Flat Tire Leads to Gunfight in North Carolina, Trooper Shot in Vest with .44 Magnum

Image from Buncombe County DA

On the evening of July 3rd, 2023, at about 7:30 P.M., North Carolina State Trooper Jeffrey L. Dunlap noticed a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of I-26, near milepost 33.

From media reports, it appears Wesley Scot Taylor, 56, was in the process of changing a tire when Trooper Jeffrey L. Dunlap stopped to investigate. The interaction was friendly until Dunlap asked Taylor to take an alcohol test. Dunlap says he smelled alcohol on Taylor’s breath. Taylor went to the cab of his truck. Dunlap thought he was obtaining a tool to aid in the changing of the tire. Taylor returned with a Desert Eagle handgun, chambered in .44 magnum, as reported by the Buncombe County DA. There is reported to be dashcam camera video showing the gunfight which ensued. Taylor is reported as firing the first shot, which is said to have occurred moments after the screenshot shown above. Dunlap returned fire and killed Taylor. The dashcam video has not been released to the public as of this writing.

From wlos.com:

Per the State Bureau of Investigation review, District Attorney Todd Williams said Dunlap pulled over to assist the driver, Wesley Taylor, of Leicester, and smelled alcohol on his breath. According to Williams, the interaction changed once Trooper Dunlap asked Taylor to take an alcohol test.

“At that point, some friction erupted,” Williams said. “And Mr. Taylor went into his car and Trooper Dunlap assumed that he was getting other tools to get his tire back on, get his wheel back on, and emerged with a .44 Magnum Desert Eagle.”

At that point, Taylor pulled the trigger, shooting Dunlap in the chest. The bullet was stopped by the trooper’s bulletproof vest, where it remained lodged, Williams said. Dunlap then quickly pulled his gun from its holster and returned fire, killing Taylor.

WLOS investigations shows Wesley Scot Taylor had been convicted of multiple felonies in Kentucky between 1984 and 1990 and had served time for those offenses over 30 years ago. From wlos.com, checking criminal records:

According to North Carolina records, Taylor only had traffic citations and violations. In October 2021, he was charged with an expired registration card/tag and an expired inspection. In February 2022, he pleaded guilty and responsible to those charges. Taylor was also charged with driving while impaired in 2012, which was dismissed by the district attorney in Buncombe County at the time, Ron Moore. In 2012, charges for an expired registration and driving under the influence were also dismissed by the DA.

 In Kentucky, between 1984-1990, Taylor was found guilty of charges ranging from aggravated assault, fugitive warrants, forcible sex offenses, and burglary, for which he served time.

WLOS interviewed Taylor’s neighbors. From wlos.com article with interviews from neighbors:

“There’s a lot of people doing things they shouldn’t be doing,” said Taylor’s neighbor. “I guess that’s just their reaction when they get caught, to try and take care of it themselves.

(snip)

Another neighbor told News 13 Taylor was a “great guy” and they are left stunned by the news.

It is to be hoped the dashcam video will be released to the public. The Buncombe County DA released this image of a bullet, said to be the bullet stopped by Dunlap’s bullet-resistant vest.

Image from Buncombe County DA

Obtaining measurements from a photograph can be difficult. In the photograph, the diameter of the bullet base appears to be 10mm or less. It may be much of the vest worn by Dunlap was cut away to reveal the bullet, but it does not appear to be embedded very much in the remaining material. A .44 Magnum bullet is .429 inches in diameter or 10.9 mm. It would have been better if a digital caliper were used to measure the bullet diameter and included in the photograph.

This correspondent has found no toxicology reports for Taylor.  Trooper Dunlap has been found justified in his actions.

