Inform the officer or not when concealed carry?

Done

I think this thread has gone as far as it is going to go. There are clearly different opinions about this, and i very clearly understand and support - despite my last post - your right NOT to inform where that is legal. I simply choose to do inform, as the best course for me. Someone asked, what about anything else i'm carrying in my pocket. Well, all i can say is your Bic lighter isn't a firearm. People, even LEOs, maybe especially LEOs, get nervous or worse around OPF (other people's firearms).

I agree that it is illogical for a LEO to be more concerned about lawful carry than about the hoodlums who carry illegally. So, the last thing to say is, obey the law, and keep carrying.
 
I don't know.....I have lots of friends that LEO and they all tell me that they want to be told that your carrying a weapon. I agree, they have a tough job and would appreciate the courtesy. Anyway, they all feel it's great for civilians to carry, who knows you might be able to reciprocate the help to them someday when their struggling with a BG and there is no other officer around.
 
Every LEO that I have talked to, some friends and some I just met, prefer to be told. They really don't like surprises. :no:

If they happen to see a firearm print, and they say they look for printing, they get nervous if they haven't been told it's a legal concealed carry.
 
ga.glockdog63 said:
I don't know.....I have lots of friends that LEO and they all tell me that they want to be told that your carrying a weapon. I agree, they have a tough job and would appreciate the courtesy. Anyway, they all feel it's great for civilians to carry, who knows you might be able to reciprocate the help to them someday when their struggling with a BG and there is no other officer around.
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I'm sure they want to be told that they have a weapon. And I don't want to be stopped by the police. If they are stopping me against my wishes, why should I grant them theirs?

I'm not disrespectful of LEOs in general. I'm polite and calm in just about every encounter. But if one tells me that I have to do something that I'm not obligated to do by law, I'd rather stand by my rights and refuse. I would choose not to inform a LEO just as I would refuse to turn off a video camera.

Again, the government exists at the will of the people. If I am doing nothing against the law with my firearm, the LEO has no right to know -- unless I willingly give up that information. I choose not to, as it is none of his business.
 
drt said:
Every LEO that I have talked to, some friends and some I just met, prefer to be told. They really don't like surprises. :no:

If they happen to see a firearm print, and they say they look for printing, they get nervous if they haven't been told it's a legal concealed carry.
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I get nervous when I get surprised too -- like when I see a cop car behind me with its lights on.

I really don't care if cops don't like surprises. I like my rights, and I flat out refuse to give up anything more than I have to.
 
It's common courtesy to inform them. Most of us law abiding citizens don't break any laws to be stopped anyway, so what's the problem?
 
I have been pulled over once. The car I was test driving had broken plate screws so the dealer put his dealer plate in the back window. I never told the town cop I was packing, and explained the screws to him and we both went our merry way. Why kick a sleeping dog and open a can of works. What they don't know won't hurt them.
 
LoveMontana said:
It's common courtesy to inform them. Most of us law abiding citizens don't break any laws to be stopped anyway, so what's the problem?
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PARANOIA, its obvious that we have many here who have a dread fear of any type of authority, and feel that the MAN is out to get em
 
I am on both sides of this conversation..
But I believe usually I would hand over my Permit on top of my license in most cases.. I believe that it usually (not always) will put the cop at more ease than on guard. The fact that I have disclosed indicates I'm a good guy in attitude, and the fact that I have disclosed indicates I am not a felon, etc.
I think it depends a lot on where you live.. I think if you are in the North East or in Kalifornia, in general you are dealing with a different mentality than in some other states...

I am NOT a big ACLU fan (NOT, NOT, NOT!!) but the below video provides a better understanding of the point of the folks that choose not to notify (if not legally required).
I think everyone should watch this video.. It is long, but you should watch it all ..
Remember.. "Are you detaining me, or am I free to go?"

