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(News.com.au) Stupid Cops who don't know anything about firearms arrest driver for steering wheel lock "gun"   (news.com.au) divider line 89
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Geologist 2009-04-12 06:09:28 PM  
That's not a gun.

THIS is a gun.
www.foroswebgratis.com

/That's some nice hotlinking there, boys.

 
Araltaln [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 06:11:07 PM  
If you can't tell the difference between a gun and a steering wheel lock... sure, you can stay armed with your "gun".

Seriously, that's an extremely common shape for steering wheel locks. I've never seen any other in real life, only just now when I went to verify that there are, indeed, other kinds.

/I see you know how to play gunny-steering-wheel-locky?

 
Epsilon [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 06:39:54 PM  
I once got caught with tuna juice on my hands, so they arrested me for suspicion of being with a hooker.

 
Mad Scientist 2009-04-12 07:07:44 PM  
Wheellock gun?
www.narmuz-lj.si

 
Bender The Offender 2009-04-12 07:10:14 PM  
Yeah, he's a lucky kid. The douche that arrested him because he was too farking stupid to recognize a steering wheel lock even reminded him of that fact. Seems the unmitigated stupid with a large helping of bullying crosses international waters when it comes to asshole cops.

 
JonnyBGoode 2009-04-12 07:11:14 PM  
Seriously stupid cop. I'm sure he's now the butt of all the jokes down at the precinct. Starting with, "That's some fine police work there, Lou..."

 
DSEILXYC [recently expired TotalFark] 2009-04-12 07:13:17 PM  
Australians are morons.

It's a flashlight not a torch.

It's a sidewalk not a footpath.

Oh, and the perp should get a new steering wheel lock that doesn't look like a bloody gun.

Sheesh!!

 
wmoonfox 2009-04-12 07:13:19 PM  
Mad Scientist: Wheellock gun?

I lol'd.

 
HelmetTesterTJ 2009-04-12 07:15:32 PM  
I can understand precaution, but the guy had it right when he said

"An apology would've been nice. He could've said 'sorry mate but we have to take extreme precautions'. It doesn't leave you with a very good impression."

Mistakes happen, and I understand that. I try to avoid the police threads by and large simply because I lie between the "Fark the police!!11!!!1" and "Cops are basically Jesus' dad!" mentalities. But come on, you hand cuff someone, detain them for a while, all for what turns out to be a steering lock, and you make it sound like he got off easy? Take some responsibility for your mistakes.
But I suppose as soon as you give an apology, you are admitting guilt and opening yourself up to repercussions.
Your job is to serve and protect the population within your jurisdiction. Do your job and be civil like a normal human being, and maybe most people wouldn't automatically think "Fark the police."

/fark the police.

 
wiredroach 2009-04-12 07:15:51 PM  
Superboy wanted for questioning.

 
citizen905 2009-04-12 07:18:38 PM  
But remember folks, it's totally unfair to call them the Nanny State.

 
rkl307 2009-04-12 07:20:33 PM  
Cops who don't know anything about firearms

Fixed that for you.

 
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 07:20:47 PM  
I'm honestly curious as to what would happen in the following scenario:

Robber walks into gas station/bank/etc. tries to hold up teller.

Customer with concealed carry permit tells him to drops his weapons. Robber turns and points gun, customer blows him away.

The customer holsters his weapon and calls 911 to tell them the situation. The police arrive. Do they draw their weapons on him, tase him, shoot him, mace him, etc?

Honestly wondered how this has or would play out normally.

 
olddeegee [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 07:21:18 PM  
I just saw a CSI New York where a guy converted a "Club" into a gun. How many other people are going to mention this?

 
YoggiSothoth 2009-04-12 07:24:46 PM  
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude: Do they draw their weapons on him, tase him, shoot him, mace him, etc?

It's really up to the cop discretion. Personally, I would shoot the permit carrier, as he's already proven himself dangerous by killing the robber.

 
CPT_Crnch 2009-04-12 07:25:07 PM  
citizen905: But remember folks, it's totally unfair to call them the Nanny State.


Wrong country, dolt.

