My First Concealed Carry Experience w/ LEO

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Mot45acp

Mot45acp

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Two things first for those not from TX.

1. You must notify a LEO if you are carrying.

2. Game Wardens have a free pass to do what they want. They do not need a warrant or your permission to search you, vehicle, house, etc.



On to the point:

My buddy and I were in the process of launching his boat for its maiden voyage. Pretty obvious we were new to the whole boat thing. My back is turned fiddlin' with this or that.

"Excuse me." Surprises me from behind.

I turn around and see the khaki, green badge, and Sig(holstered).

He introduces himself.

I say "Before we proceed any farther, I have my concealed handgun license, and my concealed handgun on me."

"OK thats fine. Anyways the reason I am here is to perform a boat check for safety items. Where are your life jackets located? Where is your fire extinguisher? Where is.......?" (you get the idea)

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!!!????

Nothing, no beat down. No thrown up against a wall and searched. No cavity search. No black helicopters. Absolutely nothing. He didnt care, or even bat an eye.

We passed the inspection, shook hands, and he even shoved us off.



I just figured we needed some positive LEO experiences with all the negativity going around. Share yours with us.
 
Of course.

Game Wardens are used to encountering armed law-abiding people. And, they have a bloodhound nose and 6th,7th,and 8th senses for spotting a jackhole who is going to give them trouble.

Glad you had a good experience.

Game Wardens are usually very cool people, in my experience.
 
My experience with it has been a police department that has been very friendly and helpful in getting me my permit/license. And the permit itself is an awesome lokoing one printed onto an actual card, so it's not so fragile that I would have to get new ones before it expires.
 
good LEO encounter but for the 'suprises me"
for carring to have a chance of working in your favor in the real world, you need to be aware of your surroundings......and people such that you are not 'suprised' by people or things. good luck to you. hope you caught dinner.
 
2. Game Wardens have a free pass to do what they want. They do not need a warrant or your permission to search you, vehicle, house, etc.
Click to expand...

Umm No. They need warrants for houses. And there are some limitations on vehicles and boats.

Here you go:

http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/PW/content/htm/pw.002.00.000012.00.htm

Nothing in this section authorizes a game warden or
other peace officer commissioned by the department to conduct a
search otherwise authorized by this section:
(1) in a person's residence or temporary residence; or
(2) on a publicly maintained road or way that is:
(A) improved, designed, or ordinarily used for
vehicular traffic;
(B) open to the public; and
(C) distinguishable from a shoulder, berm, or
other area not intended for vehicular traffic.
Click to expand...
 
Amazing... Just astounding. A LEO acting like a normal human being. Imagine that...

From another LEO that would act the same way.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I appreciate it here very much, especially with all the "cop haters" here.

I think some of the ones that have posted their negative experiences have been embellishing a bit. After all, the LEOs involved in those negative stories are not here to tell their side of the story. I'm also sure some of the posters are not telling the whole story. It's be interesting to get both sides. I try not to form an opinion on someone else's experiences unless I have both sides. I know from my line of work, that every argument, fight, domestic dispute, has two sides. Normally there are two versions of what happened. Somewhere in the middle lies the truth.

I would ask those that have never had experience with law enforcement officers not to judge any of us, based on some of the stories posted in this forum. Remember, there are two sides to every story, and "people lie" to make themselves look better.
 
I got bulled for burned out light. Officer walkes up, I inform him I have a ccw & am carrying- asks where--I say in belt holster--says OK & asks for dr. license & registration--turns back to me and goes to car & runs a check--returnes my license & registration--tells me to fix light and bids me Good Night. Good experience.
 
I have seen it both ways and I have had it both ways, My personal policy is if they dont ask and I dont have to get out of my car then they dont need to know, it just saves my time. Although the last time I said I had a gun I got to puke on the hood of the cop car......felt good after wards.
 
for carring to have a chance of working in your favor in the real world, you need to be aware of your surroundings
Click to expand...

I agree totaly, but game wardens are very good at being right up on you before you realize it, at least the ones around here are. It seems it would be an important part of their job.
 
Hmm... a positive story right after you inform us that they have carte blanche to perform unconstitutional and therefore illegal search... and almost certainly seizure. Didn't think that one through, did'ya? ;)

Anyway usually the jobs that are further removed from anything particularly useful to the nanny state don't involve being as big of a jerk to people and usually require the violation of fewer laws in the performance of their duties. The Department of Homeland Defense is trying desperately to change that and some changes are currently going on but for now things are mostly ok with lots of folks like Coast Guard, firemen, park rangers, game wardens, etc. I've always held the highway patrol in high regard too. Historically they've been able to focus on keeping careless drivers under control and off the road while facilitating the smooth flow of transportation. If you have a roadside problem they'll generally help you out or get a road ranger for you.

Most of the individual people want to do good it's just really hard to do good when the institutions you work for are bad. It's an uneviable position to be in and really we should be conscious of this and stop helping bad people do the wrong things. That's all it takes. How many times have you heard people talking about guns as a defense against tyranny? It's BS and it's totally unnecessary. Corrupt and abusive governments would not be able to do anything if there weren't people willing to do the dirty work for them. I think it's a good idea not to work for the badguys but if you already do then you might consider trying to wag the dog a bit and refusing to do bad things. Get your friends to join in. The worst thing that can happen is that bad people will not want you to work for them anymore and that isn't a bad thing.
 