From foxnews.com:

A veteran North Carolina state trooper was justified in fatally shooting an armed suspect during a traffic stop in which the gunman opened fire on him, with only his ballistic vest saving his life, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Analysis:

Wesley Scott Taylor was a convicted felon over thirty years ago. He appears to have been a drinker. The courts have ruled one may be convicted of drinking and driving on circumstantial evidence, even if you are not driving at the time. While Taylor was not driving, he faced the potential of a decade in jail for possession of a firearm as a felon. The request for an alcohol test might have triggered a cascade of consequences Taylor was unwilling to face. Alcohol test leads to arrest. Arrest leads to towing of the car, then search of the car. Search of the car leads to discovery of the Desert Eagle. With today’s interconnected databases, arrest and fingerprinting lead to felony charges for illegal possession of the pistol, with a potential of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Taylor seems to have created a new and peaceful life for himself in North Carolina. All was now at risk because of a flat tire leading to a cascade of consequences. If Taylor’s judgement was affected by alcohol, it likely contributed to his decision to start a gunfight. He might have believed he could flee the scene without being identified. If so, it was a fantasy, considering the dashcam and existing operating procedures by most law enforcement.

Taylor could have avoided those consequences if he were not drinking and not in possession of a firearm. As a society, the United States has demonized drinking and driving to unprecedented levels. For 55 years, Federal law has created a lifetime ban on the possession of firearms by felons. Ironically, the law which contributed the most to Taylor’s potential legal risk is being challenged in the courts as unconstitutional.

The Roman Senator and Historian, Tacitus, is quoted as writing (translated):

“The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state.”


About Dean Weingarten:

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

Dean Weingarten

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Sisu

Dean, Given the limited information I applaud your daring attempt to provide an analysis. Especially your willingness to state: “As a society, the United States has demonized drinking and driving to unprecedented levels. For 55 years, Federal law has created a lifetime ban on the possession of firearms by felons. Ironically, the law which contributed the most to Taylor’s potential legal risk is being challenged in the courts as unconstitutional.” Driving while intoxicated is wrong, but strict thresholds for determining any one individual’s impairment are inappropriate; and forced “breathalyzer” and “blood tests” are clearly unconstitutional. So it is not only… Read more »

ruffhouse

“Driving while intoxicated is wrong, but strict thresholds for determining any one individual’s impairment are inappropriate; and forced “breathalyzer” and “blood tests” are clearly unconstitutional.”

Agreed. Let’s not forget the unconstitutional DUI checkpoints which some states allow, either.

DWI is definitely a problem, but the entire legal process is a honey-hole for everyone involved. Attorney’s fees, court and probation fees, commercial prisons, breathalyzers, ankle monitors, ignition interlocks… They really don’t want this game to end.

Finnky

You may be right about numerical testing results versus impairment, however without numerical testing limits we get an arbitrary system dependent entirely on officer discretion. Current system is a mess and arbitrary, however it would be far worse without numerical guidelines.

Knute Knute

There were no tests or “numerical guidelines” back in the 1960’s when I grew up, and yet highway accidents and fatalities were apx. the same, per capita. With those statistics at hand, how can you justify the belief that without them; “it would be far worse”?
It appears to me that it would change not at all.

swmft

and there is nothing but observation for drugs same result some people can drink a keg and function others just need to smell the cork

Bubba

I wish that was the case now. I hope it becomes the case and the statistics hold true to that. I think the penalties for causing an accident or hurting someone while intoxicated should be much harsher. No more claiming it was the alcohol or the drugs that made me do it. f that. But I think it’s up to you if you chose to take that drink. Some people are functional and most others are not. This is a clear example of someone that cannot hold their liquor. Now he can drink the fires of hell for all eternity… Read more »

Grigori

I refer to these social and legal constructs as “industries”, which they are. There are many. They generate jobs and revenue for many while destroying the lives of others as part of the deal. You have the DUI industry, the CDV industry, the Child Protective Services industry, the speeding industry, the victims advocacy industry, and so many others. I do not condone driving while intoxicated. That said, even when I was a cop, I saw through so much of the bullsh-t used to prop up the DUI and speeding industries, masquerading as “saving lives”. I recall reading in the late… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Grigori
Knute Knute

