[heviarti]

Anyone heard of this 'three step rule'? A friend of mine went through POST and always spouts this. supposedly states that any firearm must be three steps away from being ready to fire. I've never heard of it, and have been heckled by the Sheriff's department while carrying a weapon less than three steps from ready more than once with nothing said. Does anyone know what my idiot friend is gabbling about?

[runrabbitrun]

I've heard of the three step rule.
Used to follow it when living in Florida.

[trickyrick]

as i understand it, it has something to do w/ storage of a weapon that is concealed in a vehicle. step 1- open glove box step 2- remove carry case or holster, step 3 remove gun from case or holster..i might be wrong...iv'e been wrong before..but someone will come along and straighten us out.

[Rockwell1]

I was scared and fearing for my life.
I was shakin like a leaf on a tree.
cause he was lean, mean,
Big and bad, lord,
Pointin that gun at me.
I said, wait a minute, mister,
I didnt even kiss her.
Dont want no trouble with you.
And I know you dont owe me
But I wish youd let me
Ask one favor from you.

(chorus)
wont you give me three steps,
Gimme three steps mister,
Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps mister,
And youll never see me no more.

[ShadyScott999]

Dang! You beat me to it!

[Oro]

Dang! You beat me to it!

Double Dang, that was going to be my witty contribution, too.

I recall this when I lived in FL, also, but don't know about Idaho. It was about car carry unlicensed I think, not concealed or open carry, just like trickyrick said.

[basicblur]

YMMV in your state, but in VA when I took my CHP course, a former LEO taught the legal section, and referred to the "2-step" rule in VA-it must take at least 2 steps to access the gun-anything less and you're in trouble.

'Course, this pertains to those without a CHP, and it sounded like it was not hard and fast rule (much less legal)? I kinda got the impression it was a rule of thumb for LE to go by.

Too much gray area-just get a CHP in order to CYA!

[Johnny Dollar]

Idaho 'three step rule'
Anyone heard of this 'three step rule'? A friend of mine went through POST and always spouts this. supposedly states that any firearm must be three steps away from being ready to fire. I've never heard of it, and have been heckled by the Sheriff's department while carrying a weapon less than three steps from ready more than once with nothing said. Does anyone know what my idiot friend is gabbling about?

Your last sentence says it all.Idaho has no such rule.
For example for car carry loaded handguns may be carried in plain view,loaded long guns may be carried in plain view or securely cased and hidden from view.

BTW,Florida has no 3 step rule other than Rockwell's jingle!:D
The rule in FL is firearms in a private vehicle may be concealed and loaded as long as they are "securely encased".
Securely encased includes in a glove compartment,closed console,gun case,closed box or container.
So a plain old hat box with a lid on it next to you on the front seat is perfectly legal.My rifle is loaded and in a gun case in the back seat.
Of course with a CCW on body concealed is legal.
Florida has no OC provisions,sadly one of only 6 states in this condition.
The others are AR,NY,OK,SC and TX.

[heviarti]

That's what I figured; Gabbling moron. Not that I'm happy with how Deputies have treated my weapons in the past... But I guess I'll just carry on as I have.

[telomere]

Rules about guns in Idaho, good one!

Most of the sheriffs Deputies I know would think you shouldn't be carrying a gun if its no two steps away from its intended purpose - pull out gun, shoot bad guy.
You can walk around openly carrying a loaded firearm CWP or not, I think that's two steps.

Where did this guy do his POST training that he is learning stuff like that anyway?

[Johnny Dollar]

Where did this guy do his POST training that he is learning stuff like that anyway?

F Troop or Mayberry,RFD!:D

[divemedic]

I've heard of the three step rule.
Used to follow it when living in Florida.

Florida does not and never has had a "3 step rule"

I cannot understand why this rumor will not die, nor do I have any idea where it came from.

[Dave P]

Diver, its not a rule or law, of course. It was (and may be still) a guide for those that do not have a CCW.

I surely could remember it wrong, but I think I heard this (from some authority) as I was appearing in person to get a county permit back in the seventies.

Dave

[kanook]

1) Feel threatened, 2) Grab Firearm from closed container, 3) Shoot :D

[zoom6zoom]

in VA when I took my CHP course, a former LEO taught the legal section, and referred to the "2-step" rule in VA-it must take at least 2 steps to access the gun-anything less and you're in trouble.
Amazing how many instructors make stuff up.

[ravonaf]

I always thought a step rule was how many actions you had to take before a weapon would fire.

Example of 2 steps.
1) Remove Safety
2) Pull Trigger

Of course, I could be wrong.

