Inform the officer or not when concealed carry?

However, the Sheriff of the county I live in requires notification to any any LEO upon official contact. This IS NOT a condition which is printed on my permit. It was a statement I had to sign.

Philadelphia, PA tries the same thing...along with if your gun is stolen out of your car we will revoke your license to carry...but there is no basis for law on it so you don't have to abide by it.
 
I am amazed at people who think that "telling a cop" (when it's not required) that they have a CCW is being respectful. It has nothing to do with a traffic stop. It has nothing to do with the "safety" of the officer. The only safety that it might affect is if the cop would insist on handling the gun, disarming the CCW holder, and exposing everyone to danger by handling a gun that he might not be familiar with.
 
Polite and reasonable citizens defend their rights! You go ahead and give up your weapon, consent to vehicle/cavity searches...

Are you going to be polite when they come to confiscate your weapons? That is going to make them feel safer. That's your goal right?
Utter paranoia.
IF and WHEN traffic stops have become confiscation, then we'll talk.
As I said, UNTIL cops become my enemy I'll treat them with the same respect I want them to treat me with.
 
If you choose to inform that's your choice. I think it will back fire on you at some point but it is your choice.

What bothers me is the meme (look it up) that those of us who choose not to inform when we are not legally required to do so are somehow trouble making radicals that view all cops as "the enemy".

If I don't inform a cop in Colorado I am one hundred percent in compliance w/ Colorado law. If the State doesn't think it neccessary that I inform why should I listen to you?
Well, at least you have the common decency to just accept that it IS my right.
A couple folks here seem to think they have some authority to tell me what I will do.
 
Routine traffic stop. Officer asks for license, registration and proof of insurance. I carry reg and insurance in a folder on the dash. License is in my left rear pocket. Upon reaching for any of these the LEO gets a glimpse of my firearm somehow. A routine thing has now got me looking into the barrel of his weapon. I understand why he has done this. And I sure don't want to be in that position.

HOWEVER.................

I also believe that if people elect not to tell a LEO when it is not required they are not "trouble making radicals that view all cops as "the enemy"". Treo is spot on here.
Absolutely agree that not informing does not, by default, mean that the person carrying sees cops as the 'enemy'...I do see, however, posts in this forum by a couple folks that absolutely comes off as sounding like LEO's are the enemy.

Its not the failure to inform so much as this attitude presented by a handful of posters in these threads.
Their attitude is a huge part of the problem here. LEO's put their lives on the line every day dealing with routine traffic stops and criminals are enough to have to deal with. They certainly dont need jerkoff CCW'ers acting like Rambo when its not called for.
 
I am amazed at people who think that "telling a cop" (when it's not required) that they have a CCW is being respectful. It has nothing to do with a traffic stop. It has nothing to do with the "safety" of the officer. The only safety that it might affect is if the cop would insist on handling the gun, disarming the CCW holder, and exposing everyone to danger by handling a gun that he might not be familiar with.
Yeah, well, we can easily see that YOU havent actually had a trooper freak out and draw a gun over something that took him by surprise.
When it does you get back with me.
I'll keep informing to do what I can to avoid the situation.
I couldnt care less what you wish to think. This trooper WAS fearful that his life was in danger simply because a dumb*** person in the car decided to jump out the passenger side door after the stop had begun.
You folks like twitchy cops...thats YOUR choice.
You like making them feel like they are about to be shot at ? thats YOUR choice.
But dont play the game of accusing me of not being honest in MY motivations that ARE about treating the LEO respectfully and about safety in general.
If you want to call me a liar, at least be forthright and do it directly
 
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I see you used *'s to get a word on one of your posts past the language filter. :nono: And you want to lecture posters like NavyLT, Theo and kelcarry about their attitudes? Sheesh.
Wow.
So you see the word ass as somehow being on the same level as treating cops like criminals ?
That might explain a few things.
Huh. Filter didnt catch that.
Maybe I did it simply because of a little courtesy...hmmmm
 
Yeah, well, we can easily see that YOU havent actually had a trooper freak out and draw a gun over something that took him by surprise.
When it does you get back with me.

While I think there is some legitimacy to what you are saying here, I also think that if the cop sees your gun your concealment is fail.

I haven’t been pulled over in about a year but when it happens I reach for my wallet before I even pull over and I have it in my hands (which are in plain view on the steering wheel) before the cop even makes it to my door. Now there is no chance for the cop to mistake what I’m doing as I reach for a wallet. My hands are in plain sight the whole time he’s by my window. Problem solved

Sometimes I carry on my seat and in that case I would hand him the permit first thing because he’s going to see the gun.

