I was in a fender bender last weekend where the other driver insisted we get a police report. As we have to do in Ohio, I told the officer I was a CCW holder but was not carrying (just coming home from a school function of my daughters). He came back to give us statement forms and said to me, "it's not the CCW holders I'm afraid of, it's the people who carry illegally". I told him I appreciated him saying that. A very refreshing outcome that I imagine most LEO feel.
Fairview Park, OH
- Thread starter teds
- Start date
wallyb
New member
Re: "As we have to do in Ohio, I told the officer I was a CCW holder but was not carrying. ."
For the sake of accuracy- In Ohio you only have to inform an officer if you are carrying.
From the Ohio Attorney General 2011 Concealed Carry Laws Manual-
"If you are pulled over while carrying a concealed handgun, you should
remember the following:
• Before the officer approaches, roll down your window and place your
hands in plain view on the steering wheel.
• Calmly tell the officer that you have a license to carry a concealed
handgun and that you have a handgun with you. Ask if the officer has
particular instructions concerning the handgun.
• Do not touch or attempt to touch your handgun unless specifically told
to by the officer.
• Do not exit your vehicle unless specifically told to by the officer.
• Comply with all lawful orders given by the officer.
If you are a licensee and are not carrying a concealed handgun, this section
does not apply to you."
For the sake of accuracy- In Ohio you only have to inform an officer if you are carrying.
From the Ohio Attorney General 2011 Concealed Carry Laws Manual-
"If you are pulled over while carrying a concealed handgun, you should
remember the following:
• Before the officer approaches, roll down your window and place your
hands in plain view on the steering wheel.
• Calmly tell the officer that you have a license to carry a concealed
handgun and that you have a handgun with you. Ask if the officer has
particular instructions concerning the handgun.
• Do not touch or attempt to touch your handgun unless specifically told
to by the officer.
• Do not exit your vehicle unless specifically told to by the officer.
• Comply with all lawful orders given by the officer.
If you are a licensee and are not carrying a concealed handgun, this section
does not apply to you."
Deserteagle
New member
Well there is a great counter point to the assumption that notifying police about CCW status does not put them at ease.
A police officer is not all that smart, IMHO, if they are put any more at ease and let their situational awareness lapse because someone claims they are a CCW permit holder; until they actually verify with the issuing authority that the CCW permit is valid. Funny how they don't normally assume a driver's license is valid just because a person hands it to them...
Deserteagle
New member
Lol somehow I knew posting anything about notifying a LEO would elicit a response out of you.
Do you disagree with my statement? A subject pushes a piece of paper at you and says, "I'm a good guy, look, here is my CCW permit!" Do you automatically take their word for it?
Deanimator
New member
Ohio law requires someone with a CHL or recognized equivalent to notify a cop that he has a CCW credential IF he's armed. It's POINTLESS to notify him that you're NOT carrying. It's bad enough that you have to notify him when you ARE. The antics of imbeciles like ex-Officer Daniel Harless are the result.
Deserteagle
New member
Navy and Deanimator, I have said previously that I do not plan on notifying when not required to, but we'll see what happens. I think introducing the subject of a gun into a stop sign violation will just complicate the stop. If I'm asked to get out of the car, I might consider notifying, and if Im patted down or if he asks me, I will tell him. Im just trying to not get pulled over in the first place.
Going back to my original point, notifying will put some officers at ease as we have seen above, and which I pointed out. Others may not be put at ease.
Going back to my original point, notifying will put some officers at ease as we have seen above, and which I pointed out. Others may not be put at ease.
But my question was, do you think it is wise for a police officer to "feel at ease" because someone puts an official looking, unverified piece of paper in their hands?
Deserteagle
New member
When I'm a cop, I'll let you know. Until then, I have no basis for judging that. I do know that my permit is like a driver license and not a piece of paper though. We can make assumptions that it is or is not wise to put yourself at ease during that job, but speculating about how I would feel or how another cop feels or making assumptions about what is wise or not wise for that job is pointless unless we have more knowledge, such as having done the job.
I don;t mind notifying...in Ohio at least if they ran your plates they already know. The only encounter I've had, I told the LEO I had a permit and was carrying, and he laughed and said Somehow from your bumper stickers I kinda thought you might be...We went through the ticket hassle, and then he asked what I was carrying...I said Sig 1911 RCS...his eyes got real wide and he says Oooh I like your style lol...Maybe it's different for us women, but I don't mind at all making a little extra effort to put an LEO at ease.
Deanimator
New member
I'm concerned SOLELY with obeying the law, not putting the unwary at any "ease".
My not notifying the cop doesn't mean I'm going to shoot him.
My notifying him doesn't mean that I'm not going to shoot him.
Any cop who would let his guard down with a stranger merely because he TELLS him that he's got a CHL and is carrying is too dumb for the job. It might just get him killed eventually.
The Harless debacle (and others like it) is proof positive that Ohio's notification requirement is idiotic and needs to be eliminated. It's simply an opportunity for abuse.
Really? So by running the plates they know who is driving the car?!? Wow, that's some technology right there. I know in Washington the plates only come back to the registered owner, not necessarily the driver.
I really don't care that the LEO is put "at ease" either (and yeah, most of the time, my concern is obeying the law). Matter of fact, I like that a particular LEO is a little "tense" when dealing with me. After all, I have a gun. So, a state agent with the power to arrest my freedom has to mind their manners a bit when interacting with me? Good. Gov't agent has a gun, citizen has a gun; the way it should be.
I tell em if required, otherwise, nah. I figure I help them stay on their toes by keeping them guessing.
