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 Originally Posted by Lukie
Also this is somewhat tangential to the guns thread, but something like a .38 snubbie would fit EASILY into one of those pockets and the officer wouldn't have any idea. And there are much smaller guns and weapons out there.
Is it likely that the guy standing in the middle of the parking lot is armed AND ready to use it? No, but on the same token it very well is possible and very simple requests like 'take your hands out of your pocket' are very reasonable and there has to be a certain amount of authority to back that up (i.e. it has to be a legal requirement and not just a kind request).
A man on a street with a finger pointing at him whom the cop did not witness doing anything. At what point did this become probable cause for suspicion? If this is now probable cause, at what point are we going to further abuse ourselves by broadening the definition and strengthening police authoritarianism and, say, let them consider being out at night probable cause? I mean, c'mon, most crime happens at night, right? Bingo, probable cause. The guy with his hands in his pockets *could* be hiding a weapon, well the guy on the street at night *could* be a do-no-gooder. Tackle his ass
Regardless of the interpretation of these things, there must be reasoning. For the last several decades our reasoning has consistently gravitated away from the innocent until proven guilty theme
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