In August 2004 I temporarily moved to Cleveland for some schooling. At the time I had a Virginia carry permit and was unsure if reciprocity had been approved yet with Ohio.

I went to the local police station and explained my situation and the officer behind the desk who happily explained that I would need to check their attorney general's website for the answer. He also commented on how embarrassing it was for Ohio to take so long to approve CCW.
 
It's always going to be situational. You can have a reasonable official in TX or even CT where I live.

I do think that your chances are better in TX though rather than CT.

OTOH, no duty to inform here, and my mouth is staying shut...
 
My story is nothing special, but its worth adding to the positive encounter archives...

December of 2005, I got pulled over by Colorado State Patrol for expired tags. When he approached me and asked for the usual paperwork, I informed the trooper that I was armed and had a permit. He politely asked me to keep my hands in plain sight. I handed over my paperwork following his directions, and after a few minutes, was let go with no ticket (even though I deserved one) with a warning to get my tags renewed.
 
Titan, I stand corrected.
I was under the impression that they were allowed to.

One of the reasons I enjoy THR, because sources for info are posted.
Thank you.
 
Gee, got to 9 posts until someone chimes in with a negative LEO encounter, 11 posts before someone chipped in with the opinion that all LEOs work for the "bad people" and corrupt and abusive government.

Not too bad.
 
Over the last several years, I have been stopped three different times by LEO's. Always made a point to hand them my permit along with my license even though I am not required to. No bad experiences here. One even thanked me for being up front about the permit. Said it tends to make him a little nervous if someone doesn't provide the permit up front even though in Oregon as soon as they run a plate they know if the owner has a carry permit.
 
R127, had you read my post you would have learned the OP was in error. Please check it out yourself if you like.
Click to expand...

Yes indeed and I am very glad to see that is the case. If I had a thumbs up smiley it would be here.

I just thought it was humorous in the ironic sort of way that somebody would preface a thread about not having their rights abused by the authorities by explaining the authorities regularly abuse people's rights with impunity. As you pointed out I'm glad that isn't the case here but I still think it was a funny way to open.
 
texas is a very gun friendly state. I know a person who has a texas chl and was accidentally open carrying in a rather crowded public place. He was approached by cops... the end result is the cops told him to have a nice night.
 
I am always amazed at how many people seem so surprised that LEO's will treat them so politely during routine contacts.

During my career as Police Officer, I was always inclined to give those who were polite and friendly the benefit of the doubt even after viewing a "relatively serious" violation. No one is perfect and mistakes can be made. My approach was that, if the attitude displayed towards me was one of politeness and acceptance of responsibility for the violator's own actions, then I was highly inclined to either let it go with a stern warning or if compelled to arrest/charge for the offense to find a "lesser but included" charge in order to cut them some 'slack', "Offenses of Violence" being the obvious exception.

Of course, the reverse is also a possiblity. There have been a few times that after introducing myself during a "contact" that I have been addressed with all manner of profanity and rude behavior (including threats :scrutiny:) before saying another word after introducing myself and as a result, enforced "to the letter" the violation that I had just witnessed that brought about the "contact".

Sometimes, as LEO's, we have to do things that we would rather not have to do but are required to do because it is our sworn duty to do so. I honestly believe that most folks who see the "maximum" application of any and all possible charges brought against them bring it upon themselves. Police Officers are just like everyone else and respond to friendly and polite treatment just the same.

Following the "Golden Rule" will generally pay excellent dividends in these "contacts". On the other hand, if you have just robbed a bank or participated in a "drive-by shooting" you can expect that things may get pretty rough during the arrest process.:D
 
Titan6,

I dont know if I'm reading this correctly, but if you scroll down to 12.103 on the link you provided it appears to say that a game warden can

"enter on any land or water where wild game or fish are known to range or stray"

I read this as they can go just about anywhere. I mean if a bird lands in my back yard or a mouse enters my house, that is wild game correct? However it also states that they cannot use any of the info without the landowners permission?

I've always thought the same as the OP that Tx game wardens can go just about anywhere in the course of their work.
 
From the same link.

§ 12.104. RIGHT TO SEARCH AND INSPECT. (a) A game
warden or other peace officer commissioned by the department may
search a game bag, vehicle, vessel, or other receptacle if the game
warden or peace officer has a reasonable, articulable suspicion
that the game bag, vehicle, vessel, or receptacle contains a wildlife resource that has been unlawfully killed or taken.
Click to expand...
§

I wonder what constitutes "reasonable, articulable suspicion"
 
Glad to hear you had a good experience. In FL, I don't believe we had a duty to inform, but I always did when I was stopped. (I wouldn't run up to LEO's on the street and inform them, but traffic stops, always.) I have been stopped for everything from speeding, to towing a trailer without tags (arrestable) to not signing out of the state park. In each instance I was carrying, informed the LEO, and got off with a warning. knock on wood.
When I moved to TX, I made a point of asking the first LEO I ran into about the requirements. He told me to check the Atty Gen's office for the reciprocity with FL, but also told me about the requirement to inform in TX. Again, very friendly. The first time I got pulled over in TX, I handed the CCW over with my DL, even though I wasn't armed at the time. Got a warning.
All the cops I've ever encountered have been courteous and pretty lax with me, and I believe thats because I have always been courteous and cooperative with them.
 
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