Maryland Police Detain Concealed Carry Permit Holder Over An Hour During Search For Legal Gun

Maryland police officers detained a concealed carry permit holder for more than 90 minutes while looking for a gun he was legally allowed to possess. John Filippidis was traveling through the state with his family, but opted to leave his firearm at home in Florida due to the varying nature of state concealed carry laws.

John Filippidis, a business owner, was on his way to a family wedding in New Jersey when the Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MTAP) pulled him over along I-95. A law enforcement officer in an unmarked car pulled alongside his vehicle and ordered the Filippidis family to sit and wait while the vehicle was searched. The Florida gun owner maintains that he was not speeding.

The police officer immediately asked where Filippidis’ gun was upon approach, to which the Floridian responded it was at home in his safe. The answer did not satisfy the MTAP officer, who reportedly proceeded to ask the entire family questions about the location of the gun.

Kally, the concealed carry permit holder’s wife, responded this way when asked separately about the location of the firearm:

“I don’t know. 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.”

According to Filippidis, the Maryland police officer called him a liar when he returned to speak with him. “Where is the gun? Tell me where it is and we can resolve this right now,” the officer allegedly said before calling for backup. Three unmarked police cars quickly arrived on the scene.

Kally and John Filippidis were patted down by the officers then placed inside a patrol car with their children while the officers searched the SUV for the legal gun. The question and search session lasted approximately an hour and a half. The family was ultimately allowed to go on their way after a written warning was issued.

John Filippidis had this to say about the Maryland gun search:

“All that time, he’s humiliating me in front of my family, making me feel like a criminal. I’ve never been to prison, never declared bankruptcy, I pay my taxes, support my 20 employees’ families; I’ve never been in any kind of trouble. He wants to put me in jail. For no reason. He wants to take my wife and children away and put me in jail. In America, how does such a thing happen? … And after all that, he didn’t even write me a ticket.”

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police has issued an apology to John Filippidis and his family. The traffic stop and search for a legally-owned concealed carry weapon remains under investigation. Do you think the Florida man’s Second Amendment rights were violated?

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