[Yo Mama]

Rule that someone came up with and means nothing. Follow your state laws for transporting firearms.

[basicblur]

Amazing how many instructors make stuff up.

I assume he was not making it up, as he was a former LEO in VA. I also also assume it was something he'd been taught, or a "rule" (more like a rule of thumb) his department/fellow officers followed.

As stated, there's way too much gray area-LEO in some area may follow it, some may not, or the one with which you interact may be having a bad day and say to hell with it (which is one reason I was getting my CHP).

[runrabbitrun]

Well perhaps in Florida it was not a 'rule/law' per say,
but more of rule of thumb?
(To keep you from being prosecuted for unlawful carry, or a bad shoot?)...

I've had my weapon in the hands of a LEO in the field after a brandishing incident in Florida.
I was the brandisher, late 80's I'm talking about here....

When asked how the 'incident' went down.
I told officers the handgun (9 mm semi) was in my LOCKED clove compartment,
in a rug and no round in the chamber UNTIL
threat approached, threatening to 'kill us all, as he was
in Viet Nam and knew how to do it'.

This guy was saying the above and more, while following me out of a resident
where HIS verbal threats began against all in the residence.
He was following behind me as I was walking out my truck to
get said 9 mm to let this guy know.
He will NOT be hurting/killing me or
ANY of the other people in said apartment/area.

I accessed said weapon, chambered a round and had it
pointed at his forehead and told him 'one more move and'....
(He was less than five feet from me at this time)...
He turned and ran down the street screaming and yelling like a little girl.
A few moments later he was found by LEO and HE was arrested, NOT me.

ALL officers on the scene told me it was
'good' that I was at least three steps from my weapon
or I'd be arrested and charges filed.

One more step by said tuff guy and two lives would of been changed forever,
as I was with finger on trigger and would of put a bullet in his head.

The 3 step rule I believe, is kind of like the 'gun is always loaded' rule.
Those few moments and steps are what may have kept this guy alive and me
from defending myself against the shoot.

Now all you cowboys locked and loaded and firing when someone goes boo.
Let us know how it worked out for you after your stint in the pen for man slaughter.

Sometimes IMO, you need a few seconds (3 steps) to decide fight or flight.

[Johnny Dollar]

Florida does not and never has had a "3 step rule"

I cannot understand why this rumor will not die, nor do I have any idea where it came from

It is amazing divemedic.Just on this thread there are at least 3 people that believed in the so-called 2 or 3 step rule.And a Virginia rule.:D
Well,if we keep repeating that its a myth often enough maybe it will die.
But we'll probably go first!:evil:

ALL officers on the scene told me it was
'good' that I was at least three steps from my weapon
or I'd be arrested and charges filed.

One more step by said tuff guy and two lives would of been changed forever,
as I was with finger on trigger and would of put a bullet in his head.

The 3 step rule I believe, is kind of like the 'gun is always loaded' rule.
Those few moments and steps are what may have kept this guy alive and me
from defending myself against the shoot.

New fresh evidence that we may be fighting a losing battle,Mr Medic.:rolleyes:
rabbit's satire will add some more fuel to the myth.:)

[runrabbitrun]

No satire. I'm just telling you my FIRST hand experience
while living in Florida.
A Native Miamian by the way.

I know that Florida has the Castle Doctrine now and that's great.

In my situation, I'm glad the gun was 3 steps away
or I might be posting this from my laptop in my cell right now. :)

[Johnny Dollar]

The above post is not necessarily true nor is it the opinion of the author
and is intended for entertainment purposes only.

Then change that sig line!;)
You had me going,Native Miamian.
Come back.:D

[runrabbitrun]

Oh OK. I get it JD, the sig line has you confused. lol
No problem my homey. :)

MY sig line is just a disclaimer...
The sig. in essence means:
I simply want the gov. to KNOW
(or whom ever is reading for that matter)
it's all just for 'entertainment purposes' ONLY.
So yea... I guess your right after all.
It is all satire/entertainment and NOT to be construed
with how we, or how I may truly feel about any given topic.

Back on topic:
Obviously, the OP needs to follow his/her laws and NOT
what us 'entertainers/satirists' post here online.

It's all good. :D

[Johnny Dollar]

It is all satire/entertainment and NOT to be construed
with how we, or how I may truly feel about any given topic.

Oh,I agree.But us satirists without that sig line just simply throw up the little :rolleyes: emoticon or state:Beware Satire Warning.I did that last night on the "other channel."
Take a look!;)
But I enjoy your posts and your humor.
Just can't understand why you left Paradise!:D

[22-rimfire]

The 3-Step rule was a Florida thing for unlicensed carry of a handgun in an automobile. I don't know what the current actual law is in FL about unlicensed carry in vehicles.

