Armed Citizen from AR Interacts with Police Officer in AL

[Dean Weingarten]

On a road trip from Arkansas through Alabama, an armed citizen, on vacation with his wife, had an encounter with a police officer.

Officers on the street have always been more supportive of armed citizens than police administrators. As state after state made it easier for ever increasing numbers of citizens to be legally armed in public, the attitude of police became more positive as they gained experience with armed citizens.

In the words of Kopis, a contributor to opencarry.org, here is what happened on the road in Alabama:

So i rolled the windows down, took the key out and put my hands on the wheel, the trooper walks up and i stuck my hand out and introduced myself and said also, "i do have a CCW permit out of AR and my GLOCK is on my right side, do you want to disarm me?" and in a country twang, he responds "well, ill make ya a deal son, you dont draw yours and i wont draw mine" LMAO! i said that's a fair deal officer! He got my at 75 in a 55 and wrote me a warning, how awesome is that?

This sort of encounter is much more common than the negative ones that I usually write about. Most police officers see armed citizens as an asset rather than a threat. You do not hear these stories because they are not news.

They are less common in those areas that are still working hard at suppressing second amendment rights. I would not expect this treatment in New York City, New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Chicago.

Police attitudes are changing. Police communicate with each other, and every positive encounter with armed citizens, every incident where an armed citizen assists a police officer, adds to the momentum of changing police attitudes.

The common experience of police officers is that legally armed citizens are the good guys and gals. They are not the problem, they are part of the solution. It starts with the police on the street, but more and more police chiefs and sheriffs are echoing that message as well.


©2013 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/09/armed-citizen-from-ar-interacts-with.html

 

[Ryanxia]

The first thing the citizen said is 'would you like to disarm me?' Of course the officer is gonna put on a smile at that point.

Glad the situation went well though.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

I think the officer took the motto on his patch seriously

WE DARE DEFEND OUR RIGHTS

Seems pretty clear.

 

[sf46]

I think that you are right that most police are not out looking to confiscate your guns. I would say that on the whole, gun laws and attitudes toward guns do seem to be a lot more lax in the South. This may explain the reaction of the Alabama state trooper.

 

[southjk]

I've seen other threads on this topic and a frequent response from the officer has been, "do you plan on shooting me? Driver: No, sir. Then I don't need to know about it."

 

[goon]

This sort of encounter is much more common than the negative ones that I usually write about. Most police officers see armed citizens as an asset rather than a threat. You do not hear these stories because they are not news.

The first time I was pulled over (and yes, I was speeding and completely guilty) I was on the way home from the range. I had a legally CCW'ed S&W .38 on my hip, a CZ-75 9mm in a case on the seat, and an AK behind the seat in a case.
I let the officer know that I was legally carrying and it was basically a non-issue.

This was in rural PA.

 

[Outlaw Man]

When I first read the thread title, all I could think was, "please, God, don't let it be one of my relatives!"

Glad it went well. I've noticed the same around here, for the most part. Our State Police director would love to disarm us all, permanently, but most troopers are more likely to strike up a conversation about the gun.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Glad to hear it went well.

 

[r1derbike]

AR is also a firearms friendly state, as a whole. The ASP get a little skittish about sidearms, however. I've not heard of anyone getting a warning from the ASP for speeding. It must happen for whatever reason(s) at times, but I always see a ticket book in hand of the officers. Very strict, no tolerance.

Sheriffs support CHCL here, and our county sheriff even gives classes.

I can't believe the Marxist dictatorial element in metro areas, including D.C.

Glad I live in the South.

 

[grubbylabs]

I had a State Trooper walk up on my while I was parked with a loaded 44 mag on the dash in plain view, he asked me to move my vehicle and did not even mention the pistol. Either he did not see it (I doubt) or he just did not have a concern over it.

 

[Ignition Override]

Was that in L.A.? If so, they would have been very welcome in Lower Alabama, which is where my parents live.

A coworker told me that he lives in UCLA: the Upper Corner of LA, near Montgomery.

Another thing must also be made very clear: if the Russians decide to invade Georgia again, they would not want to attempt going past the GA/AL line, and Not just because of the CMP in Anniston!

 

[Tirod]

In MO your license doesn't necessarily have your CCW status on it, but when pulled up on the in car laptop, it's right there to see.

Same for me, pull over, shut off car, pull out driver's license, roll down window, and have your hands on the wheel. By that point the officer has likely run the plate and cross checked you to your license. Ding, "CCW."

It's all downhill from there, a friendly admonishment to slow it down, and thank you very much. After that, I try harder to not clutter up their day. They have better things to do.

I'm not saying it's a free pass - but politeness, an Army Reserve uniform, or CCW seem to help if it's reasonably close to the speed limit.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

This took place in Alabama. We have no duty to inform and our CCW license is not in anyway connected to our driver's license(state law requires that that information is never released unless it is necessary in a criminal investigation). The driver's license department(state) is completely separate from the sheriff's office(county).

 

[Pat M]

Here in NY, the State Troopers would probably have cleared the firearm and counted the seven rounds in the magazine.

 

[Fryerpower]

I would say that on the whole, gun laws and attitudes toward guns do seem to be a lot more lax in the South.

While I think I know what you meant, I don't like the word "lax" in association with appropriate gun laws. Kind of like calling standard capacity magazines "high capacity".
Maybe we can call the laws in Alabama appropriate, common sense gun laws.

Just my humble opinion. I'm not trying to start a fight.

Jim

 

[jimmyraythomason]

common sense gun laws

This is self contradictory.

 

[Fryerpower]

This is self contradictory.

Naw, it is throwing their term back in their faces!

Jim

 

[Fryerpower]

...if the Russians decide to invade Georgia again, they would not want to attempt going past the GA/AL line, and Not just because of the CMP in Anniston!

That is the funniest thing I have read all day!!!

Jim

 

[jimmyraythomason]

if the Russians decide to invade Georgia again

I don't remember hearing about any Russians with Sherman but there were plenty of German and Dutch mercenaries with him. Your point is well taken though

 

[Fryerpower]

I think he was talking about the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia. I speak pretty good southern, but I could not understand a thing those guys on TV were saying. It was almost like they were speaking another language!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Georgia–Russia_crisis

Jim

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I think he was talking about the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia.

Aaah! That OTHER Georgia!

 

[ourichie]

Here in OK i got stopped, said the same thing but it was a Thunder 380. Got a warning and the deputy told me I needed to carry something bigger. We both laughed.