FoxNews.com: Philly Gun Owner Charged “with disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment”
FoxNews.com is reporting that Mark Fiorino, a suburban Philadelphia IT worker is facing jail time for “disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment,” for reportedly openly carrying a handgun in Philly – which he had a permit for. An officer reportedly confronted Fiorino, apparently not knowing that open carry was completely legal in the city of Brotherly Love with a permit.
But rather than apologize and drop the matter the city is throwing the book at Fiorino and taking aim at other gun owners. Lt. Raymond Evers, a spokesman for the city police, reportedly told FoxNews.com “that gun owners who open carry, which is legal in the city, may be asked to lay on the ground until officers feel safe while they check permits.”
Additionally FoxNews.com noted:
“The warning comes after Mark Fiorino, a suburban Philadelphia IT worker, posted an audiotape to YouTube of his tense, 45-minute encounter with police in February over his exposed handgun. The video went viral and captured national attention.”
Our best wishes to Fiorino for standing up for his (and all of our) rights.
Philadelphia Weekly: “Cops Don’t Know Their Own Gun Laws”
Do we expect the police to know the law? We do, but this week The Philadelphia Weekly offered an interesting story titled, “Open-Carry Experiment Shows Cops Don’t Know Their Own Gun Laws.”
The story notes that gun-rights activist Mark Fiorino took a stroll around the City of Brotherly Love with a holstered firearm. The author noted:
“One city cop, who requested anonymity, said that he was unaware carrying a firearm openly within the city limits was legal.”
The story further noted that it is legal to carry openly within Philadelphia as long as you have a license, and open carry is legal throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