Years ago, you could have a handgun loaded in a vehicle in TX as long as it was visible (not concealed). So if it was lying on the front seat beside you, that was legal (as I understood it at the time). Probably incorrect information, but I believed it at the time.

The internet and concealed carry licensing in many states have changed the way things are done. Before about the only way you learned anything about firearm carry was if a friend (maybe uninformed at that) tells you what the law was.

My wife's daughter who lived in FL keeps telling me about the 3-Step rule that her Dad told her. Must be right if Dad told her. I told her what the law is in this state and she pretty much just ignored what I said.... Dad is always right. So she carries an illegal loaded firearm in her vehicle believing that as long as there are three steps to access the gun, she's legal anywhere. Try that in NJ, DC or NYC. :)

There is no correcting bad information. People believe what they want to believe until something happens and either their gun is confiscated during a traffic check or they are brought up on firearms charges potentially loosing her right to bear arms forever.

[ArmedBear]

Never heard of it.

Not a terrible guideline for, say, a National Park if you want to stay out of trouble.

However, in Idaho, you can legally carry a loaded handgun on the dashboard without a permit.

If you're talking about someone with no permit, with cased handguns going to the range, "3-steps" is probably as good an idea as any to avoid any semblance of "carrying concealed". However, there's no 3-step law or anything. There really is no good legal definition, so it's best to play it safe.

[Kind of Blued]

I have a hard time believing that this would be law in the first place, but what's the point of this junk anyway? To make people give themselves enough time to realize they don't really need to shoot someone in a fit of road rage or something? I think if people voluntarily follow this because they find it useful, they're probably too stupid, uninformed, and impulsive to be carrying a gun in the first place?

Can you just put a Post-It note on your gun that says "Whoa there guy!" and ignore this junk so you don't have to be murdered while following stupid laws?

[Rockwell1]

This guy was saying the above and more, while following me out of a resident
where HIS verbal threats began against all in the residence.
He was following behind me as I was walking out my truck to
get said 9 mm to let this guy know.
He will NOT be hurting/killing me or
ANY of the other people in said apartment/area.

I accessed said weapon, chambered a round and had it
pointed at his forehead and told him 'one more move and'....
(He was less than five feet from me at this time)...
He turned and ran down the street screaming and yelling like a little girl.
A few moments later he was found by LEO and HE was arrested, NOT me.

ALL officers on the scene told me it was
'good' that I was at least three steps from my weapon
or I'd be arrested and charges filed.
<snip>Now all you cowboys locked and loaded and firing when someone goes boo.
Let us know how it worked out for you after your stint in the pen for man slaughter.




And why don't you let us know how that three step thing works when the bad guy has a gun and won't let you get you your car/truck

[ArmedBear]

Furthermore, with a CWL in Idaho, you can have 15 loaded guns on your person, ready to do, while driving, walking around, etc.

With or without the CWL, you can legally walk around downtown with a loaded gun in a belt holster. I've seen it done without a second glance from the cops, though I generally keep my gun in a pocket or IWB holster around town (not too worried if the grip sticks out, though).

[Johnny Dollar]

The 3-Step rule was a Florida thing for unlicensed carry of a handgun in an automobile. I don't know what the current actual law is in FL about unlicensed carry in vehicles.

See post #8 to bring you up to date.
Don't want anyone to have a bad fate.
Tell your wife's daughter that Dad isn't right.
Some ideas are not very bright.
Sitting in a cell can be quite a fright.
'Specially if you're locked up overnight.
So get it it through her head to start doin it straight.
Hope this helps.Gotta run,have a lunch date.:D

[22-rimfire]

Here's the lyrics for the tune. Just thought some would be interested.

Gimmie Three Steps
I was cutting the rug
Down at a place called the jug
With a girl named linda lu
When in walked a man
With a gun in his hand
And he was looking for you know who.
He said, ’hey there fellow,
With the hair colored yellow,
Watcha tryin’ to prove?
’cause that’s my woman there
And I’m a man who cares
And this might be all for you.’

I was scared and fearing for my life.
I was shakin’ like a leaf on a tree.
’cause he was lean, mean,
Big and bad, lord,
Pointin’ that gun at me.
I said, ’wait a minute, mister,
I didn’t even kiss her.
Don’t want no trouble with you.
And I know you don’t owe me
But I wish you’d let me
Ask one favor from you.’

(chorus)
’won’t you give me three steps,
Gimme three steps mister,
Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps mister,
And you’ll never see me no more.’

