Cops Harass Legal Gun Owner, Confiscate Weapon

"This is what a police state looks like"
by Steve Watson
Infowars
Mar. 26, 2015

A legal gun owner filmed himself and his friend being harassed by state troopers in South Florida, after being stopped for speeding and forced to hand over a legally owned firearm.

The driver and his passenger repeatedly asked the officers under what law they were authorised to confiscate a legally owned gun from their vehicle.

It quickly became obvious that the cops didn’t know or care if there was such a law.

The driver, Cody Lewis, noted during the video “this is what a police state looks like,” as one officer stood guard by his vehicle holding his own gun.

Lewis attempted to reason with the cops, stating that although there were five officers, some with their hands on their own weapons, he was not scared, and did not assume that they were bad people, so why should they assume he is?

Lewis also explained that legally he did not have to tell the officers that there was a weapon in the vehicle, but he opted to do so.

He also notes that many people have ended up dead at the hands of cops because of the way the officers act in such situations, approaching citizens with their hand on their weapons, or with guns drawn.

Lewis writes:

“While traveling in Florida, a State Trooper pulled me over for speeding. I asked multiple times for the trooper's name and badge number, but he never responded once. Then, he asked if there were any weapons and I said, "yes." When the other troopers pulled up they said the reason they wanted to take the gun is because it's visible, but it was never visible until I showed them.

The other troopers walked up with hands on their guns ready to draw them. I made it clear that they can't take my weapon or open my door. When I wasn't looking the trooper reached in the window and opened it. After I turned around he reached for my camera and I said, "don't take it." They violated many rights and that is not OK. The entire stop took a total of 23:00 minutes, just for a traffic stop.”

Whether you agree with the police action in this instance or not, the video raises some valid questions over how cops are trained to automatically assume that everyone is dangerous, rather than being law abiding citizens.

The video highlights how police are trained to believe that suspending people’s rights is all good and well, if it makes them feel safer.