Gregori is dead on the target here. The whole MADD con game is just an excuse to raise revenue. To “prop up the DUI and speeding industries, masquerading as “saving lives”. It’s all a sham. A masquerade. Just a big elaborate con game. One that the people of this courty are beginning to wake up to. The “War on Drugs” is just another aspect of the same sham. One does not need to be on drugs to see that the problem is worse now than it was back when the “war” was started. The problem has grown many fold since… Read more »

swmft

with drugs gangs and dealers created by the government rules just like with alcohol in the 20s crime by government

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

They claim radar’s science is settled. By WHO? The “state” that profits from the use? The company that makes them that profits from their sale? To me the word ERROR and the use of tuning forks to check one are suspect. The fact they need to be calibrated at all make them suspect. If I had to calibrate my speedometer every time I took my car out, I’d be looking for another way to determine my speed! Tuning forks use is letting the machine calibrate itself. Cosine ERROR, shadowing ERROR, ghosting ERROR, makes the who think nothing but a toy… Read more »

Sometimes I don’t understand the thumbs down votes.
Makes me think of Jim Morrison who I never thought had any talent.
“People are strange”

Grigori

The same logic can be applied to the DUI Industry. Many billions of dollars each year go into Datamaster and other BAC measuring devices as well as cops, courts, video cameras, ignition interlocks (a new facet of the DUI Industry), “safety” checkpoints, mobile Datamaster vans, etc. Periodically, I hear or read some statistic that says that on certain nights of the week, every 3rd, 5th, 8th, or whatever, car that you meet or pass on the road is operated by a legally impaired driver. That means they have a Blood Alcohol Content above whatever arbitrary number the Legislature in your… Read more »

swmft

i grew up with the as fast as safe i many places ,dad flew black planes so he drove FAST dont wonder why he had a hopped up corvette in 1963 the mountain to white sands before flight plan was set

Finnky

My ex-father-in-law flew slow planes, as in private single prop types. However when he got pulled over speeding one time, officer thought he was being cute asking for pilot’s license. Guess officer was embarrassed getting exactly what he asked for, so let ex-FIL off with a warning.

Grigori

Musicman, same here! At 55, I felt like dozing off on long commutes or trips. 70 or higher, very alert and attentive!

Knute Knute

Before trhe Nixon mandated double nickle went into effect, Montana’s speed limit was whatever speed that was: “reasonable and prudent”. Police assumed that that was 100 MPH, and people drove accordingly. At anything under 70 you were considered to be a ‘rolling roadblock’, and the Highway Patrol(Montana’s State Troopers) would blow past you at 90+. The highway death stats were about the same, per capita, as now. In the 1960’s when my Grandfather was still alive he’d forever be complaining about the speed maniacs. He was from the horse and buggy days and thought that nobody should go much over… Read more »

Finnky

Was that Nixon? I though it came under Carter as a way to save gas during fuel shortages. Note my minivan gets best mileage at about 65-70. Drops off markedly as one approaches triple digits. Cars are so smooth now that I find 70 almost a lullaby. Not that driving is more exciting at higher speeds, but watching for speed traps keep safe me focused. No tickets since 2003 so must be doing something right . Only accident in 2006 at very slow speed when someone else ran a stop sign and caught my back corner. Amazing how easy it… Read more »

Knute Knute

I was only going by memory so I looked it up.
“The uniform speed limit was signed into law by Nixon on January 2, 1974, and became effective 60 days later” – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Maximum_Speed_Law
And thanks for getting me to look it up. Wikipedia managed to include this little gem:
“many jurisdictions discovered it to be a major source of revenue….” – Ibid
A scam to raise revenue. Confirmation of exactly what Gregori already said above.