 
Zimmy 2009-04-12 07:25:35 PM  
olddeegee: I just saw a CSI New York where a guy converted a "Club" into a gun. How many other people are going to mention this?

Depends on how many housewives who don't understand what real television is are on FARk.

 
keithrogan 2009-04-12 07:27:56 PM  
The kid should sue the manufacturer. Why can't they make steering wheel locks that look like dolphins or bags of heroin, so this doesn't happen?

 
Mighty_Joe 2009-04-12 07:29:04 PM  
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude:
Customer with concealed carry permit tells him to drops his weapons. Robber turns and points gun, customer blows him away.

The customer holsters his weapon and calls 911 to tell them the situation. The police arrive. Do they draw their weapons on him, tase him, shoot him, mace him, etc?


The way it should work out is that the customer would tell the 911 dispatcher a description of himself and the perp which the dispatcher would forward to the responding officers.
The responding officers would likely disarm and handcuff everyone on the scene until they could sort things out. If one does not surrender his weapon when ordered to by police, the consequences can be dire.
// carries every day

 
Scutter 2009-04-12 07:34:03 PM  
Another reason I'm glad I live in a state where I can have a loaded rifle sitting in my back seat and it's perfectly legal.

 
onebadgungan 2009-04-12 07:37:55 PM  
Zimmy: olddeegee: I just saw a CSI New York where a guy converted a "Club" into a gun. How many other people are going to mention this?

Depends on how many housewives who don't understand what real television is are on FARk.


After an exhaustive Google search, I have determined that, yes, it is true that cops think it is possible to make a gun from the Club. None have actually seen one, but they get bulletins all the time from their higher-ups, so it must be true.

It reminds me of the time I was in church, and the guest speaker told us how the band KISS were actually Knights In Satan's Service. Since someone with some apparent authority said it, must be true.

/I like it loud

 
OnTheFence 2009-04-12 07:39:49 PM  
So, the kids says he never locks his car up...but he has a steering wheel lock?

 
black_knight 2009-04-12 07:42:15 PM  
That's some fine police work, Lou.

 
ApatheticMonkey 2009-04-12 07:46:31 PM  
OnTheFence: So, the kids says he never locks his car up...but he has a steering wheel lock?

Tweakers usually do smash and grabs, but not take the entire car. This deters actual car thieves, but keeps tweakers from breaking windows. In theory at least.

/Finding windows for a early 80s car is a pain in the ass.

 
mordi 2009-04-12 07:46:52 PM  
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude:
I'm honestly curious as to what would happen in the following scenario:

Robber walks into gas station/bank/etc. tries to hold up teller.

Customer with concealed carry permit tells him to drops his weapons.


Robber shoots teller, customer blows him away, cops arrest customer.

/Or he robs the place and leave before the cops arrive
//Damn customers

 
gazellegirl 2009-04-12 07:49:02 PM  
I guess I should get rid of my wheel lock. It looks an awful lot like a missing white girl.

 
ifrog 2009-04-12 07:50:11 PM  
"He told me 'any other cop would have had you at gunpoint'."

Umm, not according to the article:

When two senior police arrived in an unmarked vehicle the situation was quickly resolved and the handcuffs removed from Mr Hastings.

So does the cop win some kind of Douchebag/Ignorant/Belligerent Award? It takes work to be all three at once..

 
texastag 2009-04-12 07:50:37 PM  
CPT_Crnch: citizen905: But remember folks, it's totally unfair to call them the Nanny State.


Wrong country, dolt.


msnbcmedia.msn.com

If you have a picture of the queen on your money, you're British.

 
Ozark_Rifleman 2009-04-12 07:55:38 PM  
Mad Scientist: Wheellock gun?

I hoped someone would post a pic of a wheellock. Thanks!

 
cwolf20 [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 07:56:04 PM  
Cue the next movie "Stop or I'll lock my steering wheel!"

 
Zimmy 2009-04-12 07:58:02 PM  
onebadgungan: After an exhaustive Google search, I have determined that, yes, it is true that cops think it is possible to make a gun from the Club. None have actually seen one, but they get bulletins all the time from their higher-ups, so it must be true.

