Keith. I don't think that you would be able to charge the officer with discharging a firearm with reckless disregard for a risk of physical injury. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but reckless disregard for a risk of physical injury would be if he intentionally discharged his firearm in a manner that would risk physical injury towards someone else. I don't think shooting yourself in the foot is reckless disregard. If he drove down the street shooting his gun in the air, yes. If he shot himself in the foot exiting his vehicle, hardly reckless disregard for a risk of physical injury.
So remains, one class A misdemeanor. He keeps his license, if they even would charge him as it is.
LiquidTension. Thank you for the private message of good will. Despite my disagreeing with Liquid Tension, I think he has been rather civil and polite about his beliefs and I respect him highly for that.
That being said, I think it would be far off topic to discuss the legalities of marijuana and other "harmless" drugs on this thread. However, we can address the idea behind the BATF busting me for some dinky weapons charge. Of course I am breaking now laws, but if I were, I would take the risk of being caught for it. I can't blame the law enforcement officer or agency for arresting me for violating a "senseless" law. True, they could have used discretion. Same for a speeding ticket. Often people get mad at the officer when they get caught for breaking some minor law that the officer could have let them off for. However, the law is the law. By breaking it, you should accept the risk involved and be willing to accept the consequences of your actions. I once parked in a handicap spot so I could unload my equipment for the soccer team I was coaching. I was the only car on the entire block. Along comes local PD captain on a mission to take a bite out of crime. Despite me being right there by my car and asking him if he wanted to move my car, he said, "I'll have it moved, I'll have it towed." Yes, he was not having a good day or he didn't like anyone who would park in a handicap spot, regardless of its location. I was mad. Why? It was $282! I wanted to fight it. I was stark mad. However, I eventually accepted that I had broken the law. I could fight it, but the fact remained, I had violated the rules of the State of California. I paid my $282. I accepted the responsibility for my actions.
If I were to get busted for some minor firearms violation, I would have to do the same. I might be upset at the officer for busting a "mainly" law abiding citizen, but the law is the law. He doesn't make the laws, he just enforces them. Why he busted me doesn't matter. He might be in a bad mood, he might have a personal agenda, or he might not like the way I look or act. The fact is, he has the duty to enforce the law. If he does his job, it is hard for me to justify any ill-will towards him because I knowingly broke the law. Marijuana smokers know that they are breaking the law. It is a risk they accept and a responsibility they need to accept if they get caught doing it.
Now if I want to do something about it. I can write my legislators, write my local press, and try to organize a movement to change the public consensus, or at least the consensus of voters. Getting mad at law enforcement for doing their job is not going to acomplish anything.
As far as the golden rule goes, I don't see how it could possibly apply to criminals and law enforcement. So as a criminal, if I am willing to break the law, should cops be willing to break the laws too? Is that what you mean by the golden rule? Since I disregard the laws of the land, so should cops when arresting me? Should they plant evidence or beat me around a bit while I am handcuffed? That is probably not what you meant right? Some cops do let things go. Some do not. Hating a whole group for the actions of some is not going to get anything changed. I know police officers who have seen people with illegal weapons in this state. They politely inform them that that is illegal, and that they should be be carefuly who they have that around or fix it. It varies from case to case. We can both give examples of both ways; however, the point remains, the legislature makes the rules, the LEO enforces it. Don't fault a cop for doing his job according to the laws of his jurisdiction. Fault the system that asks him to enforce the laws he is enforcing.
And really, the best reason not to support the illicet drug trade is because terrorists sell drugs to front money for their terror campaigns! I saw that on a commercial once!
Have a good day everyone.
