diannabill
New member
The Ohio incident really got me to thinking about whether or not it is reasonable (or necessary) to inform LEOs that I've got a weapon. I know in some states it's required, and in others, no such notification is required.
I realize we've got the constitutional right to bear arms, and the limitations on that right seem to vary from state to state and even city to city. Even though I live in Oregon, and I'm not required to let a LEO that pulls me over know I have a weapon, I can't imagine why I wouldn't immediately do so.
There are rogue cops out there--I'm not going to debate that point. But the majority of cops out there are decent, humane men and women who just want to do their job and go home to their families in one piece. And from my own personal experience, for the most part, they do a thankless job.
I personally want to be respectful enough of an officer's feeling of well being and safety to let him know about my weapon right from the start. I can't imagine it would help his blood pressure to find it some other way (if he did find it at all).
If it's not required by law, disclosure is definitely a personal choice. As for me, I'm leaning toward early, voluntary disclosure. I have no idea what kind of a call that officer was on earlier, and what his stress level might be when I meet him. So I'd like to keep the confrontation as civil and calm as possible. I realize there are some folks here from some states or municipalities that have had a much different experience with law enforcement than I have, and I'm anxious to hear from them.
I realize we've got the constitutional right to bear arms, and the limitations on that right seem to vary from state to state and even city to city. Even though I live in Oregon, and I'm not required to let a LEO that pulls me over know I have a weapon, I can't imagine why I wouldn't immediately do so.
There are rogue cops out there--I'm not going to debate that point. But the majority of cops out there are decent, humane men and women who just want to do their job and go home to their families in one piece. And from my own personal experience, for the most part, they do a thankless job.
I personally want to be respectful enough of an officer's feeling of well being and safety to let him know about my weapon right from the start. I can't imagine it would help his blood pressure to find it some other way (if he did find it at all).
If it's not required by law, disclosure is definitely a personal choice. As for me, I'm leaning toward early, voluntary disclosure. I have no idea what kind of a call that officer was on earlier, and what his stress level might be when I meet him. So I'd like to keep the confrontation as civil and calm as possible. I realize there are some folks here from some states or municipalities that have had a much different experience with law enforcement than I have, and I'm anxious to hear from them.
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