Gun Owners Traveling In Maryland BEWARE! What Happened To This Unarmed Man Will Shock You!
Source: https://goo.gl/r9mZtS
John Filippidis, a gun owner with a Florida concealed carry permit, found himself in hot water as he traveled through the state of Maryland. What did he do wrong? Nothing. His gun was at HOME. The details and unanswered questions this story produces will shock you.
The trouble occurred when Filippidis and his family were driving from Florida to New Jersey for Christmas. Because Filippidis knew he would be traveling through states that are not gun-friendly, he left his gun at home in his safe. Filippidis said, “I know the laws and I know the rules. There are, after all, ways gun owners can travel legally with firearms through hostile states, but I just think it’s a better idea to leave it home.” However, this precaution didn’t prevent an uncomfortable encounter with Maryland police.
During his travels through the state of Maryland on I-95 after passing through the Fort McHenry tunnel, Filippidis states a Maryland cop flanked him, pulled ahead of him, and then got behind him. After about ten minutes of being followed by the officer, the Filippidis family was pulled over for unknown reasons. According to Filippidis, “We weren’t speeding. In fact, lots of other cars were whizzing past.”
The officer, from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, approached the Filippidis’ vehicle and asked John for his license and registration. The officer disappeared back to his police car for approximately ten minutes before he returned and asked John to exit his vehicle.
The officer proceeded to question John, “You own a gun,” the officer says. “Where is it?”
Filippidis told the officer his gun was at home in his safe, but the officer did not believe him and began to question John’s wife, Kally. Reportedly, the officer said to her, “Your husband owns a gun. Where is it?”
Retelling the story to the Tampa Tribune, Kally said initially, she told the officer, “I don’t know.” She continued, “And that’s all I should have said.” Nonetheless, in an attempt to be helpful, she added, “Maybe in the glove (box). Maybe in the console. I’m scared of it. I don’t want to have anything to do with it. I might shoot right through my foot.”
This caused the situation to escalate, as the officer confronted Filippidis, saying, “You’re a liar. You’re lying to me. Your family says you have it. Where is the gun? Tell me where it is and we can resolve this right now.”
The gun, home in Filippidis’ safe, obviously could not be produced, prompting the officer to call for backup. The Tampa Tribune reports:
Kally’s failure to corroborate John’s account, the officer would tell them later, was the probable cause that allowed him to summon backup — three marked cars joined the lineup along the I-95 shoulder — and empty the Expedition of riders, luggage, Christmas gifts, laundry bags; to pat down Kally and Yianni; to explore the engine compartment and probe inside door panels; and to separate and isolate the Filippidises in the back seats of the patrol cars.
After almost two hours and no weapon being found, the Filippidis family was given a written warning (the offense was not noted) and the ordeal finally ended.
How the officer knew that Filippidis owns a gun has not been revealed or determined at this time. The Maryland Transportation Authority Police are conducting an investigation and declined to comment.