What to do if a cop pulls you over and youve got a handgun.

sorry to say but that is wrong. not all classes that are taught are law related. The NRA basic pisol class covers no law at all, because the laws change all the time, a student can misinterpet what the instructor said and most importantly WE ARE NOT LAWYERS.

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In Ohio, it is MANDATORY for those teaching the Ohio CHL course to cover applicable Ohio law, including CPZs, proper methods of carry in a vehicle and notification. If your Ohio CHL class DOESN'T cover those subjects, you have been defrauded.

In Missouri your are not required to inform an officer.

Link below is for Missouri CCW law.

http://members.socket.net/~tmcurry/ccw.html

If you are carrying a firearm in an illegal manner, there is a far greater chance that the officer will charge you if you don't tell him and he discovers the firearm. It's pretty much guaranteed you will be charged. He will also hit you with any other charges he can muster up just because you have irritated him by not telling him you have a gun. If you tell him, he may let you go with a warning, he may not. It will probably depend on the totality of the circumstances and why you were stopped to begin with.

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I’m not condoning violating the law but handing the cop a confession on a silver platter is foolish. If you confess to a crime in front of a cop there is a better than excellent chance that you will be charged. Invoke your 4th and 5th amendment rights and ask for a Lawyer

kanook said:

sorry to say but that is wrong. not all classes that are taught are law related. The NRA basic pisol class covers no law at all, because the laws change all the time, a student can misinterpet what the instructor said and most importantly WE ARE NOT LAWYERS. when you have a question reguarding laws look at laws that are written not somebodys own view of it. if you go to www.handgunlaw.us they are up to date with most handgun laws for each state.

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I am an NRA basic pistol instructor, and you're right, that course doesn't cover law.

I just think that even if the NRA basic course is all that your state requires to get a permit, you should have to get a briefing about state law. In my state, my basic pistol class is only valid as training for CCW if you add another lesson plan to it and have a lawyer or LEO teach about MN'S CCW law. If you're going to carry a gun under a CCW permit, it only makes sense to me that you should get a class about CCW law in your state.

Is there a sticker that you can pur on your car to just tell the cop you have a gun

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The last time I got pulled over, I did not inform the officer that I was carrying.

I was too busy trying to argue with him as to why I shouldn't be ticketed, that I forgot that I even had the pistol with me.

Whether you tell the officer depends on if you are legally required to do so in the state you are in. This might not be your home state if you are traveling and it varies by state.

There is also the practical consideration of if you have to put your hand near and possibly expose your gun to get your DL or registration. If so you should inform the officer. The last thing you want is him spotting the gun without warning. If your gun is concealed and will never be visible during a routine stop, eg. enclosed center console, trunk then if you aren't required to tell don't.

I have seen numerous reports of CCW permit holders being pulled over and having the police go easier on them when the reveal they have a permit. Many getting just a warning instead of a ticket.

There is a huge assumption people are making in this thread and that is the officer will know if you have CCW permit by running your plate or checking your DL. That might be true in some states if you are a resident of that state and stopped in it. However many states, like KS, have no automatic link between the DL and CCW permit. If you are out of state and get stopped it's not likely the officer will have access to your home state's database. It's also possible to have a non-resident permit that would in no way be tied to your DL from any state. I've had a NY permit and currently have a KS resident and Utah non-resident permit. None of these have ever been automatically linked to my DL or my license plates in such a way that the police would know I have a permit without me telling them. I think the situations where the police know about a CCW permit based on DL or license plate are the exception.

be polite and act like an adult.

In this state, they don't know if you're a CHL holder if they run your plate, but the DO when they run your license.

If you are taking a trip, find out for every state you will be driving through if you have a legal duty to inform. If you are in a state where you DO, you absolutely want to say that you have a permit BEFORE you state that you have a gun. Keep your hands on the steering wheel, fingers out, and do whatever he tells you to.

Most of the time, he will thank you for informing him and tell you to keep your hands where he can see them. It's a bad idea for a cop to ask you to hand it over. He is basically putting himself in a situation where he has told you to fumble around in a nervous state with your gun, and when he takes it from you, he is accepting responsibility for damaging it OR discharging it. (If you assume that the average cop knows how to handle a C&L 1911, think again.)

Whether you tell the officer depends on if you are legally required to do so in the state you are in. This might not be your home state if you are traveling and it varies by state.

There is also the practical consideration of if you have to put your hand near and possibly expose your gun to get your DL or registration. If so you should inform the officer. The last thing you want is him spotting the gun without warning. If your gun is concealed and will never be visible during a routine stop, eg. enclosed center console, trunk then if you aren't required to tell don't.

I have seen numerous reports of CCW permit holders being pulled over and having the police go easier on them when the reveal they have a permit. Many getting just a warning instead of a ticket.

