Has anyone been stopped by a leo before

[Sommerled]

Stopped by a South Dakota LEO on a gravel road while hunting with my son and buddy. We were on ATV's with rifles in scabbards and OC our handguns. ( for those close up prairie dogs!). The Leo was very professional and was just doing his job by checking our hunting licenses. We were all legal. He was very enamored of our firearms and asked to see them. He acted like a fellow enthusiast as he grinned while handling the uber-expensive 22-250 with the swarovski glass that my buddy had. We gave him a cold coke, and as he left he hollered, "if you see a coyote, shoot it!

 

[Toforo]

and then.....

....Just last week, I was headed to the range with a wide variety of freshly reloaded "test/load" ammo - and the variety of guns that go with it (1911, XD45, XD9) and of course, wearing my ccw - a Colt Defender.

I accelerated on the onramp to I-70 and cruised towards the third exit not paying attention to my speed and bada'BING - saw the MO State Trooper sitting there with the radar - I saw the lights flash and (sighed) - just pulled over.

Busy day on I-70, the trooper walked up to the PASSENGER side of my vehicle - I rolled the window down and he was laughing a bit. I asked him how fast I was going - told him I wasn't paying attention, appologized, told him I'd never had a ticket before - he was laughing even more now...

He looked at me and said "I've never seen an "NRA" sticker on a SUBARU before and It's cracking me up"
(yes, I have a REPUBLICAN Subaru) - the NRA "DISTINGUISHED LIFE MEMBER" sticker dead center of the back window.

I laughed a little too - he told me that as long as my record was clear, he SINCERELY doubted I would get a ticket that day either...
He asked for my registration, license, insurance proof - I popped open the glove box (yup, there's a .38 snubbie in there) - told him I forgot about my glove compartment gun and he was welcome to remove it before I retrieved my registration from the glove box.

He asked "What else do you have" - I told him I was on my way to the range, pointed to my range bag on the floor of the front seat - he opened it and started laughing even harder.
He told me - Have a GREAT Day Mr. Xxxx and walked away laughing.

Dang - I LOVE living in MO, lol

 

[NavyLCDR]

NavyLT. I actually wasn't hasseled by the LEO, he was very polite. Yes, I was in the grocery store, we were out of food at our hunting camp. I had left all my weapons in camp with the camp sitter just so I wouldn't cause a problem...I guess I did anyway. Someone had called 911 with a man with a gun complaint. The LEO that responded, after he talked to me, then went to the person that called 911 and explained the law to her. Happened in Manson, where a lot of city people have vacation condos on Lake Chelan.

The only thing that has ever been said to me was I need to be carefull not to incite at "man with a gun" call to 911 from someone that does not know the law.

Still, why would it be your responsibility not to incite a 911 MWAG call?

 

[klutchless]

To Toforo I was polite to the officer and agreed to go to the side leave my products on the counter and talk to him. I did not think I was going to be prosicuted for my life story for doing that.That is where the line was drawn he was not activly engaged in the investigation the casher described the perp as a 14 year old wearing a hoody and im 22 wearing a carhart and bibs and a S&W 40 cal.I understand the diffaculty of being a police officer .But him taking me aside to question me about what I was doing with a gun seemed a bit out of line and very unexpected on my part.

 

[klutchless]

It is not your responsibility but if you make a scene of it you can be charged with inducing panic at least in Ohio.

 

[klutchless]

Unfortionatly Navy Lt peoples poor judgement affects us all expecialy gun owners and people who carry.

 

[hermannr]

NavyLT!

It wasn't my responsibility, the LEO never said it was, he just wanted to try figure out why the woman called. His warning was about displaying the weapon.

To the guy that asked why open carry? Answer, if you have a large, long barreled, hunting pistol, it is rather difficult to conceal. In WA state .44 mag + is legal for hunting. .357 mag is too small. The only thing you can legally shoot with a pistol smaller than .44 mag is grouse.

 

[General Geoff]

To the guy that asked why open carry? Answer, if you have a large, long barreled, hunting pistol, it is rather difficult to conceal. In WA state .44 mag + is legal for hunting. .357 mag is too small. The only thing you can legally shoot with a pistol smaller than .44 mag is grouse.

Do they measure by bullet diameter or energy? disallowing .357 mag while allowing, say, .45acp seems somewhat backwards.

 

[NavyLCDR]

NavyLT!