Knute Knute

I found another little bit of interesting info in that Wiki article. “Montana and Nevada generally posted no speed limits on highways, limiting drivers to only whatever was safe for conditions” I didn’t expect they would mention Montana, whose State law only said “What is reasonable and prudent”. That worked really well in Montana where we have lots of space, not many roads, and sometimes horrible road conditions, due to blizzards and white-outs. Giving the officer some discretion was a good thing, bc when the road is clear and straight for 15 miles to the horizon, 100 MPH is almost… Read more »

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

I drove through Montana once in a 1967 Country Sedan wagon at 100 mph coming back to Washington from a trip. At one point I thought to myself, what if I had a front end blow out at this speed with my wife and four younger sons in the car? At which time I slowed down to 70. This was in a RESTORED 1967 Ford Country Sedan in 1996! It was already almost forty years old. My son took possession of it a couple of years ago. It was the car he learned to drive in! It is now FIFTY… Read more »

Knute Knute

This is the reason I previously wrote that on a clear, straight Montana road, 100 is almost as safe as 50. The extra speed isn’t going to cause a problem, but a flat front tire is, indeed going to be worse at a higher speed. But only you know your vehicle, and the level of risk you’re willing to accept, so the decision od travel speed is properly yours. Not some nameless, faceless, burrocrat’s from DC who’s never even seen a blizzard or a straight stretch of roadway.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Any modern car that can drive on the Autobahn can do 100 all day long and if 100 was the speed limit you can bet your butt that people would be more aware while driving. 55 is the speed that they had to put rumble strips on the roads for to wake up the drivers who fell asleep.
It was a fact that the 55 mph speed limit created more accidents than 70 and above.

Grigori

LOL! I never was privileged to visit Montana but I heard similar stories about their “speed limits”. I was always envious. I remember Nixon’s 55MPH limit, the gas shortages of 73, etc. That was what kickstarted CB radio into mainstream use in a big way. I still believe CB, or GMRS, or even ham radio, are a wise thing to have in your car. CB and GMRS have greater potential for highway information in part due to fewer frequencies anyone might be monitoring for info. The Arab embargo caused me to have to renew my learner’s permit a couple of… Read more »

Bob

Gas shortage? What gas shortage? I was stationed at Fort Riley from 1970 until April 1976. I never saw a gas shortage! Was stationed to Hawaii, Schofield Barracks in April 1976 and driving from St. Louis to Travis AFB took four days! Returning to Fort Leavenworth when we came back, we stopped to see friends in Idaho. Was running about 85 through Montana and saw a highway patrolman heading North who didn’t follow us. I slowed to 70-75 anyway for a while. Then got a ticket in Kansas for doing 70 in a 55 on the open interstate. Oh well!

Bubba

I miss my gramps.
He was a character like that.

Wild Bill

That is not all Nixon did.

Last edited 1 year ago by Wild Bill
Knute Knute

Not by a damsite it wasn’t! 🙂
I suspect that even the wordpress algo will not object to a reference to the site a dam is built on…. 🙂

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

You’ll love this one Grigori…
The Law Enforcement Growth Industry by George Gordon

Excellent post, Lion! I don’t understand the downvotes to your post. ThanknYou!

Knute Knute

I just wiped off as many as I could.

Grigori

Thank You, Sir!

ruffhouse

Texas used to tout their, “no refusal weekends” on major holidays. I had a friend who got stopped during one of these events. She said no to the breath test, so they loaded her up and took her in for a blood sample. She said no to that too, until they shoved a taser in her neck and zapped her till she pissed her pants. I don’t think refusal is much of an option in the Lone Star Stasi. They will contact the judge and have a warrant waiting when you get to the station/ hospital. There’s a video of… Read more »

ruffhouse

Is resisting having a needle poked in you being combative? If the cops don’t give a shit, why didn’t they take her to the station after she refused the breathalyzer, instead of the ER?
This was Tarrant Co btw.

Last edited 1 year ago by ruffhouse
Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Yeah, those police reports are the center of truth, aren’t they? LOL!

ruffhouse

“Refusal is considered an admission of guilt…”

How does the 5th Amendment not come into play, here, without the issuance of a warrant to gather evidence?
They had no warrant, btw.

