Illinois is hardly a gun-friendly state. Yes, it’s not Massachusetts, New Jersey, California or MARYLAND, but it’s not gun friendly.
Because gun ownership is so (relatively) scarce in Illinois, Prairie State residents get to enjoy (much) higher crime rates (4.15/100,000 violent crime rate) than gun-friendly states like Indiana (3.46/100k violent crime rate) or *really* gun friendly states like Kentucky (2.23/100k).
Maryland (4.77/100k violent crime rate) is similar to Illinois in terms of its welcoming of good guy gun owners. In fact, Maryland’s anti-gun Democrats think their crime problem will be solved by TARGETING card-carrying good guys traveling through from out-of-state.
Because, you know, those concealed carry license holders are so very prone to criminal acts – especially violent acts against others. NOT!
(Washington Times) – A year ago this New Year’s Eve, John Filippidis of Florida was driving south with his family on Interstate 95 when the Maryland Transportation Authority Police pulled over his black Ford Expedition and proceeded to raid it while his twins, wife and daughter looked on — separated in the back seats of different police cruisers.
The officers were searching for Mr. Filippidis‘ Florida-licensed, palm-size Kel-Tec .38 semi-automatic handgun, which he left at home locked in his safe. (Maryland does not recognize handgun permits issued by other states.)
When the search turned up nothing, Mr. Filippidis, 51, was allowed to go and was issued only a speeding warning.
The incident gained national attention. Mr. Filippidis went on multiple radio programs and described in detail how scared and outraged he and his family were. He wondered: How did the police know he was licensed for concealed carry, and what right did they have to search through his personal items on the side of the busy interstate filled with holiday travelers on that 10-degree day?
John Tonnesen IV of Lake Worth, Florida, was pulled over and arrested after a search of his work truck — by the same officer who stopped Mr. Filippidis — turned up his .45-caliber Ruger, licensed in the state of Florida. He doesn’t believe the stop was coincidental.
“It was unloaded and stuffed into a bag far from me,” Mr. Tonnesen told The Times. “There’s scanners in Maryland that scan every tag, and Florida is one of their target vehicles. They’ll find whatever reason they can to pull you over.”
MDTA denies it targets out-of-state gun owners and noted the review of Mr. Fillipides earlier traffic stop concluded the officers did nothing wrong.
Baltimore-based criminal defense lawyer Paul Kramer says these type of stops and searches happen far too often in Maryland and are a waste of taxpayer money. Mr. Kramer represented a Pennsylvania security officer who was pulled over in the state for speeding. The Maryland officer asked Mr. Kramer’s client whether he had a gun in the car, and once the man acknowledged he did, the officer arrested him for having the gun and the cartridge in the same locked container — not separated, as per Maryland law.
“The officer who stopped Mr. Filippidis smelled the odor of marijuana in the vehicle on his initial approach of the vehicle,” Mr. Green said. “Based on the conflicting stories regarding the location of the gun, the observations made while the vehicle was being stopped and the suspected odor of marijuana, the officer had probable cause to search the vehicle for possible controlled dangerous substances (CDS) and the weapon.”
Mr. Filippidis vehemently denies there was any smell of marijuana in his car, and he didn’t know that was the excuse used to justify the search of his SUV. He did say he may have been going a little over the speed limit, and his wife was confused about the whereabouts of his gun.
“If they smelled pot, why didn’t they arrest me for pot?” Mr. Filippidis said. “This whole thing just doesn’t add up. Smoking in front of my kids driving home from Christmas with the family? Come on. We walked away from the entire incident without even a ticket — for anything.”
As for Mr. Tonnesen, a search of his vehicle was justified after the same officer felt threatened and that Mr. Tonnesen was hiding something as both of his hands weren’t readily visible. He was also pulled over for speeding.
Meanwhile … Baltimore is a war zone. Way to focus on the good guys instead of the dangerous job of cleaning up the ghettos.
Oink, oink, MTA.
I’m gonna call bullcrap on the smelling of marijuana claim by this police officer.. IMO they are trying to cover themselves, but it just doesn’t wash to me. If the police officer had smelled marijuana, then why wasn’t John Filippidis on suspicion of drug possession? If I remember the original news story correctly, Filippidis claimed that when the cop pulled him over, the cop asked him flat out where the gun was…..? I support good, honest police work, but I’m calling BS on this so that MTA can keep the spotlight off of themselves.
I have no use for stupidity like this… if my gun aint welcome, neither am i. That goes for businesses, or states. I say starve the beasts.
At least the kicked out of office liberal democrat governor gave the convicted on death row, life without parole. That will prevent crime with less harsh treatment of murderers.
Ill governor did the same with the worst of the worst.
Bastard.
Criminals taking care of their criminal constituents, ILLannoy, where our governors make out license plates….
…oops “our” license pates…
F em.
How pathetic.
18 us code 926A
Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.
thats the federal transport law not state law that covered in md 4 203
I was on the way home when they stoped me for one of three brake lights out and of course speeding but when he placed me in the car the radar unit was off. Told the officer I had a unloaded firearm in my truck and it was in plain view. long story short spent the night in jail and my wife had to drive up to pick me up.I am from N.C also.As of now 3500.00 in lawyer fees and counting.I am 49 years old and had a spotless record until now!!!
hi jim please contact me, what was the name department and of the officer? Mr Tonnesen and I are dealing with this also.
908 692 0093
This story is from last year. This is also why getting a CCW permit is stupid. You entered yourself in a large database for the feds to track you and at some point confiscate your guns. The days of trusting our government died shortly after the cold war.