Zaydok Allen
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Personally, unless required by law, I don't disclose that info. But I also don't make it a habit to lie, so if asked directly if I'm armed, I answer truthfully.
Should you ever admit you are carrying?
- Thread starter kkayser
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If you are confronted by the Police do not lie about having a firearm on your person.
In a traffic stop situation immediately inform the officer you are CCP and ask to exit the vehicle so the officer can secure your weapon and access your identification.
In a traffic stop situation immediately inform the officer you are CCP and ask to exit the vehicle so the officer can secure your weapon and access your identification.
I have volunteered that I was armed a fair number of times. Sometimes it is entirely reasonable to do so. Others, not.
This post is utterly ridiculous. And wrong.
What?
There is no need to ask to exit the vehicle (don't), and there is probably no need to have your weapon secured. If you are required to inform, or choose to inform, go for it. THey will decide if you are to exit the vehicle or be disarmed. It's generally not necessary or helpful, and there is certainly no need or reason to request this
This post is utterly ridiculous. And wrong.
What?
There is no need to ask to exit the vehicle (don't), and there is probably no need to have your weapon secured. If you are required to inform, or choose to inform, go for it. THey will decide if you are to exit the vehicle or be disarmed. It's generally not necessary or helpful, and there is certainly no need or reason to request this
Zaydok Allen
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Yeah, I don't get it. Why would you tell an officer pulling you over you are armed if you don't have a duty to inform by law. I guess I don't see the point.
I only inform if there is a reason to. But then again, I only get pulled over about once every 5 years.
seeker_two
Member
On the few occasions that I've been pulled over, I've given my DL, insurance card, and CHL (as required by TX law) and asked the officer "How would you like me to proceed?" At no time do I say the word "gun" or "weapon".....the Pavlovian training LEO's get make those "!SHOOT ME FIRST!" words.
To this day, I have never been shot by the police....so something is working....
To this day, I have never been shot by the police....so something is working....
He or she may already know that you are licensed to carry, and the existence of a gun may become known for any number of reasons during the stop.
Informing may engender an air of cooperation; more importantly, it may reduce tension.
In our neck of the woods it has often led to a polite thank you, and it may be the reason for some speeding stops ending with friendly warnings.
Sergei Mosin
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As with so many things in life, avoidance is the best policy. Don't drive in a way that is likely to attract the attention of the gendarmerie and this won't be an issue.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
If you are confronted...definitely don't lie. No need to, anyway.
As for asking to exit the vehicle so the officer can secure the weapon and whatnot...how about you just let the officer do his job the way he is trained and how he sees fit, based on the circumstances?
If the officer wants you to exit the vehicle, he'll tell you. If he wants you to do anything (or not do anything) with your weapon, he'll tell you. If he wants your ID, he'll ask, whether you're in the vehicle or not.
The BEST thing you can do is be in compliance with the law, be calm, and be polite. And follow his/her lead on what to do as required.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
A side note here:
Many states apparently have their CWP database tied into their Driver's License database. I'll let those with actual LEO experience here contest to that one way or the other, however.
It's apparent, because there have been people pulled over who were asked straight up about their weapon, without any information being volunteered by the driver.
It's also interesting that, in SC, when you get your CWP in the mail...it already has a picture on it. And it's the SAME picture that's on your driver's license.
So odds are, in many states, if you're pulled over the officer likely already knows whether you're a CWP holder as soon as they confirm that it's you driving the vehicle. If not, he'll know when he runs your DL information.
Many states apparently have their CWP database tied into their Driver's License database. I'll let those with actual LEO experience here contest to that one way or the other, however.
It's apparent, because there have been people pulled over who were asked straight up about their weapon, without any information being volunteered by the driver.
It's also interesting that, in SC, when you get your CWP in the mail...it already has a picture on it. And it's the SAME picture that's on your driver's license.
So odds are, in many states, if you're pulled over the officer likely already knows whether you're a CWP holder as soon as they confirm that it's you driving the vehicle. If not, he'll know when he runs your DL information.
Old Dog
Member
Last poster said:
Um, yes ... no ... Notice your CPL does have your WDL number on it, and be advised, depending on the agency and its level of technological support, most officers can indeed do a simple request on their MDTs that will pull up CPL status ... and even more.
Red Wind
Member
A lot of cool acronyms! I am now forewarned about my future gun disclosure/nondisclosure propositions!
Thank you,Will.
I am now forewarned about my future gun disclosure/nondisclosure propositions! Thank you,Will.
Do not lie.
Perhaps I should clarify my original post. In concealed carry class we were told that it was a good idea to voluntarily inform any LEO if we were carrying. I am saying that was bad advice. However, telling an untruth to a LEO is a crime. It can be a felony. If asked, keep both hands in sight, tell the truth, and pray.
When you tell someone that you are carrying, you are telling them that you have the ability to kill them. If that person is also armed you might trigger a "I better get him first," response. So, do not disclose that you are carrying unless required by law.
What do you folks think about concealed carry in a friend's house or at a yard party?
Perhaps I should clarify my original post. In concealed carry class we were told that it was a good idea to voluntarily inform any LEO if we were carrying. I am saying that was bad advice. However, telling an untruth to a LEO is a crime. It can be a felony. If asked, keep both hands in sight, tell the truth, and pray.
When you tell someone that you are carrying, you are telling them that you have the ability to kill them. If that person is also armed you might trigger a "I better get him first," response. So, do not disclose that you are carrying unless required by law.
What do you folks think about concealed carry in a friend's house or at a yard party?