Last edited 1 year ago by ruffhouse
Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor
Finnky

Nurse was assaulted for refusing to assault a patient. Department lost big time in court and I believe officer involved lost his credentials in addition to his job.

Texas is a big state with some tiny towns. Some departments are very professional and some the antithesis.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Uvalde comes to mind when it comes to antithesis.

Cannot agree enough with this statement. Unfortunately, guilt does not all belong to Uvalde police as border patrol and state troopers also arrived on scene well before entry was made. I would guess officers came from neighboring jurisdictions as well as small towns often have mutual aid agreements. Sad part is that none of the officers in any of the organizations had guts to break the rules – of Uvalde police chief misclassifying even. May be time for federal legislation protecting officers from retribution if they run into a reasonably perceived public mass shooting even if against orders. Could even… Read more »

Grigori

Citizens, too!

Knute Knute

In my experience Sheriff’s are world’s above the police. But then, Sheriff’s are elected officials and have to face the public. Police Chiefs are mostly appointed, usually by Mayors, and only have to follow the orders given to them by those who hired them.
Is this an example of cause and effect? You be the judge!

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

I’ve ALWAYS said, the enforcers are the main problem and will always be. History proves it.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Refusal is simply refusing to be a witness against yourself. How is that an “admission of guilt”? The problem is that too many LE are psychopaths that “don’t give a shit”. In another words have no empathy to the victim they are dealing with. When I worked for Hollywood FL PD, back in the late 1970’s I witnessed their disregard of other peoples problems to the degree where they would take half of a MJ bust and keep it for themselves. And arrest the kid for having it. SICK. I was ousted as a “Serpico” personality before my year was… Read more »

Desert Rat

It’s reported that 23% of accidents are caused by drunk drivers. I’m more worried about the 77% of stone sober drivers trying to kill me who are busy with their phones, lunch, kids in the back seat, makeup or just never look farther down the road than their hood ornament.

ruffhouse

I’d rather have a .08 driver coming at me than some chick with an iPhone and a TikTok account.

Knute Knute

Me, too! In my book, if a driver can stay in his own lane at a decent speed, I could care less what his BA percentage is. Accordingly, if a driver cannot stay in their own lane, I don’t care if it’s because they’re drunk, stoned, staring at their phone, or just have no idea how to drive. Like with being scalped, dead is dead. I could care less what caused the idiotic fool to come at me, head-on in the wrong lane. Whether I’m killed by an idiot staring at their phone, or an idiot drugged out of their… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Knute Knute
Finnky

Difference is that phone user can put down their phone and immediately return to normal. Doesn’t help if the don’t put down the phone in time and obviously if they think it’s OK to be lost in their phone – their “normal” judgement is defective to begin with..

Knute Knute

Plus, if they’re that addicted to their phone in the first place, they’ll likely never put it down in the second place. Maybe for one second when they hit the rumble strip. Then right back to tic tok or whatever.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

In reality, more people are killed by sober drivers than drunk drivers. What I would think would suffice is that if someone is driving drunk and kills someone, maybe we should just execute the person doing so and then there will be enough of a deterrent that no one would want to drive drunk.
I just don’t know what the real answer is. Driving drunk is just plain damn stupid.

USMC0351Grunt

My 15 year old, older brother was murdered by a drunk driver that mowed him down with a Cadillac, killing him instantly after throwing his body some 150 feet. Should my family agree that once that drunk bastard sobered up and served his sentence that HIS rights should be restored? What about my brother’s and family member’s “rights”? Worse yet, the drunk was one of his best friend’s father.

