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Don't be a gun dork in traffic stops
The Examiner.com ^ | December 31, 2009 | Mike Stollenwerk

Posted on 12/31/2009 3:59:47 PM PST by majstoll

On numerous Internet forums, and some email lists, gun owners periodically report being hassled by police when pulled over for routine traffic infractions. . . . But often there is a common thread to these stories – the dorky gun owner brought up the gun thing all on her own! . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...


TOPICS: Humor; Travel; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: banglist; concealedcarry; dork; dotherightthing; examiner; gun; gunsincars; guntransport; lawenforcement; police; trafficstop
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To: Lurker

“So it’s perfectly legal to carry a concealed firearm in a fanny pack or backpack as long as it isn’t loaded.”

That is exactly the state of Illinois law, so I would expect him to uphold it. The reason that he does so might have something to do with the heroic efforts of Illinois gun right activists to prove this very point.


61 posted on 12/31/2009 6:05:10 PM PST by marktwain
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To: IrishPennant

That’s Right,
Keep it to Yourself, until Asked !
Always according to Law.


62 posted on 12/31/2009 6:05:23 PM PST by bravotu (Have a Nice Day !)
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To: cripplecreek
our county sheriff

If I'm not mistaken the position of County Sheriff is an elected one. Time to make sure the one you had to deal with is removed from his forthwith.

63 posted on 12/31/2009 6:05:59 PM PST by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: cripplecreek

Remember....Mama said to always chew yo' food.

64 posted on 12/31/2009 6:08:12 PM PST by ErnBatavia (It's not the Obama Administration....it's the "Obama Regime".)
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To: majstoll

New tagline for the new year...


65 posted on 12/31/2009 6:09:56 PM PST by djf (What has killed more people? 1) Guns in cars or 2) Cell phones in cars???? Do the math!!!!)
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To: Lurker

He’s long gone.


66 posted on 12/31/2009 6:10:27 PM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: marktwain

Fascinating video! Thanks for posting it! I don’t know if I’d be able to stand up to a bullying cop like that.


67 posted on 12/31/2009 6:11:24 PM PST by Finny ("Raise hell. Vote smart." -- Ted Nugent.)
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To: cripplecreek

How on earth do you deduce that yarddog is a “blowhard moron” from his post #36, one of the most level-headed and sensible on this thread so far?


68 posted on 12/31/2009 6:15:14 PM PST by Finny ("Raise hell. Vote smart." -- Ted Nugent.)
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To: Finny

Telling people to ignore the laws of their state is a boneheaded thing to say.


69 posted on 12/31/2009 6:16:28 PM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: majstoll

The only time I would tell is if I ever had to get out of the car. If there is no need to tell, why do it?


70 posted on 12/31/2009 6:22:07 PM PST by Red in Blue PA (If guns cause crime, then all of mine are defective!)
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To: All

Every car I have ever pulled over, I was actively doing plain view searches for firearms (and other goodies)on the interior of the car and the occupants. It’s what cops do. We really hate surprises and since every traffic stop is an unknown risk encounter, it is a wise practice to notify the officer that you have a firearm in the vehicle and where it is.

I have had a few occasions to be pulled over by other law enforcement officers and this is my routine.

Always pull to the right side of the road and out of traffic. Turn on emergency flashers when you get lit up by the overheads to acknowledge to the officer that you see him and are complying. Roll your windows down, front and back if you have tint. Turn you dome light on if at night. DO NOT reach for ANYTHING. Say again, DO NOT reach for ANYTHING. Don’t even take your seatbelt off. Most of the illegal guns and dope I got from traffic stops where from people who started reaching around in the cab. Put your hands on the steering wheel. Let the officer speak first. When the officer is done speaking, let him or her know that you are armed, where your firearm is at, and ask for instructions. If he wants to secure the weapon somewhere, the trunk or something similiar, keep in mind that officer doesn’t know your intent and has to treat every contact as potentially very hostile. It’s a survival mechanism and it’s not going to change to soothe feelings.

None of this guarantees that officer will not issue a summons for whatever violation, but the odds are real good. Why? You will demonstrated to the officer that you are responsible gun owner, (Lord knows we see enough irresponsible ones), that you are genuinely interested in the traffic stop staying safe and peaceful, for yourself and the officer, and politeness goes a long way. Police officers see enough rude people. Personally, when I see these things done, I don’t write a thing except my racial profiling form. I thank the motorist for their cooperation and tell them to be safe, don’t forget their insurance card, get the equipment violation fixed asap, etc.

If you have passengers that are armed, advise the officer of this as well. Take some time to talk with your armed passengers to advise them that you will do the talking and whatever you are subject to, they are too. Don’t drive with people who are braver than you. If your friend starts running his mouth, tell him to STFU, you got it.

In Missouri, the CCP is noted on the license itself, not sure for other states.

Some places may do it different, but where I am from, I make it habit to ask if the operator has a firearm on or about their person or in the vehicle. If I see a gun on a person or inside the vehicle that has not been told to me about on a traffic stop, mine comes out of the holster, will be at the low ready and some very direct commands will be issued. About four of my friends will be coming as well. That person will be separated from their weapon, and probably handcuffed until I can determine what is going on. If everything is benign, the operator will have everything explained to them, by my supervisor who will also inform them how to get a complaint form if they so wish. FWIW, the complaints are always reviewed two command steps up and I have never had a sustained complaint about this procedure.

A traffic stop is not a citizen contact where citizen and officer are on equal legal footing, it is a detention.

