THIS is the way to handle a cop!

[rugerdude]

How dare the police officer investigate a call that he received from the dispatcher! Why don't they just assume all calls of suspicious activity are just legal actions taking place and never investigate anything?!?!

These open carry guys are doing the adult equivalent of the "I'm not touching you" game. Not all OC'ers of course, but the ones that go out with their cameras on and are determined to be as unhelpful as they possibly can be.

 

[TCB in TN]

I would be annoyed if I got stopped just for open carrying, but not as much if they got calls about it. They're doing their job. Even if I was annoyed, I wouldn't immediately jump in with a camera and an attitude.
__________________

And if he hadn't had his camera then many on here would immediately start with the "well you don't know what happened before the video".

IMHO The cop was wrong, obviously knew the law, but wanted to try and push the guy into complying. It didn't work so the officer did take up some of the guys time, and then let him go.

I don't think the cop did a bad job, but wouldn't give him any extra credit. It could obviously have been worse, contempt of cop is a serious crime in many jurisdictions.

 

[texasgun]

a GREAT example of how NOT to react when walking down the street and OC'ing a firearm simply for the purpose to video record and upload on youtube another obnoxious "OC guy stopped by cop" video.

The cop acted professional and was polite - cannot say that about the law school student.

seriously - stuff like this does NOT advance 2A rights.

Cops are busy enough and the last thing they want is follow up on "MWAG" calls from the 911 dispatcher. CC in urban areas and call it a day.

 

[MikeS.]

The cop sure changed his answer when his boss showed up.

 

[Manco]

The cop sure changed his answer when his boss showed up.

As a professional he should have known better, especially when he couldn't find an actual reason to further detain the guy, but I guess it's best that they both agreed to wait for the sergeant to show up to make sure.

 

[Manco]

Taking the firearm temporarily and giving it back after determining that there was no threat isn't illegal. Look through the threads in legal about it.

Yeah, I just threw that part in because it happened, not because it was a separate point. I guess the cop did have a reason to initially detain (which allows him to take control of any weapons), in that citizens felt threatened and called the police, but then he didn't seem to know what to do. It should be simple--either arrest him (for what?) or let him go.

 

[Mousegun]

The question is: Why does a state allow open carry if it is going to cause a problem when it is exercised?

If the lawmakers didn't see stuff like this coming, then they should do something about it after the fact and make it a concealed carry state once the problem manifested itself or make a clear and distinct policy of how open carry should be handled as not to have to go through something like this and make BOTH sides look bad.

 

[labhound]

Open carry is legal in Virginia. When I took my concealed carry class at a LGS in downtown Norfolk, open carry was discussed by the instructor. He said while legal, discretion should be used. He said you don't want to go walking down Granby St. in downtown Norfolk open carrying because someone will call in a "man with a gun report" and the police won't just send one officer but probably every officer in downtown Norfolk. Sometimes making a point just isn't worth all the attention you can draw to yourself!

 

[KTXdm9]

A right not exercised is a right lost.

 

[TenDriver]

I don't disagree, but looking for a confrontation and acting like a know it all jackwagon isn't exercising a right.

 

[Vector]

Good job, officer, of keeping your cool.

Yes he deserves credit for "keeping his cool".

Yet he deserves scorn for stopping the law abiding citizen for legally exercising his constitutional rights.

 

[TCB in TN]

I don't disagree, but looking for a confrontation and acting like a know it all jackwagon isn't exercising a right.

Honest question here. If the officer knew that OC was legal (and it appears he did from the fact that he didn't immediately arrest the guy), and the guy was not doing anything suspicious (which it appears he didn't or the officer didn't immediately arrest the ARMED guy). Why should the guy have been stopped?

Officer I saw a guy driving down the street!

Officer I saw a guy standing on the corner!

Officer I saw a guy!

I will freely acknowledge that many in our society see anyone out of uniform and armed being a problem. Many in our society see a black guy in the neighborhood as a problem. Or a gay guy in the neighborhood! A guy with a bible in the neighborhood!

Just because someone thinks it is a problem doesn't make it illegal.

Barring that person doing something unlawful then it isn't any of a LEOs business! Those of you who argue otherwise appear to be buying into a whole lot of the nanny state nonsense.