Last edited 1 year ago by USMC0351Grunt
63Sunset

I do not have the desire nor the demented state of mind necessary to accept the edicts being imposed on citizens by the current authorities.
The system is designed for the government, local to Federal, to take the individuals earnings and possessions. We probably waited too long to accept the truths that Sisu and others have stated here. The is only one way now to put an end to this, total resistance.

ruffhouse

I doubt it will end, but avoiding it is easy enough. Don’t drink and drive.

HLB

I sense a lot of personal history here in the comments. I once helped a person with a flat tire and there was no shooting. I tried to help, not impress the religion of society on them. I have known people who drink and drive better than I can when I am sober. I knew one person who was killed by a drunk driver. The person I helped watched from a distance as a police cruiser pulled up beside their disabled car and that person’s comment was, “I don’t trust them”. This incident was a result of a lifetime of… Read more »

ruffhouse

“Maybe, just maybe, we need to re-do the mess we live in from the inside out.”
+1

Dunlap likely knew Taylor’s history before he exited the cruiser.

Oldman

I doubt that, or he would not have let him go to the car to retrieve his .44. No sane person wants to get shot at, vest or not.

ruffhouse

They don’t run the tags of every vehicle they encounter? All he has to do is punch in the plate #.
Many states have plate readers.
@Ope could weigh in on this

Oldman

Not trying to argue with you ruff. This was probably the last thought that was in Dunlap’s head when he encountered a stopped vehicle to see if he could assist the motorist who obviously had a flat tire. I know for a fact that here in Washington State, the WSP, when pulling over any vehicle, checks every vehicles plate and runs the registered owner through the system checking for warrants, driving records, and whether that person has a concealed carry license before they even exit their vehicle. In this case he did not pull over the vehicle. OMO.

ruffhouse

“Is that Dunlaps backup driving by?”

Lmao. I saw that, too.
Serpico syndrome?

BillyBobTexas

ALL other ‘facts’ being presented, and regardless of these arguments about rights, laws, and policing, when anyone unloads any weapon at a law enforcement officer like this, they deserve termination with extra prejudice. Instantly. And if that ‘termination’ is not successful … life sentence. Period.

Stag

So defending one’s self against government thugs seeking to violate rights should automatically result in a death sentence or life in prison? Congratulations, I don’t think one can worship the state any harder.

Bob

“… regardless of these rights, laws and policing…” Anyone breaking into my house for any reason… Someone is going to die!

Ram

Taylor found a permanent solution to being Taylor.
Blessings to officer Dunlap.
With only a little thought Taylor could have accepted arrest
and applied the Hunter Biden defense.

swmft

he is right ope.. problem is that dam constitution every one has ignored since the end of un civil war , they say well it does not apply to this or that it is all inclusive and when is the last time you heard of 242 being used against police or judges and that is what it is for qualified immunity is a un constitutional thing equal protection remember #14

JNew

Yikes. That 44 slug must’ve felt like getting stomped on by a bison.

Knute Knute

That is my main takeaway from this story. I find it quite impressive that the officer was able to draw, and quickly return such effective fire after absorbing the full force of a .44 magnum round to the chest. Even without penetration, it must feel like getting punched by Mike Tyson in his prime!

Knute Knute

Assuming, OFC, that the story as presented is true.
There is a chance that the officer fired first and is lying to cover that up. The dashcam footage will reveal that… but if his superiors refuse to release said footage, or the camera was shut off before the incident occurred, or the footage was somehow destroyed ‘accidentally’, I’d take that as evidence of a cover up.

ruffhouse

I dunno, man. From the pic, it sure looks like Dunlap is drawing to the drop.

Oldman

@ ruff, Correct sir.

MP71

I did a little bit of googling. Tyson’s hardest punch was estimated to have been 1,600 joules, which equals 1180 ft lbs. The muzzle energy of a typical 240 gr .44 mag is 742 ft lbs.

Knute Knute

So not quite Tyson’s best punch. Still pretty close though. Tyson in an off moment?
To paraphrase Tallahassee in “Zombieland”; “You get… 62% power.” 🙂
Nice researching, BTW. +1

Grigori

Incredible that a man can punch harder than a .44 Magnum!

