“But I would not ever leave a pistol near my shooting hand when an officer walks up to talk to me.”
The LAST thing you want to be doing when a cop is walking up to talk to you...is to be fumbling with your gun in an effort to get it away from your shooting hand.
Both of your hands should be attached high on the steering wheel in plain sight...not moving at all. (If it’s at night, the only thing you might do additionally, prior to the cop even getting out of his car, is to turn on the inside/overhead light in your car.)
All proper disclosures should be made when the cop arrives at your window...I have a CCW...I have a weapon...it’s wedged between my seat and the console...and I ain’t moving until you tell me what you do, etc. Believe me, he already knows you have a CCW from the license plate check he did on your plate before exiting his vehicle.
Do not touch your weapon.