Niel4
Member
I was driving to the range on Saturday and it occurred to me that an alignment of circumstances had transpired that could have spelled major trouble.
Consider the following Real scenario and the potential interpretations:
Background
I went to the range last week on Thursday. In my car cabin were my carry gun (in the console between the seats), and a bag of targets. In my trunk was a shotgun, a scoped Marlin 60 22 LR, a cased 9mm, my 1911 45 ACP cased, and a range bag with a 22 target pistol. Also in the trunk were 100 rounds of 12 gauge shotgun shells, a box of 550 rounds plus 2 boxes of 50 of 22 LR, 150 rounds of 9mm and 150 rounds 45 ACP.
My time ran out at the range because there was a waiting line and I decided to leave rather than wait for another open slot. Since I concentrated on getting my scope zeroed in I had 100 rounds each of the 9mm and 45 ACP left along with the shot shells and the 550 rounds of 22 LR.
Since I planned on returning on Saturday to finish my session, I left everything in the car as it was.
I was lucky to find both 9mm and 45 ACP in stock at my local Wally World on Sat morning and bought an additional 300 rounds each. The ammo was put on the floor in the car cabin.
Scenario 1
I am stopped by a local LEO for not stopping at a stop sign. I would have my hands on the wheel and tell him I have a loaded fire arm in my car and where (console). What does the LEO observe? The locals here just ask if you have a CCW, which you don’t need to have to carry a gun in your vehicle, but I have. Because I had a CCW he might just move on and if I didn’t he would most likely want me to put the gun where he could see it. He then would decide to either ticket me or not…event over.
Scenario 2
I get in a minor car accident because someone hit me from behind. The accident causes my trunk to open. The other guy observes the guns and ammo in the trunk and freaks out on the LEO when he comes despite my complete cooperation and totally non threatening demeanor. What does the LEO observe now? Everything is legal but what happens?
Scenario 3
Same as in Scenario 2 but a St Louis Dispatch reporter (totally liberal paper) happens by and begins snooping and listening. What does he observe? What does the LEO do now? The reporter observes ….4 guns he can see and 1450 rounds of ammo…so we think.
Next day an article runs “Local resident in minor accident has arsenal of guns in his vehicle and armed with 1450 rounds of ammo. Police are not commenting about the incident at this point but a far right wing magazine (NRA’s monthly publication) was also found. The dept of homeland security has warned……”
Again, nothing illegal here. But people observe what they want and it could affect you. Would the LEO believe I was going to the range? Could I be cast as a criminal or anarchist or some right wing nut? What if I had a newspaper cut out about Russ Carnahan’s (Dem- US Congress) upcoming Town Hall Meeting I was planning on attending the following week in the car too?
Should I have to remove my weapons from the car for 1 day or “sanitize” my ammo down to what I might actually use?
Could this be a recipie for disaster?
Your comments, observations, and recommendations are welcome.
Consider the following Real scenario and the potential interpretations:
Background
I went to the range last week on Thursday. In my car cabin were my carry gun (in the console between the seats), and a bag of targets. In my trunk was a shotgun, a scoped Marlin 60 22 LR, a cased 9mm, my 1911 45 ACP cased, and a range bag with a 22 target pistol. Also in the trunk were 100 rounds of 12 gauge shotgun shells, a box of 550 rounds plus 2 boxes of 50 of 22 LR, 150 rounds of 9mm and 150 rounds 45 ACP.
My time ran out at the range because there was a waiting line and I decided to leave rather than wait for another open slot. Since I concentrated on getting my scope zeroed in I had 100 rounds each of the 9mm and 45 ACP left along with the shot shells and the 550 rounds of 22 LR.
Since I planned on returning on Saturday to finish my session, I left everything in the car as it was.
I was lucky to find both 9mm and 45 ACP in stock at my local Wally World on Sat morning and bought an additional 300 rounds each. The ammo was put on the floor in the car cabin.
Scenario 1
I am stopped by a local LEO for not stopping at a stop sign. I would have my hands on the wheel and tell him I have a loaded fire arm in my car and where (console). What does the LEO observe? The locals here just ask if you have a CCW, which you don’t need to have to carry a gun in your vehicle, but I have. Because I had a CCW he might just move on and if I didn’t he would most likely want me to put the gun where he could see it. He then would decide to either ticket me or not…event over.
Scenario 2
I get in a minor car accident because someone hit me from behind. The accident causes my trunk to open. The other guy observes the guns and ammo in the trunk and freaks out on the LEO when he comes despite my complete cooperation and totally non threatening demeanor. What does the LEO observe now? Everything is legal but what happens?
Scenario 3
Same as in Scenario 2 but a St Louis Dispatch reporter (totally liberal paper) happens by and begins snooping and listening. What does he observe? What does the LEO do now? The reporter observes ….4 guns he can see and 1450 rounds of ammo…so we think.
Next day an article runs “Local resident in minor accident has arsenal of guns in his vehicle and armed with 1450 rounds of ammo. Police are not commenting about the incident at this point but a far right wing magazine (NRA’s monthly publication) was also found. The dept of homeland security has warned……”
Again, nothing illegal here. But people observe what they want and it could affect you. Would the LEO believe I was going to the range? Could I be cast as a criminal or anarchist or some right wing nut? What if I had a newspaper cut out about Russ Carnahan’s (Dem- US Congress) upcoming Town Hall Meeting I was planning on attending the following week in the car too?
Should I have to remove my weapons from the car for 1 day or “sanitize” my ammo down to what I might actually use?
Could this be a recipie for disaster?
Your comments, observations, and recommendations are welcome.
