brighamr
Member
I've posted several times on here about my usual "meetings" with LEOs, and my opinions on the subject. That has officially changed since my recent road trip. ***DISCLAIMER: NO LEO BASHING, as I would like my thread to stay open***
I was travelling interstate, going through Idaho on my way to Utah. I have a concealed permit, and I was carrying about 7 guns on my trip (we always have a 4th of July shoot with my family down there). It is my usual bad habit to drive quickly through open stretches and slow down for towns. In my opinion, if there's no one else around, what's an extra 15mph going to change? That's another topic, and for the record, I don't condone speeding. Sufficet to say, I was speeding when I got pulled over, it was my fault and I know better now
So back to the story, I was travelling south on I15 when the cruiser passed me headed north. He performed the "Dukes of Hazzard" u-turn, directly through the median, and promptly turned his lights on. Knowing I was the reason, I pulled over, shut off the car and kept my hands on the wheel.
The officer was polite, asked me why I was travelling so fast, and upon seeing my handguns in the front seat, he asked me to step out of the car. I complied, and after stepping out handed him my driver's license and CWP. Here's the funny part: he noticed my competition t-shirt I was wearing and asked what I competed in. I replied "3gun", to which he responds "so just how many guns do you have in that car?". I was grinning a little and said the entire trunk was full, but I had a permit and wasn't breaking any laws. I was kind of defensive at the time, because frankly I don't like telling anyone how many guns I have, or why I have them.
The officer then states, and I quote, "I'm a firm believer in the second amendment. I have no problems with you having several guns in the car, but I'd like you stay back here while I go talk to your passenger."
At this point, I felt relieved. I know it shouldn't be a big deal, but considering the stigma I had witnessed in the past, I felt the LEO being pro-2A was a very good thing considering my cargo. He talked to my wife, confirming my story and noticed her new taurus "Judge" in the footwell. The officer asked permission to look at the judge, then picks it up and sights it along some fence posts away from the freeway. I was seriously laughing at this point It sounds surreal, but standing with my wife on the side of a freeway while an officer "examines" her gun gave me a chuckle. He wanted to buy one for kicks, and I referred him to my favorite gun store.
I still got a ticket, which was fair enough. I was going too fast, and that's his job to cite speeders. But the simple fact that I was treated politely, he asked permission to examine my weapon, and we were able to have a conversation about competition shooting... well, to be honest it was my best LEO facing experience yet.
Lesson to be learned: Don't speed or break any other laws while on a road trip. It actually made the trip longer, stressed me out and wasted gas. On the way home, we put the cruise control at 75 (posted limit), had zero issues and made it home about 30 minutes quicker than the trip down. Much less stressful, and enjoyable for me and mine.
I was travelling interstate, going through Idaho on my way to Utah. I have a concealed permit, and I was carrying about 7 guns on my trip (we always have a 4th of July shoot with my family down there). It is my usual bad habit to drive quickly through open stretches and slow down for towns. In my opinion, if there's no one else around, what's an extra 15mph going to change? That's another topic, and for the record, I don't condone speeding. Sufficet to say, I was speeding when I got pulled over, it was my fault and I know better now
So back to the story, I was travelling south on I15 when the cruiser passed me headed north. He performed the "Dukes of Hazzard" u-turn, directly through the median, and promptly turned his lights on. Knowing I was the reason, I pulled over, shut off the car and kept my hands on the wheel.
The officer was polite, asked me why I was travelling so fast, and upon seeing my handguns in the front seat, he asked me to step out of the car. I complied, and after stepping out handed him my driver's license and CWP. Here's the funny part: he noticed my competition t-shirt I was wearing and asked what I competed in. I replied "3gun", to which he responds "so just how many guns do you have in that car?". I was grinning a little and said the entire trunk was full, but I had a permit and wasn't breaking any laws. I was kind of defensive at the time, because frankly I don't like telling anyone how many guns I have, or why I have them.
The officer then states, and I quote, "I'm a firm believer in the second amendment. I have no problems with you having several guns in the car, but I'd like you stay back here while I go talk to your passenger."
At this point, I felt relieved. I know it shouldn't be a big deal, but considering the stigma I had witnessed in the past, I felt the LEO being pro-2A was a very good thing considering my cargo. He talked to my wife, confirming my story and noticed her new taurus "Judge" in the footwell. The officer asked permission to look at the judge, then picks it up and sights it along some fence posts away from the freeway. I was seriously laughing at this point It sounds surreal, but standing with my wife on the side of a freeway while an officer "examines" her gun gave me a chuckle. He wanted to buy one for kicks, and I referred him to my favorite gun store.
I still got a ticket, which was fair enough. I was going too fast, and that's his job to cite speeders. But the simple fact that I was treated politely, he asked permission to examine my weapon, and we were able to have a conversation about competition shooting... well, to be honest it was my best LEO facing experience yet.
Lesson to be learned: Don't speed or break any other laws while on a road trip. It actually made the trip longer, stressed me out and wasted gas. On the way home, we put the cruise control at 75 (posted limit), had zero issues and made it home about 30 minutes quicker than the trip down. Much less stressful, and enjoyable for me and mine.