It wasn't my responsibility, the LEO never said it was, he just wanted to try figure out why the woman called. His warning was about displaying the weapon.

Gotcha...

 

[klutchless]

I have had another experiance with a state highway patrol and not 'flashing' my gun.I had a flat tire on 71 north and got out to change it I retrieved my gun from its lock box and someone saw it and must have thought I was intent on shooting at passing cars so they called the cops. When he arrived he pulled up asked if I had a gun I said yes and turned to show him. He asked what it was I told him a tauras 357mag. He laughed and asked why not a glock I told him my fingers are to fat for the trigger safty and it pinches me .He laughed and helped me lower my truck back on the ground and invited me to come shoot with him at his club sometime overall a very pleasant experiance and still shoot with him at the local range every chance I get.

 

[NavyLCDR]

To the guy that asked why open carry? Answer, if you have a large, long barreled, hunting pistol, it is rather difficult to conceal. In WA state .44 mag + is legal for hunting. .357 mag is too small. The only thing you can legally shoot with a pistol smaller than .44 mag is grouse.

Are you sure?

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=232-12-047

WAC 232-12-047
Unlawful methods for hunting.

(1) It is unlawful to hunt any big game with:

(a) A fully automatic firearm.

(b) A centerfire cartridge less than 22 caliber for cougar.

(c) A centerfire cartridge less than 24 caliber for any other big game.

(d) A shotgun, provided that a 20 gauge, or larger shotgun, using shells loaded with slugs or buckshot size #1 or larger, may be used to hunt deer, bear, and cougar.

(e) A shotgun for any other big game, except that a 12 gauge or 10 gauge shotgun using slugs may be used.

(f) A handgun during a modern firearm season that does not meet the following criteria: Have a minimum barrel length of four inches, per manufacturer's specification, and fire a centerfire cartridge.

(g) Any rimfire cartridge.

(7) It is unlawful to hunt game birds with a rifle or handgun, with the exception of blue grouse, spruce grouse and ruffed grouse.

 

[klutchless]

So I could shoot a bear with my 32 S&W in WA

 

[doc2rn]

I had one interaction while OCing as an armed guard for an armorred car company. Officer drew down on me, had me place firearm on trunk and then ordered me to the front of my vehicle. He then proceeded to unload each and every round from my weapon. I then asked him what I was being accused of/detained for and he said he was looking for a burglar, it was 4 am. I let him run my creds then he threw my rounds in the grass and said have a nice day. He froze when I grabbed my gun and inserted a fresh mag. Evidently he wasnt as funny as he thought. I got his unit and tag # and called the sgt of the day. Never saw him again.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I don't want to copy/paste the whole thing, so here's a link to where I recounted a recent run-in I had with OPD.

http://floridaconcealedcarry.com/Forum/showthread.php?18975-Pulled-Over-gt-\

 

[kyletx1911]

i get pulled over all the time by TX DPS i drive a big truck hand over cdl chl, they make
me remove from holster place in seat, walk around truck,cdl chl gets handed back , on
my way, the only thing ever said is nice 1911

 

[Gouranga]

Really most cops are not going to give you a second thought unless you are acting suspicious. There are the rare ones though that will. Your best bet is to follow up the chain of command and report their behavior. If it is the chief, that chain of command is to the mayor and/or council. The fact is, harassment by a city employee (be it an LEO or other) can lead to serious financial repercussions for the city itself and/or political repercussions for the elected officials. They do NOT want to deal with you and the chief is making them have to deal with you for no reason but his pride.

Last time I chatted with an LEO on my gun was actually a pretty nice conversation. I carry a M&P 40FS he carried a M&P 45 FS. So we chatted at length about our impressions of the guns and other models. Was a pretty pleasant exchange.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I don't want to copy/paste the whole thing, so here's a link to where I recounted a recent run-in I had with OPD.

http://floridaconcealedcarry.com/Forum/showthread.php?18975-Pulled-Over-gt-\

When he asked me to hand it to him, I would have asked. "would you like me to clear it?"

If he wasn't threatening to arrest me, I would have just listened to his rant and nodded and been on my way. If he said he was arresting me, then I would say, you are not following our state's laws. Other than that, I would still keep my mouth shut (they aren't changing their minds once they decide to arrest and mouthing off will more likely get you treated a little more roughly). After I told it to the judge I would then start filing formal complaints.

