Constitutional Carry Act of 2011

[DeusExMachina]

I certainly don't mind at all, in fact I encourage everyone with questions to ask any of the LEO's on here. We are all for the most part like-minded thinkers and I would say most likely law abiding citizens. I don't want to see anyone trying to do the right thing get caught up in something stupid by accident...

That being said, as far as License Plates go the answer is no. I used to dispatch and was told prior to starting in law enforcement which would be more that six years ago now, CCW info used to be attached to license plate info when a traffic stop is made (when traffic stops made an officer usually calls out a location and plate number). So I don't have that info until I get to the car. It has been my experience that all the CCW holders I have contacted (there are a lot where I work and I am going to find out anyway when I do a check on your name...which is to say it is attached to your name) have provided me with that information immediately. I am less likely to give them a ticket based on the fact of how respectful they are immediately and I always thank them for telling me that info because it makes LEO's much happier people. I have never had a problem with CCW holders.

So, once you get their license and registration and make your way back to the cruiser, the CCW information is shown on your computer?

I've been reading Massad Ayoob's book on CCW and he recommends handing over your CCW permit with your license and letting the officer handle it from there. He says immediately coming out with, "I am carrying" can alarm the officer, and saying, "I have a gun" is obviously way worse. What do you think about this?

Also, to keep it on topic, how do you think your routine will change should this become law? Will you ask "Are you carrying a concealed firearm?" when asking for their license/registration?

[ghettodub]

I've been reading Massad Ayoob's book on CCW and he recommends handing over your CCW permit with your license and letting the officer handle it from there. He says immediately coming out with, "I am carrying" can alarm the officer, and saying, "I have a gun" is obviously way worse. What do you think about this?

That's what I learned in my course, but I haven't been pulled over since then, so I haven't had to do that. Curious on a LEOs take on that as well

[TFOGGER]

So, once you get their license and registration and make your way back to the cruiser, the CCW information is shown on your computer?

I've been reading Massad Ayoob's book on CCW and he recommends handing over your CCW permit with your license and letting the officer handle it from there. He says immediately coming out with, "I am carrying" can alarm the officer, and saying, "I have a gun" is obviously way worse. What do you think about this?

Also, to keep it on topic, how do you think your routine will change should this become law? Will you ask "Are you carrying a concealed firearm?" when asking for their license/registration?

Since I got my permit, I have made it a point to let the officer know "As a courtesy, I should let you know that I have a concealed carry permit. (pause), and I am currently armed. (Or not armed, as applicable.) How would you like for me to proceed?"

The pause allows for it to sink in before you tell the officer that you are armed. I was given this procedure by a Denver cop, who said that he prefers this. Other things you can do at initial contact: Take the keys out of the ignition and place them on the dash, keep both hands in plain view as the officer approaches, and turn on the dome light. Some officers will prefer that you hand your permit to them along with your driver's license and registration.

[DeusExMachina]

Since I got my permit, I have made it a point to let the officer know "As a courtesy, I should let you know that I have a concealed carry permit. (pause), and I am currently armed. (Or not armed, as applicable.) How would you like for me to proceed?"

The pause allows for it to sink in before you tell the officer that you are armed. I was given this procedure by a Denver cop, who said that he prefers this. Other things you can do at initial contact: Take the keys out of the ignition and place them on the dash, keep both hands in plain view as the officer approaches, and turn on the dome light. Some officers will prefer that you hand your permit to them along with your driver's license and registration.

I always do the second portion, even before I have my permit.

I feel like telling them is unnecessary, as handing over your permit will accomplish the same thing and they can then ask or not ask. Volunteering the information can be misconstrued as all sorts of things. I think the transaction of:

Me: *hands over permit*
Officer: *looks at permit, looks at me* Are you carrying?
Me: Yes.

And then whatever the officer wishes to do from there. It seems to be smoother than coughing up some verbose form of "I have a gun". Maybe I'm just influenced by Mr. Ayoob.