Thing is, I can make a gun from PVC pipe; should the cops then arrest people who transport PVC pipe? Rulers can be made into shanks, should they ban rulers?

 
JimmyCarter'sSecondTerm 2009-04-12 07:59:10 PM  
I bet the cops were just looking for an excuse to search the car for drugs, so they made up something about thinking the club was a gun. If they had been right about the drugs we never would have heard about this case. Don't allow the police to take advantage of the second amendment to abuse the fourth.

 
Epsilon [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 07:59:13 PM  
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude: I'm honestly curious as to what would happen in the following scenario:

Robber walks into gas station/bank/etc. tries to hold up teller.

Customer with concealed carry permit tells him to drops his weapons. Robber turns and points gun, customer blows him away.

The customer holsters his weapon and calls 911 to tell them the situation. The police arrive. Do they draw their weapons on him, tase him, shoot him, mace him, etc?

Honestly wondered how this has or would play out normally.


My guess would be the 911 operator would tell the person to go outside, unload the gun, set it on the sidewalk, move a good distance away from it, sit down or kneel and wait for the police, then identify yourself when they get there. Seems reasonable.

 
thisispete [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 07:59:44 PM  
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude: I'm honestly curious as to what would happen in the following scenario:

Robber walks into gas station/bank/etc. tries to hold up teller.

Customer with concealed carry permit tells him to drops his weapons. Robber turns and points gun, customer blows him away.

The customer holsters his weapon and calls 911 to tell them the situation. The police arrive. Do they draw their weapons on him, tase him, shoot him, mace him, etc?

Honestly wondered how this has or would play out normally.


I'm not a cop but I'd think the proper thing to do would be to take the customer into custody for an interview. That may mean arresting him. Someone is dead. A homicide has occurred and it is the responsibility of the police to determine if the shooter bears any legal culpability for that. Of course, calling 911 and being entirely forthcoming lends credence to the shooter's account, but the police can't just take someone at their word when there's a body on the floor.

 
karmachameleon 2009-04-12 08:03:47 PM  
onebadgungan: It reminds me of the time I was in church, and the guest speaker told us how the band KISS were actually Knights In Satan's Service. Since someone with some apparent authority said it, must be true.

Bwa ha ha...I remember my pastor saying the same thing. When I looked him square in the eye and said, "What are you talking about? That's not true at all," he looked back at me like I was the dumb one.

Good times, good times...

/And my mother wonders why I'm an atheist today

 
pheelix 2009-04-12 08:04:37 PM  
Lucky for him these guys weren't the ones called in for backup.


i7.photobucket.com

 
Fishflinger 2009-04-12 08:05:22 PM  
Fire the cops for overreacting.

 
Mad-n-FL 2009-04-12 08:17:37 PM  
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude: I'm honestly curious as to what would happen in the following scenario:

Robber walks into gas station/bank/etc. tries to hold up teller.

Customer with concealed carry permit tells him to drops his weapons. Robber turns and points gun, customer blows him away.

The customer holsters his weapon and calls 911 to tell them the situation. The police arrive. Do they draw their weapons on him, tase him, shoot him, mace him, etc?

Honestly wondered how this has or would play out normally.


I was with you till the "customer holsters his weapon";
You have just killed someone and are expecting law enforcement to arrive with guns drawn.

/I would place mine on the floor at my feet, but only after insuring that the threat has passed.

 
vicejay [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 08:18:42 PM  
Hm... that rings a bell..

imagecache.allposters.com

 
TheMega 2009-04-12 08:26:00 PM  
Donuts for a brain...

 
PsyLord 2009-04-12 08:27:45 PM  
Where does the ammo go? Where is the trigger? Where is the handgrip? Seriously, you have to be a freakin' idiot to confuse that with a gun.

 
Sherlock Holmes N. Gardens 2009-04-12 08:39:31 PM  
texastag: CPT_Crnch: citizen905: But remember folks, it's totally unfair to call them the Nanny State.


Wrong country, dolt.

If you have a picture of the queen on your money, you're British.


Or Australian, or Canadian or...

 
owlywowly 2009-04-12 08:44:21 PM  
cops don't apologize. Aside from the law, they are above all that.