 

[Vector]

The question is: Why does a state allow open carry if it is going to cause a problem when it is exercised?

If the lawmakers didn't see stuff like this coming, then they should do something about it after the fact and make it a concealed carry state once the problem manifested itself or make a clear and distinct policy of how open carry should be handled as not to have to go through something like this and make BOTH sides look bad.

This gets back to my theory that more people should Open Carry where it is legal to do so.
The idea being to desensitize the average Joe to where it becomes normal to see average citizens OCing.
Not too long ago, people from Europe coming to America felt uncomfortable seeing every LEO armed with a gun on their hip. Eventually they became accustomed to it. When people see regular citizens walking around with guns and the world does not come to an end, it will become less of a worry. That is especially true if many people are seen doing it, not just one person every other month.

`

 

[guywithfastcar]

there are better ways to promote 2a values than hassle a police officer, he (the police officer) handled the encounter very well

 

[TennJed]

For the life of me, I don't understand why so many "gun" people go out of their way to be jerks to LEOs and have such an unwarranted fear and disrespect of them. It is silly and IMHO shows a lack of intelligence. 99% of the ones I know are good people doing a really tough job. Also they are a group of people we need on our side. idiots like the one in video gives us all a bad name and do way more harm than good

 

[happygeek]

In the end this all would have been avoided if people would learn what is legal and what is not before calling the police about it.

This. I've heard the dispatchers get quite a few of these stupid calls and have to waste an inordinate amount of police time sending cops to check them out.

 

[TCB in TN]

there are better ways to promote 2a values than hassle a police officer, he (the police officer) handled the encounter very well

So a LEO stops you while you are legally going about your business and you are hassling him????

 

[SpentCasing]

Carried concealed if your gonna carry.

Says who? You? Certainly in this case not the law.

Something tells me that that fool is turn out to be a Democrat later on in life just so he can force his knowledge of the law on others.

Yep knowledge of the law and your rights must be one of them "librul" tactics huh?

Comply with the Officer. id yourself, ease his mind and then both go on your way.

Seriously. Just show your papers, even though there is no law saying you need to. Again, must be one of them libruls.

I figgured that if asked you must id yourself to law enforcement(?)

You 'figgured' wrong, sir.



Not suprisingly you're "embarrased" to be an American. (according to your sig) Please re-read the bill of rights again and re-think your position. Particularly 2nd 4th and 5th. God bless America and our freedoms we are granted by our creator, not our police. Use 'em or lose 'em, I say. Not trying to beat you up per say, but your whole post (sig included) is way more anti-american than anything some Democrat would say in public. Being "anti-communist" means nothing when you support fascism as the alternative.


As another members sig says: Im not anti-cop, Im pro constitution.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Yes he deserves credit for "keeping his cool".

Yet he deserves scorn for stopping the law abiding citizen for legally exercising his constitutional rights.

This pretty much sums it up for me.

I walked up to the Wawa from my house one day after work to buy some rolls for dinner. I left the Wawa and was walking home. The next thing I know 2 cruisers are pulling over to inquire about my firearm.
The one officer asked for my license. I showed him my DL. He wanted my LTCF. I told him I didn't need one to open carry on foot in Pa. He looked at me and said, I know, but I want to see it.
I asked him why he was questioning me about doing something that was perfectly legal.
He told me they got a call about a man with a gun. I said, well, you found me. I told him they should go ask the person that called, why they call them. Obviously buying rolls isn't a crime as far as I know. I told him to follow me down the street to my house if he wants to see it. He declined my offer.
Maybe we would have far less encounters like this if someone would actually ask what ''the man with the gun'' is doing.
Just because some people are too busy sticking thier nose where it doesn't belong, isn't going to stop me from doing something that is not illegal. Should I call the cops everytime I see someone speeding? They are more of a threat than just, ''a man with a gun''.
You guys must know a whole nother breed of OCers than I do.
Call me a ''jackwagon'' if you want. I'm not changing my method of carry to be PC. I'm too old to change, just because some don't like it. If it bothers you, loby to have the law changed. Until that happens, GET OVER IT!