The Constitution of course gave you full rights to voice your dissent of his opinions. Hindsight is of course always 20/20

 

[AWorthyOpponent]

Although we can't OC here in Fl, I've had two run-ins while CC. Both times I was disarmed. One tried to lecture me on gun safety, and couldn't name the 3 rules of gun safety. I gave him the book you get with your NRA FIRST STEPS class.

 

[robhof]

Many years ago, I open carried my B/p revolver when I fished in South Miami. Was harassed on many occasions by Marine partol, they always stated that I was asking for trouble, my reply was that I was advertizing against trouble. Had one encounter night fishing on a bridge, where a group of roudy youths were running down the pier, throwing poles and gear in the water, a cop came by before they got to me, but after that I carried and never had a problem, saw the roudies a year later and they stopped as soon as they saw my rig and ran the other way, never saw them again at that pier.

 

[CajunBass]

I've never had an interaction with a police officer, where the subject of firearms, open, concealed, or otherwise, came up.

 

[2WheelsGood]

...proceeded to batter me with questions as to why I had a gun...

You should have said: "for the exact same reason you do".

 

[NavyLCDR]

I don't want to copy/paste the whole thing, so here's a link to where I recounted a recent run-in I had with OPD.

http://floridaconcealedcarry.com/For...lled-Over-gt-\

That police officer violated the 4th Amendment and you would have a very good lawsuit against him. Supreme Court Case Law has established that during a Terry Stop and/or routine Traffic Stop the officer only has the right to disarm you for officer safety if he has reasonable suspicion to believe that you are armed and dangerous.

If you had told him about the gun (which you did) and then he immediately seized the gun temporarily for officer safety, his actions would have been legal. However, it is clear he did not have concern for his safety, because he did not seize the gun until the end of the traffic stop, even though he knew about it from the beginning. At that point in time, he would only be within his legal authority to seize the gun if he had reasonable and articulable suspicion that a crime was/had been committed with it.

 

[Hardware]

Pulled over for speeding while OC in Delaware. I had my pistol secured on the dashboard per Delaware state law. State police officer took my driver's license, registration and insurance card. Pistol was a non-issue. Written up for a 60 in a 55, which was a nice gesture on his part.

Other items of note; I was doing more than 60, I saw his cruiser move to the edge of the busy highway in preparation to pull me over. I started heading right and slowing down immediately. I was stopped in the breakdown lane before he was able to pull out in traffic. I had my engine off, flashers on, as far off the highway as possible. Driver's window down, tinted driver's rear window was down, my hands were on my knees, as far from the pistol as possible while still being visible.

Sometimes life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react to it.

 

[tarosean]

Once, but it was actually quite comical.


Back when I lived in New Mexico they used to conduct illegal roadblocks/DWI checkpoints. I rolled through one of them with my gun wedged between the drivers seat and center console of my car. While the officer was asking for my documents (License/insurance/etc.) a group of about 5-6 cadets/trainees were investigating from the passenger side. All of a sudden the trainees start screaming "gun gun gun". That sends the whole scene into an uproar I get asked to exit the vehicle and they secure my 645. The main officer asks me why I have a loaded weapon in the car. My simple answer was "because I can." The main officer tossed my gun on the passenger seat told me to be on my way.


I still get chuckles out of those cadets everytime I see one now-a-days....

 

[hermannr]

NavyLt. I don't know if the RCW you quoted is different than the hunting regs have always been, or not...I can't get the current hunting regs to load becasue they want a new version of Acrobat than I have installed, and for other reasons I do not want to upgrade my version of Acrobat. However, what the RCW allows, and what F&W allow is not always the same.

My wife and I have been hunting in WA state for over 30 years, and I do know the regs have changed as to the use of a cross bow, so they may have changed for handguns also, but they have always been, for as long as I can remember. Now I am talking from Fish and wildlife hunting regulations, not RCW's

You may not use .22 rimfire rifle for anything except grouse, and no centerfire less than .24 rifle for anything except couger or grouse. These are rifles now, not handguns.

There is (was?) a specific muzzle energy spec. for handguns used to hunt "big game", with a caviat that .357 mag was not recognized to meet this spec. (except for grouse). Basically .44 Mag, heavy Ruger 45LC loads and up are legal by the regs. (regs, not RCW)

The current regs are here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/ if you would be so kind as to compare to the RCW. As I said, I tried, but becasue of my version of acrobat I can't get them to load correctly.