Video - BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters
 
Great video. Unfortunately, explaining the 4A and 5A to some of these people is about as productive as banging your head against a brick wall. It doesn't matter how hard you try, they still don't get it and you just end up with a headache.:wacko:
 
If I'm carrying I would notify. Since it's not illegal in any state to have a laminated piece of paper on you, unless your armed, there's no need to tell a cop you have a CCW.
 
I have working closely with law enforcement for years. I specifically asked many officers this question. All but one said they would prefer to know in advance if you are legally armed. The one said he didn't care. Thier reasoning was they would be suspicious as what else you were hiding if you didn't tell them in advance. And if for some reason they searched you or your vehicle and found a gun, they would treat you like a criminal until the matter was resolved. It can be a touchy situation because not all cops know the concealed carry laws.

I was pulled over for a brake light that was out. Before the officer approached my car I had wallet in hand on top of the steering wheel. When he asked for drivers license etc.... I handed him my drivers license and CCW license first. He looked at it and asked were the gun was. I told him. He thanked me and asked that I keep both hands visible at all times. He didn't give me a ticket. He thanked me again for being up front and let me go.

In contrast, a freind was pulled over for speeding on his motorcycle. He gave the cop his drivers and CCW license. The cop asked were the gun was and what kind of gun. My freind was carrying a 44 magnum loaded with 44 special in a shoulder holster. The cop said "you can't carry a 44 magnum for CCW!".

While out plinking in a national forest area, we were confronted by forest service police. Not rangers but regular cops. Turned out we weren't supposed to be shooting there or carry concealed but we didn't know it. When the cop asked for ID I gave him my CCW license also. He asked were the gun was and told us to keep both hands visible. He thanked us and let us go.
 
Blammo said:
Thier reasoning was they would be suspicious as what else you were hiding if you didn't tell them in advance.
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Why? If its legal then its not hiding it by not telling....should I also mention the half eaten apple or the empty juice bottle that rolled under the seat?

If i'm asked to step out of the vehicle and its on my hip, THEN i will mention it...otherwise....nothing to hide, nothing to tell.
 
mrjam2jab said:
Why? If its legal then its not hiding it by not telling....should I also mention the half eaten apple or the empty juice bottle that rolled under the seat?

If i'm asked to step out of the vehicle and its on my hip, THEN i will mention it...otherwise....nothing to hide, nothing to tell.
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Why? Hell I don't know ask a cop. Put yourself in their shoes instead of thinking about yourself.
 
maybejim said:
I try to. He's giving a traffic ticket. Why would he care if I am licensed to carry a firearm?
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That's where I'm at. Just because I don't mention it does not mean that I am "hiding" it. It means that the firearm has absolutely nothing to do with the stop.
 
+1

mrjam2jab said:
Why? If its legal then its not hiding it by not telling....should I also mention the half eaten apple or the empty juice bottle that rolled under the seat?

If I'm asked to step out of the vehicle and its on my hip, THEN i will mention it...otherwise....nothing to hide, nothing to tell.
Click to expand...

That's exactly correct. In states that do NOT require you to inform LEO you're carrying CC, you're not hiding anything if they're not asking if you're armed. IF they ask, you tell them and then follow their instruction.

As a former LEO, IF the officer is searching your vehicle, you're already being 'treated like a criminal.' They either have probable cause (hopefully) OR you gave them consent (hopefully NOT), OR you've already been arrested.

If the stop is purely traffic related (speeding, moving violation etc), there's no need or point to making more out of this than what it is. You're likely going to get a ticket. If this violation happens in the bowels of a bad neighborhood, sure - you're more likely to receive 'extra attention.' But if the LEO does not ask - no way I'm telling - UNLESS I'm being asked to exit the vehicle. Then I'm telling them just to prevent surprises.

Some officers are simply anti-gun and others are scared to death of guns - even their own. Some still are experienced enough and versed enough to recognize the lawful rights of citizens to be armed, and THESE citizens are statistically NOT going to be your problem children.
 
I am a federal officer and I I live in New Jersey. It is a state requirement to notify a LEO you are carrying.
 
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