What would happen if a black man were pulled over in Texas with a gun in his car?

[Hugabear]

Zimmerman gets let off with a warning. If it had been a black male instead who was pulled over with a gun in his car, how different do you think it would have played out? I'm thinking at the very least, the officer would have called for backup, and I doubt he would have gotten away with just a warning.

[MADem]

1. I suspect you're correct.

What amazes me is that Zimmerman would be speeding sufficiently to attract the attention of police.

He's just a big ole Bad Judgment Bear, now, isn't he?

I should think someone who beat a murder rap would try to lay low, stay out of the limelight--but not this guy.

He thinks he should be able to drive as fast as he wants, to use his gun whenever he feels like it... he's just a big, blubbery ball of entitlement, if you ask me. And hey, not surprising that he has this attitude--he is one of those assholes who keeps getting away with it.

[GreenStormCloud]

5. He was probably doing between 5 to 10 miles over.

Speed limit there was 60. Most places on that road it is 65.

Most Texas cops won't stop you for the first 5, only give a verbal warning up to 10, above that depends on the mood of the officer and how you treat him.

[Hoyt]

11. And he might have been doing 85, and Texas patrolman felt Rick Perry would like

to thank our bigot who used his gun to stand his ground against an unarmed teenager.

[MADem]

12. I'd love to see the dashcam, to include the bit BEFORE the stop.

He may have thought he was pulling over one of those "foreign-types" from FL, and then learned he was in the presence of one of his "heroes" so he let the jerk go.

[kestrel91316]

2. It wouldn't end well for him.

[GreenStormCloud]

3. Nothing would have happened.

It happens every day. First the officer runs the car and tags. If they come back clean, then he walks up to the driver. The driver at that time is required to inform the officer that he is armed. The officer asks where the gun is and tells the driver to keep his hands away from it. The officer runs the driver's license. It it comes back clean, then the gun is not an issue. Officer then writes the ticket, or gives a warning, or whatever. And the driver, whatever his race or ethnicity, goes on his way.

In Texas it is completely legal to have a gun in your car, as long as it is concealed. No permit required.

BTW - Many of our LEOs are Black, or Latino, and/or female.

[Pelican]

4. You are correct...

... but what fun is that?

[uponit7771]

16. I don't WANT to agree with you but on the LEO part you're right, I've been blown away by the diversi

...diversity of the LEO in DFW

[Warpy]

6. Shit, the SOB is heading my way?

Texas, please stop him before he gets here!

[flvegan]

7. Certain DUers would get exceptionally outraged, regardless.

Those certain DUers seek little more. No idea how heads don't explode with every little unrealized outrage. Kind of funny, actually.

[Orrex]

8. I thought that drivers are required to carry a gun while operating a vehicle in Texas

[Eleanors38]

13. Yes, my ignition requires a .357 to start; a .38 won't do.

[olddots]

9. I"m surprised the cop didn't ask him for an autograph

and pose for a picture with him .

[Nye Bevan]

10. What if it was a black woman? An Asian male? A Native American?

Do you think the Texas Police have a handbook that tells them what to do based upon every possible combination of race and gender?

[JesterCS]

14. more than likely roughly pulled from vehicle

slammed onto ground, cuffed, and taken to Jail for at least 24 hours. regardless of guilt or innocence

[Politicalboi]

15. Some here are overlooking the fact that

GZ got away with murder. Had this been a black guy who got away with killing a white kid, I think this would of had a different ending.