Well the crowd cleared away
And I began to pray
As the water fell on the floor.
And I’m telling you son,
Well, it ain’t no fun
Staring straight down a forty-four.
Well he turned and screamed at linda lu
And that’s the break I was looking for.
And you could hear me screaming a mile away
As I was headed out towards the door.

(chorus)

[Rockwell1]

see post four

[22-rimfire]

Rockwell, I did. You only posted part of the lyrics.

Johnny Dollar. Thanks for updating me on FL law. I don't really pay much attention to FL laws. Got a CCW permit from TN and it is honored in FL. She's in TN now and I have encouraged her to get the permit also so she can legally carry a loaded handgun in her vehicle.

Judge.... I was following the 3-Step rule as he starts humming the LS tune. :)

[MT GUNNY]

I use these three steps :
1 Identify Threat
2 Draw Pistol
3 Squeeze Trigger repeatedly until threat is Neutralized

[Johnny Dollar]

I use these three steps :
1 Identify Threat
2 Draw Pistol
3 Squeeze Trigger repeatedly until threat is Neutralized

Commonsense from Kalispell.
Can't top that!:)

[runrabbitrun]

Yea the whole three step thing is (or was) obviously,
just a rule of thumb, NOT a law.

The incident I spoke of earlier was pretty surreal
as it went down.
My guess is IF this guy (who was in the residence when he started his crap)
was armed at that time, we all might of been dead.
I think it was more of alcohol talking for this dude
than anything else
as he was becoming pretty belligerent and we called him a cab.
I guess he just didn't like the idea we wanted him to leave.
(We hurt his feelings, I guess)...

I think if people voluntarily follow this because they find it useful, they're probably too stupid, uninformed, and impulsive to be carrying a gun in the first place?

Nice comment... Not all of us walk around locked and loaded with guns in our sidekick
holsters 24/7 'worrying' that the next person we see is going to do us harm.
Paranoid much? lol
Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with being prepared,
but I'm quit aware of how to assess my surroundings and if need be...
adjust my 'readiness' to fit the situation.
It's really not that hard to do.

Furthermore, were I live now I don't usually find myself surrounded by the criminal element.
We don't even lock our doors and strangers still say hello and thank you when passing.
Really nice little town, full of gun owners too I'm sure.
With that said, if I'm in a gun free zone around here and some BG goes to shooting...
I'm sure I'll of wished I was armed in the building, whether legal or not.
Maybe, some folks still live in a really bad neighborhood or city,
so they are so paranoid that they feel they MUST be at DEFCON 4, 24/7?
It's sad and that's probably the case for many.
Personally I'm glad I removed my family from the almost war zone situation
we faced in South Florida.
Hopefully others will be as fortunate as I and be able to remove their families from harms way.
Or maybe our politicians will get a back bone and start
reforming laws to further deter would be thugs.

And why don't you let us know how that three step thing works when the bad guy has a gun and won't let you get you your car/truck

I see your point. I/we could be dead or possibly harmed.
I hope that this small minority that has made the rest of us law abiding
citizens suffer ridiculous restrictions don't become the majority.
In THAT scenario this rabbit will carry EVERYWHERE, regardless of insane restrictive laws.

Little side note:

The 'Jug' is a real bar out in the woods close to the Itchatucnee river.
(Yes I also still own a home in N. Florida, Colombia County)...
Been there many times and it may be that the
members of Lynard Skinner had been there as well...
and this song is a true story.

Back into the day all were welcome, bikers pot heads, red necks you name it.
Really cool little place and yes we all had guns.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

[ArmedBear]

The 3-step "rule" is not for a gun to be used in self-defense, from what I can see.

It's only for transporting a gun that cannot legally be "concealed."

It would be hard for a court to find that a gun 3 steps from being used is being "carried concealed."

[runrabbitrun]

It's only for transporting a gun that cannot legally be "concealed."

Now why didn't I think to just say that in my first post here? :banghead:

Yes that's it. I do believe >>> this ArmedBear has it right. :)

[Rockwell1]

Maybe, some folks still live in a really bad neighborhood or city,
so they are so paranoid that they feel they MUST be at DEFCON 4, 24/7?

DEFCON 4 is normal peace time operations DEFCON 1 is all units foward deployed cocked, locked & ready to rock. DEFCON 0 is at war

[runrabbitrun]

OK my bad... DEFCON 2 then. Better? :neener:

When I wrote that I couldn't remember which way it went.
(Hadn't seen War Games in a while)... :D

[runrabbitrun]

OK one more tid bit and I'll try to go away.