 
SapperInTexas 2009-04-12 08:52:58 PM  
I guess expecting cops, who carry handguns every day, and are typically trained with shotguns as well as tactical rifles/carbines, to be able to identify different types of weapons is asking too much.

The cop was not necessarily wrong for cuffing the kid, but once they positively ID'ed the 'club' as 'not a gun', an apology was in order. Really, is it that farking hard?

 
jayday 2009-04-12 09:02:06 PM  
Yup, guns with bright red rubber parts, very common.

....Stoopid is as stoopid does, and you Lou does stoopid good.

 
MajorityWhip 2009-04-12 09:03:22 PM  
Epsilon: Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude: I'm honestly curious as to what would happen in the following scenario:

Robber walks into gas station/bank/etc. tries to hold up teller.

Customer with concealed carry permit tells him to drops his weapons. Robber turns and points gun, customer blows him away.

The customer holsters his weapon and calls 911 to tell them the situation. The police arrive. Do they draw their weapons on him, tase him, shoot him, mace him, etc?

Honestly wondered how this has or would play out normally.

My guess would be the 911 operator would tell the person to go outside, unload the gun, set it on the sidewalk, move a good distance away from it, sit down or kneel and wait for the police, then identify yourself when they get there. Seems reasonable.


The security officer on duty would obviously draw his firearm. The customer would place his firearm on the ground and move away from it. The reporting officers would arrest the customer for having a firearm in a bank (Which is illegal in every state that has concealed hand gun laws). Whether the D.A. would pursue felony charges depends on the jurisdiction. Even if the D.A. did, the customer would probably get off on a differed adjudication.

 
MajorityWhip 2009-04-12 09:12:13 PM  
Continued:
The best thing that the customer could do is give instructions of disarmament to the Security Officer. Something to the effect of, "I'm going to place the firearm on the ground pointing away from anyone. I'm going to walk backwards 3 steps, turn around, and get on my knees with my hands above my head. OK?" The customer should always keep eye contact with the officer on duty.

 
Lamune_Baba 2009-04-12 09:15:13 PM  
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude: I'm honestly curious as to what would happen in the following scenario:

Robber walks into gas station/bank/etc. tries to hold up teller.

Customer with concealed carry permit tells him to drops his weapons. Robber turns and points gun, customer blows him away.

The customer holsters his weapon and calls 911 to tell them the situation. The police arrive. Do they draw their weapons on him, tase him, shoot him, mace him, etc?

Honestly wondered how this has or would play out normally.


Cops make a scene arresting the shooter, making very sure to bend the arm backwards in such a way to cause great pain despite not resisting the arrest.

Shooter is then charged with multiple felonies, because local ordinance has forbidden carrying the gun inside the building / or faces additional felony offenses for having the weapon on him in an establishment that sells liquor. Even more felonies may apply if the bank also sells stamps, as it then qualifies as a post office.

The shooter is then sued by the surviving family of the "innocent little boy" (with a six-page arrest record) who then makes your life a legal hell, costing you thousands more to defend yourself. You're villanized in court, and questioned repeatedly on over-use of force- did you actually need to defend anyone? the death was needless... no one needed shot if you'd have just surrendered... you escalated the violence... and the word "murder" gets thrown around a lot. Eventually, after a long fight and an appeal the charges are finally reduced to the loss of your right to carry and a probational period.

Or if you're in Texas, the store owner just gets a mop and the cop buys you a beer.

/as it should be

 
DrRatchet [TotalFark] 2009-04-12 09:17:24 PM  
"This includes situations where there is suspicion a person is in possession of a firearm."

So, not being embarrassed enough by their officer's inability to tell the difference between a gun and a steering lock, the department falsely alleges that Mr Hastings was in possession of a gun in a written statement that they then send to the media for maximum exposure. Good move.

Seems like the stupid is part of the Brisbane police department culture. At this point there is probably nothing to do to rehabilitate the department. Best to dissolve it and let the mounties provide police services to the area.

 
drinkoffking 2009-04-12 09:30:15 PM  
Lamune_Baba

well played sir

 
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