As for the whole get back to me thing, let us know when you meet (and you will eventually) an anti cop who decides to bust your chops because informing immediately wasn’t soon enough for him
 
I'm not sure the 'no tells' actually mean they treat LEO's as criminals. I see it as if you have the choice (not required) and make the choice not to inform then it's your business. And again, Treo is right (OMG, two times today!) if the LEO sees your concealed weapon, the concealment has failed.

While we all try our up most to insure concealed is concealed, but stuff happens. Your shirt or jacket could get caught on the seat belt retractor or something in the side pouch on the door. Totally on accident the butt of your weapon is exposed. I know this may be a bit far fetched, but with my luck it could happen.

I still think 99% of LEO's are out there to do a job they love. I haven't run into "an anti cop who decides to bust your chops" yet. But I know they are out there. When that time comes, if it does, I'll hand him my Davis and Associates tear off business card, lock the doors and wait for a supervisor.
 
While I think there is some legitimacy to what you are saying here, I also think that if the cop sees your gun your concealment is fail.
not really the point, however.
I generally uncover my gun in the car so the LEO can see it during a stop.
I have nothing to hide and I sure as hell dont intend to act like I do.
I dont like playing games. I'll continue to inform regardless of my weapon being seen or not.

I haven’t been pulled over in about a year but when it happens I reach for my wallet before I even pull over and I have it in my hands (which are in plain view on the steering wheel) before the cop even makes it to my door. Now there is no chance for the cop to mistake what I’m doing as I reach for a wallet. My hands are in plain sight the whole time he’s by my window. Problem solved
But there wasnt any problem to begin with.
I notify either way. Ive done it...I know it puts the LEO at ease. Ive watched them come up behind my car being very careful and I can see the look on their faces. I inform of my carry status, say something off topic and they start to relax.
Cops are our brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, fathers and mothers. There is NO WRONG in going out of my way to make my family feel more at ease. Even if we're not related by blood.
My enemy is ONLY the felons out there. That ought to be the attitude of ALL CCW'ers.

As for the whole get back to me thing, let us know when you meet (and you will eventually) an anti cop who decides to bust your chops because informing immediately wasn’t soon enough for him
When I do, *IF* I do, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Rest assured it will NOT affect how I behave with the REST of law enforcement who dont abuse their authority.
Unlike some, I dont damn the many over the actions of the few.
We whine like spanked little girls that WE are treated like criminals because we carry guns just because some nut goes on a shooting rampage.
Then we have the audacity to be just as narrow minded as those who judge US when WE treat LEOs who havent done a single thing wrong as tho they are guilty.
I call that a perverse double standard.
 
I'm not sure the 'no tells' actually mean they treat LEO's as criminals. I see it as if you have the choice (not required) and make the choice not to inform then it's your business.
Which is really all Ive been saying.
A couple obnoxious members here, however, cant accept that it is MY business, not theres, to inform as *I* feel to do so.
Had these obnoxious types kept their nose to themselves, this wouldnt have been an issue. cant expect that sort to allow the rest of us to exercise OUR freedoms, however. Not the sort Id want in politics, for sure.

I dont condemn those who dont inform where its not required, and theyd better learn to just accept that I WILL inform every time as is my right.
And I'll submit to a vehicle search EVERY time Im asked politely as well by LEOs because I KNOW that this is what we PAY them to do...CATCH bad guys. Theyre doing what our tax dollars are employing them to do.
If it inconveniences me for 20 minutes, whats the big damned deal...know what i mean ?


And again, Treo is right (OMG, two times today!) if the LEO sees your concealed weapon, the concealment has failed.
Not an issue. I purposefully uncover my weapon while driving so the LEO CAN see it during a stop.
Easy enough ?
:)

I still think 99% of LEO's are out there to do a job they love. I haven't run into "an anti cop who decides to bust your chops" yet. But I know they are out there. When that time comes, if it does, I'll hand him my Davis and Associates tear off business card, lock the doors and wait for a supervisor.
When I cross this sort of LEO I'll spend the rest of my days suing the hell out of him and filing complaints with every person I can find and alert the media as well until this guy wished he just kept that job a Old Navy and never became a cop.
But I will keep it aimed in HIS direction. I WONT use that bad encounter to do the same thing to the rest of law enforcement that WE dont want done to US over one bad guy with a gun....
 