Imagine Dirty Harry with Mike Tyson as his partner. “I know what you’re thinking. Did I fire five shots or six. Well, I fired six, and being that my .44 magnum is the most powerful handgun in the world, and could blow your head clean off, I will now defer to my partner, here. His punch is more powerful than a .44 Magnum. Do you think you can survive it? Well, do you feel lucky, punk?”

MP71

Given the choice, would you rather be punched by Tyson of shot with a .44 mag?

Knute Knute

Likely it was only the adrenaline rush that kept him functional.

Rob

Thanks for your forensic analysis of the bullet. Perhaps an effort can be launched to persuade North Carolina State Police to issue digital calipers to their officers to assist any further civilian investigations into these matters.

FL-GA

Reading these comments would lead me to believe that there’s a movement to ammend the Bill of Rights with, “The government will recognize that operating a motor vehicle on public roadways is ‘Traveling, not Driving,’ and there shall be no restrictions whatsoever.”

Stag

As it should be. One should be able to travel where and how they see fit as long as doing so doesn’t cause damage to another person or property.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Besides a driver of a Tesla, who else is driving a “motor” vehicle? I’m not. And driving, traveling, whatever is a RIGHT. If you can do so without damaging another in their life, liberty or property, if there were no “government” then it’s a right. No MAN has the right to tell another what he can or cannot do if he is harming no one.

FL-GA

Flat tire? How about the rear bumper? Looks like possible impaired driving. My analysis would include impaired judgment.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

To add to Tacitus…
There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. ~Ayn Rand

Knute Knute

And with the preceding and after parts it’s even better: “Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? We want them broken. There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Knute Knute
RetMCCC

I advocate government serving and protecting the people vs today’s mindset that the people should serve the government. That said, I feel that the government intervention with regard to the DUI problem is a sad but necessary effort by the government to serve the people by attempting to protect society at large from those whose actions are likely to harm them. I only wish similar efforts were applied to protecting society at large from those mentally deranged individuals who are likely to cause harm instead of focusing on those inanimate objects, eg guns, that such deviates might use, and leave… Read more »

Terry H

Wow!, that had to hurt. Officer Dunlap is one tough SOB to take that hit from 10 feet and return fire. I bet he was one hurtin’ puppy when the adrenaline wore off. Great job officer.

Knute Knute

Is it really 3? Or is it just one with some sock puppets? Perhaps only the trolls’ hairdresser knows for sure! 🙂

StLPro2A

Be stupid, play stupid games, win stupid prizes…. We have a winner here!!!! Come on down, Wesley Scott Taylor. Oh, Wesley won’t be coming down for stupid prizes or breakfast any more.

Matt in Oklahoma

Lol all the drunks trying to defend themselves on here because they’ve no self control and can’t stop drinking and driving. Weak

Knute Knute

Have you a reading comprehension problem? Not one comment on this page has defended drunk driving. Are you unable to understand that pointing out that this is an industrial scale, revenue generating, government scam is a completely different thing than defending the drunk drivers? In an attempt to help you to comprehend the obvious, what this is, is government agencies taking unfair advantage of a known human weakness to generate profits for themselves and their cronies! AND, in the process, generating violent behavior(s) like this exact example, thereby making the already existing problem worse! But, with your lack of reading… Read more »

ruffhouse

How’s that ‘war on drugs’ working out?

Knute Knute

About the same as the war on poverty, the war on ignorance, and the war on prostitution. 🙂

Eric Kennard

Everyone needs to understand that Mr Taylor’s actions were intentional. I am not going get get into your arguments whether his rights as a felon should be restored or whether stopping people from driving intoxicated is right or wrong.

What happened here was Mr. Taylor intentionally shot someone with the intent to kill them. No DUI charge is worth the price of a human life. Not even Taylor’s.

WatchForJoggers

Sounds like the vest was on the wrong person.