What police in my city think about concealed carry.
A few years back a homeowner in the City of West Allis was peacefully attending his garden with a holstered pistol on his hip. The police were summoned and three of them rushed the man with guns drawn, threw him to the ground, and carted him off to jail. Of course, the man was not charged with a crime.
In commenting on the incident chief Flynn of police for Milwaukee was quoted in the Journal Sentinel to the effect: If we suspect a person has a weapon, we are going to take him down, and find out why he is carrying a weapon. You can interpret "take him down" any way you wish. And you can take the second amendment and interpret that any way you wish.
A few years back a homeowner in the City of West Allis was peacefully attending his garden with a holstered pistol on his hip. The police were summoned and three of them rushed the man with guns drawn, threw him to the ground, and carted him off to jail. Of course, the man was not charged with a crime.
In commenting on the incident chief Flynn of police for Milwaukee was quoted in the Journal Sentinel to the effect: If we suspect a person has a weapon, we are going to take him down, and find out why he is carrying a weapon. You can interpret "take him down" any way you wish. And you can take the second amendment and interpret that any way you wish.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Actually, he WAS charged, with disorderly conduct.
And he won his case.
Fortunately, that's not what happens in the vast majority of cases where officers interact with someone who's lawfully armed. We have MANY, MANY members who open carry frequently (or always!) and have had perfectly innocuous interactions with police.
There are horror stories about anything, if you look hard enough.
And he won his case.
Fortunately, that's not what happens in the vast majority of cases where officers interact with someone who's lawfully armed. We have MANY, MANY members who open carry frequently (or always!) and have had perfectly innocuous interactions with police.
There are horror stories about anything, if you look hard enough.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
i think I'll follow the jurisdictional laws on this.
In SC it is not legal for me to carry concealed into someone else's place of residence without their permission. If I wish to carry my weapon into their house, then I'm required to get permission.
If I'm not required, then I don't worry about it...it's just another tool on my person, like a pocket knife or whatever.
Chief Flynn is an idiot, and a dangerously reckless one at that. He can interpret that anyway he wishes.
Totally disagree. The advice you received in ccw class was solid.
Your assertion is nonsensical. Nobody thinks like that. Do you see someone printing in a grocery store and start shooting at them because you think they can kill you? Of course not. So why would you assume cops think like that?
When stopped I roll down my window turn the dome light on and hold both my drivers license and carry permit out the window. I've been doing that since tn passed their ccw laws.
Although the main reason is because it tells the officer I know what I'm doing, it has an added benefit of taking them off script. Since they're already holding my license I've never had one ask for my registration or proof of insurance and I really hate trying to dig that crap out of my glove box.
Granted I've maybe been pulled over 5 times since the 80s and haven't had a ticket since 1992. So my sample size is small but I've never had an officer ask for me to do anything with the pistol. I can't recall any of them even asking where it was. Usually they just look at the permit and say "I don't need that" (seriously they say that more often than not) and hand it back to me. They go take a nap in their cruiser for a few min and then come back to return my license and tell me to stop doing whatever it was they didn't like.
No matter how well you drive, you might get pulled over anyway, for a variety of reasons.
You should probably stop offering your opinion and certainly shouldn't give anybody advice in this manner. Do some research, ask around, and perform some solid critical thinking. What you have stated in this thread is folly.
drec
Member
When I received my Utah CHL, they recommended that you mention it to a LEO if you are pulled over.
ljnowell
Member
Red Wind
Member
kkayser said:
I think it's cool and quite sensible. However, in Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana and South Carolina (as the Chief has noted) you must ask permission of the homeowner for entry to the premises if are carrying.
These are the only 4 states with this oddity.
barnbwt
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There's a concept called "need to know." It means, is the knowledge you are carrying a weapon directly pertinent to the task the person is trying to accomplish? In the case of a peace officer, that involves securing the scene against threats, and keeping an eye on potential ones. Your vehicle is a potential threat, so he has you turn off your ignition, your handgun is a potential threat, so he should be informed.
He should also be trained and intelligent enough to distinguish a potential threat from an actual one, and behave accordingly (same goes for us, in our interactions with police officers)
Your buddy, restaurant establishment, grocer, or random thug is not performing the task of actively securing their position so as to maintain their ability to exert lawful authority by force if necessary --thus, they have no business knowing if you have a concealed weapon on your person, but if they are smart they will conduct themselves according to the possibility that you do. A highly-sensitive explosives chemistry lab, a magnetized MRI chamber, and potentially even a security guard do have reason to know you have a firearm, as it directly affects how they would need to conduct themselves in order to do their job or allow your presence. Once again, they also have the responsibility of comporting themselves properly when informed for their own benefit.
TCB
He should also be trained and intelligent enough to distinguish a potential threat from an actual one, and behave accordingly (same goes for us, in our interactions with police officers)
Your buddy, restaurant establishment, grocer, or random thug is not performing the task of actively securing their position so as to maintain their ability to exert lawful authority by force if necessary --thus, they have no business knowing if you have a concealed weapon on your person, but if they are smart they will conduct themselves according to the possibility that you do. A highly-sensitive explosives chemistry lab, a magnetized MRI chamber, and potentially even a security guard do have reason to know you have a firearm, as it directly affects how they would need to conduct themselves in order to do their job or allow your presence. Once again, they also have the responsibility of comporting themselves properly when informed for their own benefit.
TCB
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What color is your skin?
Seems to me that most of the comments here agree with me that one should never voluntarily reveal that you are carrying.
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