It is illegal in many states (including Kalifornia where I am) to have a loaded gun unconcealed.

I wonder what would happen if a cop wanted to take your gun and you have it in a Smart Carry? I certainly wouldn't want him reaching inside my pants and grabbing a gun (that is a Glock and will fire if the fool accidently pulls the triger). I would have to ask for a supervisor and there would be a lot of wasted time waiting around probably with the fool cop having his gun drawn since I was forbiding him from drawing my gun.
 
I have to agree with LT on this one. I have no choice but to inform as in Va. it is cross referenced with my driver's license (even though by law I don't have to). Once he runs my D/L he knows. So I am upfront. If he asks if I'm armed, then I am required to disclose by law.

But in a state in which my CCW status in unknown or not checked by D/L I would not offer up unrequested information. Why open up a can of worms.

I keep my D/L & permit opposite my firearm & at easy access. I also try not to get stopped <LOL> My only exposure would be on a DWI checkpoint...but I don't drive drunk either. Hey I fear the wife more than ANY LEO! :biggrin:
 
It is illegal in many states (including Kalifornia where I am) to have a loaded gun unconcealed.
Ohio is an open carry state. I can carry openly all I want without a permit (barring in a car or where otherwise prohibited). The permit here is for concealed carry.
When we first got CCW we had to 'unconceal' the weapon when in the auto. That got changed, and thats fine, but I prefer it not being concealed both so a LEO can see it during a stop and for easier access if someone tries to carjack me.
I keep the doors locked while we're driving, which gives me a couple more seconds to get to my revolver in such a case.
I wonder what would happen if a cop wanted to take your gun and you have it in a Smart Carry? I certainly wouldn't want him reaching inside my pants and grabbing a gun (that is a Glock and will fire if the fool accidently pulls the triger). I would have to ask for a supervisor and there would be a lot of wasted time waiting around probably with the fool cop having his gun drawn since I was forbiding him from drawing my gun.
Ohio Law says I have to inform if Im carrying and cooperate with the LEO. If he wants my revolver during the stop I have no choice but to give it to him.
Im not losing my CHL over being stubborn.
 
Actually I think it is the police officers who are treating us average citizens like criminals. :angry:
Really?
Honestly now, how many times have YOU personally dealt with a LEO?
Of those times how many did the LEO do anything unlawful or out of line or infringe on YOUR rights PERSONALLY ?
If it did happen, what was YOUR demeanor (again HONESTLY) at the start of the stop ?

RARELY have I seen a case where the LEO went over the line where the citizen being stopped didnt do his best to make a jerk of himself and/or be completely uncooperative.

Frankly I think MOST of the attitude comes from folks who HEARD someone tell a story about a bad LEO encounter. So ONE guy runs into ONE bad cop, the story gets told to 100 guys in a forum just like this and now 100 GOOD cops have to be treated like crap because the 100 guys on the forum now have an attitude towards cops.

We can claim it aint so, but deep down we know it is.
There ARENT that many bad cops...we all know it is very much the fact.
 
Ohio Law says I have to inform if Im carrying and cooperate with the LEO. If he wants my revolver during the stop I have no choice but to give it to him.
Im not losing my CHL over being stubborn.

You seem to only want to talk of your personal situation. This board has people from the entire country. And you didn't address my suggested situation. What if you are carrying in a Smart Carry?

I'm in Southern Kalifornia. The average time on the force in L.A. last I saw was 5 years. Much of Kalifornia is anti-gun. If I'm stopped, it's likely by a relatively inexperienced cop who's bosses are anti-gun. For me, it's safer for everyone to not notify. I'm not required to. The less my gun is handled by someone who may not be familiar with it, the safer we all are. You live in a must notify state. Different situations require different actions. If I'm in a state that requires notification, I'll notify. Otherwise because I don't know the local cops and because I've read some of their forums where a large percentage of them brag of "throwing CCW carriers" on the hood of their cars and making their lives miserable, I'll not notify. That's not disrespectful. It's not dangerous. It's not making waves. It's not going to make the cop with a chip on his shoulder think I'm a wanta be cop.
 
Which is really all Ive been saying.
A couple obnoxious members here, however, cant accept that it is MY business, not theres, to inform as *I* feel to do so.
Had these obnoxious types kept their nose to themselves, this wouldnt have been an issue. cant expect that sort to allow the rest of us to exercise OUR freedoms, however. Not the sort Id want in politics, for sure.

How absolutely obnoxious of me to have an opinion that is different than yours. :cray:
 

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