Officers simply cannot afford to be lackadaisical about unknown citizens with firearms. We know that unknown citizens murder officers on traffic stops, one would be hard pressed to find one instance to find where a uniformed officer walked up to a motorist and absent any other provocation, shot the motorist upon contact.


71 posted on 12/31/2009 6:22:56 PM PST by Molon Labbie
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To: Molon Labbie

Your reasoning is totally flawed and is indicative of the us vs. them attitude of too many police. I recall being stopped by a cop in Tulsa. We were only a few blocks from home and were returning from Sunday night church.

He claimed I had run the yellow light. It wasn’t even close. It turned yellow while I was in the middle of the intersection. I didn’t even see it turn tho my wife who is shorter just caught it.

He shined his flashlight all around the car and finally saw a Bible on the back seat. I think he sort of felt a bit guilty and told us to go on.

If the gun is in plain sight then it is OK to ask about it. If it is not then you have no business asking.

There are a lot of good cops, there are even some who are basically good but still abuse their authority. I know what I am talking about. There are also a huge number of bully boys who think a badge is just the ticket to exercise their “authority”.

And don’t give me this crap about how dangerous being a cop is. It is a fairly dangerous job but there are plenty which are more so. No one forces any cop to be one.


72 posted on 12/31/2009 6:38:25 PM PST by yarddog
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To: Molon Labbie

I am glad that I do not live in Missouri.


73 posted on 12/31/2009 6:43:22 PM PST by marktwain
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To: yarddog
"A cop has no justification for asking about any legal weapon in your car.

The only possible reason he could have would be to try to harass you or steal it. Sometimes just to show his authority."

To say the only possible reason an Officer asks if you are carrying a weapon is to harass you or to steal your gun, is incredibly stupid and juvenile.If you show the same hostile attitude towards Officers on the street the way you do on this forum, you bet your ass they will ask, and for their protection.

There are many reasons a Peace Officer will ask a traffic violator if they are armed, these reasons could be protocol over the reason contact with the driver was made, it could be they are suspecting a more serious offense. CCH carriers are trained to tell the Officer they have a weapon (personally I dont see a need for them to unless asked), and Officers are trained to ask the citizen contacts for a variety of reasons. In a simple traffic stop, and the Officer intends to write a citation or a warning, he may not ask. If the Officer feels a confrontation may develop due to the issuance of a citation, he may or may not ask. If he sees usual behavior or anything to cause him to feel uneasy, he may ask. If he feels his contact my lead to an arrest, he will ask. If you appear to be a normal average Joe, he probably wont feel the need to ask. If you appear unusually nervous, or you strike him as a turd he probably will.

Of course Officers could use their magical powers to tell if you are a scumbag tweaker with felony warrants or a law abiding citizen, then they would not have to ask you if you have a gun. Then again if they did that, they would then loose the only real reason they have in asking according to you... and that is to harass you and steal your gun.

74 posted on 12/31/2009 6:57:21 PM PST by GregoTX (When people find they can vote themselves money it will herald the end of the republic. Ben Franklin)
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To: Domandred
One veteran police officer (guessing by his age) even told me he loves pulling over CCW’s because it tells him chances are he just pulled over a law abiding citizen instead of walking into a blind traffic stop.

My brother in law is Arizona DPS and told me the same thing.

He also appreciates it when people turn on the interior light at night.

-ccm

75 posted on 12/31/2009 7:01:05 PM PST by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order.)
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To: GregoTX

I completely disagree with you. If they think you have committed a felony, they will do a lot more than ask if you have a gun. If they have no reason to suspect you of some major offense they should issue a citation and send you on your happy way.


76 posted on 12/31/2009 7:15:26 PM PST by yarddog
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To: yarddog

But then how will they get to harass you and steal your gun?


77 posted on 12/31/2009 7:17:52 PM PST by GregoTX (When people find they can vote themselves money it will herald the end of the republic. Ben Franklin)
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To: Molon Labbie
Both my wife and I are CCW licensed in Kentucky. In this state most CCW licensed people in KY carry in the glove box. For this reason we were trained to notify the officer that we are licensed and have a weapon in the glove box (He/She will already know we are licensed). We are further instructed to ask if the officer would like to wait for backup. There is no way I want to open a glove box to get my registration and have a gun pop out.

BTW, I seem to find your writings all over the net. Thanks for your service.

78 posted on 12/31/2009 7:18:10 PM PST by Silent One
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To: GregoTX

You know what. My best friend in college was the Son of a police chief in central Florida. He had a large collection of guns he had confiscated over the years. He even gave me one.

When I was in grad school one of my buddies and I were out target shooting on his property about 200 yards off the road. He had to park his car near the road. One day he got back and a deputy had stopped, found a Taurus copy of the Beretta 92 and confiscated it. He left a note that he had taken it to make sure no one took it and used it in a crime.

My friend and I both knew the real reason he took it. My buddy went to the sheriff’s office and got it back. A good number of people would have just let him keep it. BTW it wasn’t being stored in the locked evidence room but in the deputy’s car.

So yes, some of them do steal your gun if given half a chance.


79 posted on 12/31/2009 7:36:38 PM PST by yarddog
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To: yarddog
So yes, some of them do steal your gun if given half a chance.

So we have gone from "The only possible reason he could have would be to try to harass you or steal it." to a questionable amusing little story ending with some of them do steal your gun if given half a chance.

B.S.
That isnt how Law Enforcement works, but no one can convince the anti police people like you.

80 posted on 12/31/2009 7:54:25 PM PST by GregoTX (When people find they can vote themselves money it will herald the end of the republic. Ben Franklin)
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