[KevDen2005]

I do prefer to get handed the permit, it makes it easier. I usually follow up with, "Are you carrying right now?" If you say, "Sir, to let you know I am armed..." then complete your sentence before getting your wallet the officer isn't going to freak, unless you were driving that gang-banging car that was just involved in the drive-by (you get what I am saying here).

If you yell, "I have a gun" this may change things. You guys aren't dumb, just be polite and have tact (that thing we don't have with our in-laws).

My routine won't change much because I often ask, "Is there anything in your vehicle I should know about?" If the law changes and you say "No" then i won't know the difference, but here is the tricky part...If you don't tell me you have a gun, and I see it as you are grabbing for your wallet, you will probably see my gun. If you say, "I have a gun on my hip (or wherever it may be) and I wanted to let you know before I get my wallet" then I will probably put my hand on my gun and break all the retention on the holster (don't be alarmed if an officer does this) and I will certainly watch every move you make (which I should be doing anyway for safety).

And to answer the first question, yes if you don't tell me you have a CCW it will show up (or should depending on what redneck county you live in and how fast they put them into the system) on the computer, which is called NCIC/CCIC.

However, I have never had this issue, every CCW holder I have stopped has told me or showed me their CCW, whether they were carrying or not, which I always want to reiterate how much I appreciate when CCW holders do this.

Does this answer your question?

[DeusExMachina]

Yes, thank you so much.

I didn't think about going for your wallet and exposing the gun, but if going for your wallet will expose you carrying, you're not carrying concealed very well.

[KevDen2005]

Definitely agreed. Keep in mind there is also no law requiring you to have a permit within your vehicle...however it goes back to my previous statement...if you are forward about it the officer will be appreciative and more relaxed, if he is surprised about the gun the officer will probably react to the complete opposite.

Also keep in mind telling the officer you have it is good in the event the officer needs you to get out of the car for any reason...letting him/her know that you have it or have it in your car prior to you getting out will also put the officer in a better mood.

[rtr]

On the topic of if/how to tell an officer you are carrying. Does current CO state law require one to tell an officer when contacted?

I was pulled over in Indiana while carrying. I informed the officer I was carrying and handed him my CO permit. When he returned from his cruiser he told me that I wasn't allowed to carry in Indiana (not true) but that he wasn't going to arrest me (wish he would have I could have made some money). Anyways it got me thinking that in that case the less he knew the better off the situation would have been.

So if citizens are going to be allowed to carry without a permit (and thus the officer won't know when looking them up in the computer) perhaps not saying anything would make sense, of course if the law allows that.

[Big E3]

I need to know if the shall issue in the law that currently exists is going to remain in place. I haven't heard anything addressing if we no longer need a CCW how can we conceal carry in the other approximately 30 states that recognize Colorado's CCW. I just don't want this to become a backdoor attempt to prevent me as a Colorado resident from carrying concealed in other states as I travel that don't adopt a similar law and if Colorado permits are no longer issued. We all know there are counties in Colorado that would stop issuing permits if they are not required to. I would hope we are keeping a permit process at least until national concealed carry prevails. haha!

Also I know that my wife or daughter will want a gun to carry if they don't need a permit. Each have shot a gun just enough to make them believe they can do it. But I don't think either are very comfortable shooting one and I don't want them arming the bad guy with their gun in an attack. I would prefer that they just keep their pepper spray. The permit process keeps them from carrying since they don't believe they have the time for that "extra training and classes" needed to get a permit. Without the permit process I become the mean selfish butthead that is just afraid they "might loose" one of my guns. I doubt I'm the only guy that would be in a similar situation with a wife, girlfriend or daughter.

[hip55]

Definitely agreed. Keep in mind there is also no law requiring you to have a permit within your vehicle...however it goes back to my previous statement...if you are forward about it the officer will be appreciative and more relaxed, if he is surprised about the gun the officer will probably react to the complete opposite.

Also keep in mind telling the officer you have it is good in the event the officer needs you to get out of the car for any reason...letting him/her know that you have it or have it in your car prior to you getting out will also put the officer in a better mood.

Why would this be an issue?

Stepping out of my car does not authorize a LEO to go into my vehicle without permission. I thinks that it's that pesky 4th amendment that many citizens do not understand.