Name Taken
Ultimate Member
What kind of training do you guys get with regards to what the laws are? It would seem to me if you are going to enforce the law, you need to know it. If you pull someone over who is from another State and he has a loaded handgun in the glove compartment, will you let him go because "that's the norm" where he's from? If I can't plead ignorance, I don't expect the police to be able to do so. Just my POV.
When a patient comes to see you do you know every illness and treatment right off the top of your head or do you talk to co-workers and read books or articles on the illness or treatment? Maybe even refer them to a specialist a time or two?
The firearm laws in MD are so confusing and most police officers rarely come across them being legally transported in this state unless they are in the rural area during hunting season.
I don't expect every officer on the street to have endless knowledge of every crime. I do expect them to know enough to seek guidance or glance at one of the books/resources offered to them prior to violating anyone's rights. It sounds like in this case that is what happened.
If MD legislators would write laws that the judges, lawyers, and common folk could understand I'd expect a bit more of the police.
Of course folks on a gun forum expect the police to know all the gun laws off the top of their head. Add in that the actual laws make no sense what so ever and it puts the street cop in a tough spot.
Sometimes you just have to know enough to know you don't know enough...seems like that was the case here.