I'm glad the TV news makes a fool of the laws and cops on this one. For once they're selling advertising for a decent reason.
But something doesn't add up. When I've been pulled over, I either have all my papers out or tell the cop I'm reaching, get them, and then proceed. Never once have I been asked to get out of have them search. That's including the time when I got off working 18 hours and forgot to turn on my headlights on a well lit road after midnight. That cop sure thought I was UI.
So what did this guy do to justify a search?
Further, nj law clearly states to keep firearms in the trunk, or if there is no trunk, out of reach. The glovebox covers #2 if invoked, but not #1. So, assuming he was driving in a car, why wasn't it in the trunk? If it was wrapped in cloth in a glovebox, it wasnt a very valuable or special item. Why have it strewn there?
Cases like this suck for the person but are good for bringing visibility to the cause. That said, it doesn't take much thought to make one have to question what created the circumstances.