 

[Manco]

Honest question here. If the officer knew that OC was legal (and it appears he did from the fact that he didn't immediately arrest the guy), and the guy was not doing anything suspicious (which it appears he didn't or the officer didn't immediately arrest the ARMED guy). Why should the guy have been stopped?

Often this is to discourage the practice of open carry regardless of the fact that it is legal (i.e. you have the right, on paper, but you can't actually use it ). That said, in this case, for all we know, the officer involved might simply have been trying to reassure himself and those who called that the person was not breaking the law by being a felon in possession of a firearm, but in truth he needs a reason for that, too, as in a free country, as opposed to an authoritarian police state, government officials and agents can't go around asking everybody for their "papers" (i.e. "Your papers, please...your papers are not in order" ) without cause.

Officer I saw a guy driving down the street!

Officer I saw a guy standing on the corner!

Officer I saw a guy!

Yeah, this guy may be planning to run somebody down with his car, or strangle them with his hands--better just lock everybody up for safety's sake.

I will freely acknowledge that many in our society see anyone out of uniform and armed being a problem. Many in our society see a black guy in the neighborhood as a problem. Or a gay guy in the neighborhood! A guy with a bible in the neighborhood!

If they can learn to be this way, and they did, then they can learn to not be this way.

 

[WC145]

Honest question here. If the officer knew that OC was legal (and it appears he did from the fact that he didn't immediately arrest the guy), and the guy was not doing anything suspicious (which it appears he didn't or the officer didn't immediately arrest the ARMED guy). Why should the guy have been stopped?

Officer I saw a guy driving down the street!

Officer I saw a guy standing on the corner!

Officer I saw a guy!

I will freely acknowledge that many in our society see anyone out of uniform and armed being a problem. Many in our society see a black guy in the neighborhood as a problem. Or a gay guy in the neighborhood! A guy with a bible in the neighborhood!

Just because someone thinks it is a problem doesn't make it illegal.

Barring that person doing something unlawful then it isn't any of a LEOs business! Those of you who argue otherwise appear to be buying into a whole lot of the nanny state nonsense.

The cop was responding to a complaint. We don't get to pick and choose or refuse any calls.

 

[TCB in TN]

The cop was responding to a complaint. We don't get to pick and choose or refuse any calls.

You respond to every call about a man walking down the street?

 

[Bobson]

Ya. That happened in maine. Portland maine. I grew up in that city. Portland cops are not pleasant at all

That cop was extremely pleasant. Must have been a fluke.

For the life of me, I don't understand why so many "gun" people go out of their way to be jerks to LEOs and have such an unwarranted fear and disrespect of them. 99% of the ones I know are good people doing a really tough job. Also they are a group of people we need on our side. idiots like the one in video gives us all a bad name and do way more harm than good

+1. I personally know around a dozen cops, and I've met probably close to fifty others (my brother is a sworn LEO in WY, and I've worked in security and corrections pretty much my entire adult life), and every single one of them are extremely polite and professional, whether they're in uniform or not. Further, I've never been stopped or interacted with a rude or otherwise unprofessional LEO anywhere in America, and I've lived all over the county. Rude, unprofessional cops are absolutely the exception, not the rule.

 

[Fred_G]

Instead, why did the guy not just introduce himself, offer his ID, and then make a positive interaction with the officer?

This. Sure, you may not have to legally, but why not? If I am not mistaken If I am CC carrying in my state, I have to tell them and show my CCL. Now, that might not be Constitutional, but I don't have a problem with it.

Call me crazy, but every time I have been pulled over with guns, back before I could CCL, me and the cops BS about what guns we like, after I notify them and let them search my car. Not much of a search, I tell them where the guns are.

I do have to wonder why someone would call the cops for a person walking down the street with OC. As long as it is in the holster, ***?

 

[TCB in TN]

Call me crazy, but every time I have been pulled over with guns, back before I could CCL, me and the cops BS about what guns we like, after I notify them and let them search my car. Not much of a search, I tell them where the guns are.

So easy..... you are crazy!

But seriously, I have rights, no voluntary search, under any circumstances w/o paperwork they don't search. The BoR matters, I am not giving up my rights. It is the principle of the issue. Any search w/o prob cause is to much search.