I traveled across the country unarmed shortly after 911
to get my son. Elian type thing, never mind.
Interesting to note my destination was Coeur D Alene Idaho.
Really pretty place but has a serious meth problem
from what I understand. Or did anyway.

[Rockwell1]

Apparently we were both wrong

DEFCON 5 Normal peacetime readiness

DEFCON 4 Normal, increased intelligence and strengthened security measures

DEFCON 3 Increase in force readiness above normal readiness

DEFCON 2 Further Increase in force readiness, but less than maximum readiness

DEFCON 1 Maximum force readiness.



US SSBN forces stay on DEFCON 2 at all times

[runrabbitrun]

Well I hope you get me point my good man. lol

BTW you guys see the vid on You Tube with the cop who shot himself
with his 'unloaded' gun?
(Was at a school lecturing children)...
Right before his unloaded gun went off, he said:
'I'm the only one in the room qualified to' BANG.

(I'm paraphrasing so don't get your panties in a wad. lol)

[rondog]

step 1 - grab pistol off my lap
step 2 - point at bad guy's face in my car window
step 3 - pull trigger

[22-rimfire]

Three steps... triple tap.

[rondog]

BTW you guys see the vid on You Tube with the cop who shot himself
with his 'unloaded' gun?
(Was at a school lecturing children)...
Right before his unloaded gun went off, he said:
'I'm the only one in the room qualified to' BANG.

You talkin' about Nat E. Dred, the Rasta ATF agent? The video of that fool's been posted on the 'net so much, the thread's usually get locked because it's been seen so often.

[Rockwell1]

If the bad guy gets to your car before you grab the gun you're already waaaaaaaay behind the curve

[runrabbitrun]

I like this idea:

Three steps... triple tap. :D

One thing I wont do is have a round in the chamber UNTIL
it's time to go BANG or at DEFCON 1 <<< (is that right?).
Call me crazy, but that's just me. :uhoh:

[DCR]

mixing up the metaphor (song) a bit, but it may be a local ordinance and whether it's later than

Eight o'clock in Boise...Idaho... :neener:

anyway...no, there's no three steps rule in Idaho. I'm betting it's one of two things:

1 - a variation on the 21-foot "danger zone" school of thought, since a potential attacker 21 feet away can reach you in three strides (steps) then tackle/knife/otherwise harm you; or -

2 - something LEO's from out of state were taught as to what constitutes an inaccessible (and therefore not "concealed" or imminently threatening) weapon in a vehicle, either as a rule of thumb or the law in their former states, prior to being hired as POST instructors.

Things like this "3-steps" business have a pernicious way of becoming an "infallible" training standard an officer can testify to in court in a concealed weapon violation case because "concealed" can be vague and difficult to define. Eventually, if the LEO's learn it and repeat it often enough, it becomes a standard of training, and even rise to the level of being a definition prosecutors and prosecution-minded judges can hang their hats on.

Idaho does not define "concealed," and has no reference anywhere to "three steps," but your friend has provided some valuable insight into how POST graduates in Idaho are trained to handle certain events. You should glean as much knowledge from him as you can of their super-secret crime fighting techniques so you know what to expect if you're ever involved or implicated in anything.

Don't forget to share what you learn!!

[BhmBill]

*2 men arguing*

Man 1: "YEAH? YOU WANNA FIGHT, YOU #(*%?!"

Man 2: "YEAH!!! WAIT... no... my gun is only 2 steps away :( YOU'RE LUCKY PAL... IF MY GUN WAS 1 STEP FURTHER AWAY... YOU'D BE ONE DEAD SOB!"

Man 1: "Indeed."

Man 2: "Well... lets hold hands and skip to the ice cream parlor together!"

Man 1: "YAY!"

*The men hold hands, skip to the local ice cream emporium, and become BFF's"



Sorry, Johnny Law... not all situations can turn out this PC. "step" rules aren't going to deter anyone from blowing someone away if they really want to.

[ArmedBear]

I hadn't thought of this, but this could be meant in the opposite way, too.

For defense, NO MORE than 3 steps should be required to take the shot.

I.e., if you conceal a gun so that you have to go through all sorts of machinations to get at it, it's no good. If you conceal it so you have to do no more than 3 things, like lift your shirt, draw and shoot, then the gun is worth carrying

[Johnny Dollar]

For defense, NO MORE than 3 steps should be required to take the shot.

I.e., if you conceal a gun so that you have to go through all sorts of machinations to get at it, it's no good. If you conceal it so you have to do no more than 3 things, like lift your shirt, draw and shoot, then the gun is worth carrying

Practical and tactical thinking.Inversing the box.
I like it.Being in Florida with no OC option,that is our practice drill.