There is a huge assumption people are making in this thread and that is the officer will know if you have CCW permit by running your plate or checking your DL. That might be true in some states if you are a resident of that state and stopped in it. However many states, like KS, have no automatic link between the DL and CCW permit. If you are out of state and get stopped it's not likely the officer will have access to your home state's database. It's also possible to have a non-resident permit that would in no way be tied to your DL from any state. I've had a NY permit and currently have a KS resident and Utah non-resident permit. None of these have ever been automatically linked to my DL or my license plates in such a way that the police would know I have a permit without me telling them. I think the situations where the police know about a CCW permit based on DL or license plate are the exception.


2) if

It's like this.

Don't ask don't tell. lol

Informing the officer is legally req'd in MI. When I've been pulled over, I make sure that the first thing I say is "Hello officer, I have a concealed pistol liscence and am carrying a pistol at this time". Then they ask where it is, and I tell them. After that it goes like a generic traffic stop, hand over driver's license, insurance, vehicle registration etc. Only once has the officer ever asked me to hand over my CPL as well.

wuchak...

If you'd like to submit that same post again, now would be a good time.

There is also the possibility that one could run into a cop that doesn't like people carrying and might give you a harder time if you inform him that you have a CCW.

That's way we 'man up' and **** at the same time.

Does anyone know if you have to inform the officer in the state of Oregon and Washington that you have a pistol or any other gun on you? I have a carry permit in Washington, but also will be likely getting one in Oregon shortly. I really need to know what the laws are and the proceduers. I think because I am not experienced with this, I would have my paperwork on the dashboard before I stop and when he stops me I would inform him I have a conceal pistol license and a gun on me. Better safe than sorry. If there is something else I should do in these states I like to know. I am a law abiding citizen, so I don't know how I could be incriminating myself. I have not been pulled over in 10 years, I hope to keep it that way.

There is no duty to inform in Washington. Can't help you with Oregon.
The only time I've bothered to tell an officer that I was armed was when I had 2 hand guns in the glove box on top of my registration. I simply handed him my CPL along with my license, and told him that I had to remove the hand guns in order to get to my registration. He replied in a friendly manner "No problem, just don't shoot me." I set them on the passenger seat, handed him my paperwork and all was well.

I don't normally keep any hand guns there, so I usually just say nothing. It's really none of their business if you're carrying lawfully. However, if they request to see you CPL you are required to show it to them (IF and ONLY IF you are carrying concealed)

There is also the possibility that one could run into a cop that doesn't like people carrying and might give you a harder time if you inform him that you have a CCW.

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It doesn't matter what the cop likes. The law in Ohio allows me to carry a concealed handgun, in or out of a vehicle with an Ohio CHL or a recognized out of state license or permit. He can like it or lump it. He'd BETTER obey the law. If he violates the law and my rights, I'm going to do everything humanly possible to make his law enforcement career a short and penurious one.

Does anyone know if you have to inform the officer in the state of Oregon and Washington that you have a pistol or any other gun on you? I have a carry permit in Washington, but also will be likely getting one in Oregon shortly. I really need to know what the laws are and the proceduers. I think because I am not experienced with this, I would have my paperwork on the dashboard before I stop and when he stops me I would inform him I have a conceal pistol license and a gun on me. Better safe than sorry. If there is something else I should do in these states I like to know. I am a law abiding citizen, so I don't know how I could be incriminating myself. I have not been pulled over in 10 years, I hope to keep it that way.

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You are not required to inform in Oregon.

Anyone know if you are required to inform In California?

Does anyone know if you have to inform the officer in the state of Oregon and Washington that you have a pistol or any other gun on you? I have a carry permit in Washington, but also will be likely getting one in Oregon shortly. I really need to know what the laws are and the proceduers. I think because I am not experienced with this, I would have my paperwork on the dashboard before I stop and when he stops me I would inform him I have a conceal pistol license and a gun on me. Better safe than sorry. If there is something else I should do in these states I like to know. I am a law abiding citizen, so I don't know how I could be incriminating myself. I have not been pulled over in 10 years, I hope to keep it that way.

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go to www.handgunlaws.us when you find your answer, print it and put a copy in your car just in case you ever need it.

California? Without even looking, I'm going to say that KA puts so many strings on everything gun related, and the police are so unconditioned to citizens being allowed to arm themselves, I'm going to guess yes.

Answers his questions, get your ticket and be on your way.

If they dont ask, you dont have to tell.

-Robb

If they dont ask, you dont have to tell.

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not so in some states, some states you have a duty to inform the moment you make contact with leo.

Don't know the state or requirements of the OP.

Massachusetts License to Carry has no requirement to notify an officer, and no "registration tagging" so I would keep my mouth shut unless asked.

I have no desire to hand over a loaded weapon in the dark to someone who is likely to be nervous and most unlikely to be familiar with the safe handling of my carry pistol (most times a 1911 or HP.)

Tinpig