CCW Question

[Irving]

I know that some of the more news worthy shooting sprees had CCW holders like Virginia Tech and the guy who shot up the Aerobics room at his gym, but I consider those premeditated and entirely in a different class.

[Irving]

This is one of those ideas I've had that I preach but have been bad at doing myself.

Since you have to carry your CCW with you at all times anyway, might as well make a small note card the same size and list some statute numbers on it to use as reference. "I don't mean to be argumentative, but the law says nothing about me being required to inform you of anything. I've got the statute numbers right here if you want to check the law in the book that's in your car right now. I'll wait."


Another example of ideas like this, is putting the non-emergency number to a few local PDs in my cell phone. I still haven't done that yet. I guess I'll do it right now.

[gnihcraes]

in our ccw class, we were told to print out the El Paso county application and keep a copy in our cars. It contains all the statute information in it.

This should be the link to it in PDF form.

http://shr.elpasoco.com/NR/rdonlyres...cket011309.pdf

[motorep]

I've had a few occasions to give my paperwork to an officer. Two where people ran into me, and a few where they needed to tell me I was going too fast. I hand them my permit with my driver's license and tell them "here, I don't want you to be alarmed when this comes up on my driver's license report". And it does. In every case, I've received a "thank you". In two cases,the officer asked where I was carrying, and in two cases, where I was expecting, and deserving, a multi-point ticket, the officer handed my paperwork back to me with "have a nice day".

I started doing this back before "shall issue". I was stopped by a young officer. Gave him my paperwork, he went back to his car. A few minutes later he backed his car away from mine, he had called for backup. He had never seen CCW, or concealed weapon come up on a report before. His sergeant showed up, got out of the car with a smile on his face, walked up to my window. "Sir, do you have a concealed weapons permit?" Yes, I do. "Would you please show it to this young officer, he's never seen that report before?" Sure. The young officer was suitably embarrassed, so he gave me a ticket for 10 over, which I was doing. When he handed me the ticket he said "Mr. Jones, do you mind if I ask what you're carrying?" No, I don't mind. Combat Commander .45 with a J-frame backup. Big smile, "Nice!" and a thumbs-up from the officer.

My point is-put the officer at ease, you're not a bad guy, and they deal with enough of those as it is.

[BadShot]

The fact of the matter is that the Officer in this case was out of line and misinformed. I agree that you should contact the supervisor and ask that the officer in question be educated correctly and that you don't appreciate the threatening, demeaning and ignorant fashion that the officer conducted himself in.

I've been stopped once once since I had my CCW, engaged in 2 other minor instances where Arapaho county deputies were involved. In 2 of those cases, I dealt with the same asshat deputy. In neither instance did I feel compelled to inform the asshat that I was armed as neither situation required it. The remaining instance, it's the first thing I informed the officer of. Mostly because I knew that there was a good chance that as I became more animated in my arm expressions that my holster might become exposed from under my jacket. The officer in question just said thanks for letting me know and we continued the discussion at hand.

We have an obligation to both follow the law, know the law and where we said such significant failures by law enforcement, to ensure they are properly educated as best as possible. In this case, that would be contacting the supervisor.

I agree with the idea of keeping the statute numbers somewhere on your person or on your phone (if you have a smart phone like many of us do) along with a few lawyers numbers and relevent non-emergency numbers for the local PD/Sherrif's offices. Just smart things to have.... now.. where the hell did I leave my phone, I gots some things to add

[sniper7]

sucks this guy was un-informed of the requirements we are supposed to follow.
I had a similar situation driving to the airport at about 4:30 am. pulled out by adams county sherrif (where my permit is issued), I am in uniform(pilot). I was speeding, no denying it. He asked for my drivers license etc. I wasn't carrying since I was going to work. he gets on his loud speaker..."
Mr Sniper7 are you carrying a firearm?" I shake my head no, he comes back in a big huff and proceeds to chew me out for not telling him.

just another example of them not being informed. I understand from their point of view that they would like to know...but they aren't going to know when a real bad guy is armed and he certainly isn't going to tell them.

the only good thing about telling them is it puts them at ease, and usually saves you a ticket. After that I decided I will tell them about it no matter what. It is a nice common courtesy.

[TFOGGER]

It's ironic that we go out of our way to know the exact letter of the law, because we're carrying a firearm, and many cops feel like they don't need to know the actual law, because they're carrying an firearm.

[pickenup]

Was pulled over a couple years ago while out for a putt.
(speeding, gravel truck that was loosing gravel was trying to pass in the fast lane, I was in the slow lane. I was not going to let him get in front of me...again)
Anyway, while getting my drivers license out he saw my CCW. Asked me if I was carrying, I said, yes. Asked where, I said "right hip" he told me to keep my hands away from it. I said "yes sir" That was it. NO overblown paranoia, no threats, no nothing. He was a professional about it.

I asked him if "HE" would ride behind a gravel truck that was loosing gravel (he was on a scooter too) he said that he wouldn't.
I still got a ticket.

[The Extractor]

I have had it both ways. I was on the border town with kansas at 1 am or something and and couldnt find a store to buy window washer stuff. I parked by the post office cuz it had good light and a police rolls up and asks to run my stuff. I drifted a couple corners in the 1.5 of snow cuz it is fun and someone was awake and called, whatever. He goes and runs my stuff and comes back and is standing at my open door ,my truck was off and he didnt want me to start it to put the window down. The report is coming back on his radio and he staps back and unsnaps his gun. Then asks me if I am carrying , I say yes. Turns out ok. I was being dumb. Oh well.

Another instance, I had my plate off the back of my truck(another long story) Statie pulls me over for that, asks for my info, I give him my permit first and tell him as a courtesy I am giving it to him. That makes him happy and says thank you. We continue , no ticket even though I cant find any of my stuff.

Another time local pd pulled me over I did the same thing he was indifferent. no ticket no biggie.

[Irving]

For the people who want to notify in all situations. Let's say you are driving clients to lunch or from a business meeting or something? I've heard people telling me that sometimes the officer will ask for licenses on all the people in the car, and will ask the CCW guy if he is carrying right in front of everyone. I would be upset about this and explain to the officer that if I had wanted people to know I was carrying, I'd just open carry and not even bother with a permit in the first place. I'd rather an officer ask me to step out of the car, ask me quietly behind the car, and let me make up a lie to the co-workers in the car on my own. Just something to think about.