuff back where it belongs in my car (they moved a lot of stuff around during their search). The officers are still standing around chatting, and I'm ready to retrieve my firearm. So I walk over and ask the officers when they will be leaving "so I can retrieve my firearm without making you guys uncomfortable." They tell me that I'll have to drive away and retrieve my firearm from the trunk at a different location. I drive around the corner and retrieve my firearm, make sure they didn't chamber a round (which would cause me to violate the 'possession of a loaded firearm' statute). I holster my weapon and go about the rest of my day.
Went to the doctor on Wednesday due to ongoing pain and numbness in one hand (the one they cuffed wrong). Doc says it should pass, but to take it easy. The bruising only lasted about a week, but there's still a bit of tenderness in a few spots around my wrists. My back pain is back down to it's usual level now, but the first 2 days I hardly slept at all.
I have an interview with a local reporter later today, and will be reviewing the incident with a local gun rights group (including their attorney, who's amicus brief was reviewed by SCOTUS in the Heller case. Hopefully I'll have some redress for my grievences soon, but here in CA this type of police activity is normal and most people are so afraid of everything that they want the cops to treat everybody like criminals.
An interesting thing the reporter told me when I called her. She said, "I've been wanting to talk to you." Now, I called her, so I was a bit surprised. I probed a bit, and she told me that the sheriff's office had called her about the incident. Apparently the Turlock police chief had 'advised' the sheriff about me... My best guess is they want to keep an eye on me. Now, why would they contact the local paper? My best guess is they wanted to make sure they got to the reporter before I did. Maybe I'm cynical... but I just can't imagine they were calling to submit an open letter to the editor apologizing for their tyranny.
Well, I just needed to vent. If you're in CA and still not sure about moving to NH, I hope this helps you realize that we do live in a police state. Get out before they label you an enemy of the state. If you're stuck here, and just want to be in good company, drop me a private message. If you're near Turlock or Modesto I'd like to meet more liberty-minded people... seems we're a rare breed in CA.
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Topic: CA_Libertarian harassed by LE for open carry in CA (Read 4901 times)