Rod_outbak wrote:I dont think anyone would argue that leaving your car unlocked in a shooting range car-park, is freaking stupid.
Even MORE stupid, is the idea of leaving firearms in an unlocked car unattended; stupid of epic proportions.
But the methods the police are employing, sound to be violating peoples rights to privacy.
If a private citizen does the same thing; rummages through an unlocked car in a public car-park, and finds incriminating items (drugs etc), what do you reckon would be the chances that evidence is admissible in court?
Pretty freaking low; I expect.
So why do the police get a different set of rules to operate by, compared to Joe Public?
I read the original article, and even in a public street, I struggle with the justification/need for the police to search the vehicle.
NO idea how searching an unlocked car can be justified, when the search has no basis for actually preventing crime.
Even more worrying, is when the police start doing it, on what is effectively private land (range car-park).
THAT, is my concern about this story.
From my perspective, this is the police justifying being a law unto themselves.
I'm going to discuss this with my local copper, and seek his thoughts...
If we bring more than one gun to my pistol club, you cannot leave it unattended in a LOCKED car, but must leave it with the duty officer (having more than one gun on the range at a time is strictly verboten)