Am I Free to Leave????

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The_Sheriff

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I am unsure but say that the following happens:

Your at the store and your guns printing and an LEO notices and stops to talk. If they ask to search you and whatnot what are your legal rights, what should you do? And please don't say just say ok and have them search becuase I am just curious about the question.

Thanks
 
A lot depends on what state you are in.
Mandatory TEXAS answer:

"In Texas you are required to inform the officer that you are a CCl holder"

Thank you for allowing this "Mandatory TEXAS answer". :D

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
 
I've heard that in some states it's against the law EVEN when it's printing.

Here in FL, is should be "hidden away from ordinary sight of another person". I don't think it's against the law per-say if it's printing here in FL. As in no charges against you, but I guess questioning from a cop COULD be expected.

Now, if I was at a super market and a cop approached me and said: "Sir, is that a gun under your shirt?". I assume I would be polite and inform the LEO that I do have a license and I would offer to show it to him right away. I would also apologize for the fact I printed so obviously, and promised that it would never happen again :D

Now having said all that... if he asked me to turn around, put my hands on my head and spread my legs... well... ain't much you can do about it at that point. However, from my previous encounters with law officers, I've learned one thing: They get sooooo much BS from people every day, that's it's best to just tell the truth and offer NO EXCUSES. How do I know? Try getting pulled over for going 90MPH in a 50MPH zone in NJ (Palaside Parkway)... then telling the cop, yes Sir, I was going 90, and yes sir I know the speed limit is 50. Sir, I have no excuse... and he said: "I appreciate your honesty, slow the f*** down, and here's a ticket for 74"... yea, 1 MPH more and my license was gone.

Anywaysssss, I think any reasonable police office just wants to make sure you're not a criminal. I think once he/she sees your CCW, and you are straight up with them, you'll be just fine. Friend of mine avoided a speeding ticket like that here in FL. Got pulled over, and handed the guy his DL and CWP. Cop said he appreciated that he let him know he was packing heat, even though he didn't have to tell him in the state of FL, and let him go with a warning.

They are just doing their job. Be nice and polite to them, and I'm sure they will find that refreshing after a whole day/week/month of dealing with scumbags.

Then again, you can always have a really bad luck and get noticed by a rookie on a power trip :uhoh:

EDIT TO ADD: Oh yea, if they asked if I or they can remove my weapon for the duration of conversation / stop I would agree. Searching through my pocket would get a polite but firm "I do not consent to a search officer", while being 100% cooperative. As in, if they say "turn around and spread your legs" despite me being polite etc, I would comply 100% and "live to fight another day" if you would ;-)
 
In Kansas you produce your CCW 'license' on demand. The law does NOT require you to show the firearm - in fact, the law prohibits uncovering your concealed firearm, so in the situation under discussion I would suggest that the officer and I leave the establishment and then I'll be glad to discreetly show it to him.
 
Adj. 1. concealed - not accessible to view; "concealed (or hidden) damage"; "in stormy weather the stars are out of sight"
hidden, out of sight
invisible, unseeable - impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye; "the invisible man"; "invisible rays"; "an invisible hinge"; "invisible mending"
2. concealed - hidden on any grounds for any motive; "a concealed weapon"; "a concealed compartment in his briefcase"
covert - secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed; "covert actions by the CIA"; "covert funding for the rebels"
unconcealed - not concealed or hidden; "her unconcealed hostility poisoned the atmosphere"; "watched with unconcealed curiosity"
Click to expand...

So maybe you could say "It's my new cellphone, mind your own business".
Or maybe if you get railroaded, you'd have no one else to blame.

If concealment is to be a way of your life, practice it.
Do a topic search if you will, there are ways to wear your clothing in a manner
that nobody would see it.

I forget who coined the term (which I found at this site):
Beware, the man who wears a belt AND suspenders.
 
So maybe you could say "It's my new cellphone, mind your own business".
Click to expand...
I'd think that if the cop suspected it was a gun and you said that, he'd likely then suspect you were carrying it illegally. That may be grounds for a Terry stop which would then show you'd just given false information to an officer. Doesn't sound like a winning strategy to me, however, IANAL.
 
Your location says Arizona. AZ is an open carry state. You could have that gun out in plain sight and it's legal (assuming you're not in an off limits area). Other states are not the same. TX, NY and FL are concealed only. Some may issue states like MA, while open carry isn't illegal, I've read it's been used as an excuse to revoke their license.
 
So maybe you could say "It's my new cellphone, mind your own business".
---------------------------------------------------------------
I'd think that if the cop suspected it was a gun and you said that, he'd likely then suspect you were carrying it illegally. That may be grounds for a Terry stop which would then show you'd just given false information to an officer.
Click to expand...

Bingo jorg. Especially here in S East Ct...

Some States you need to disclose, others you don't.

www.handgunlaw.us is a great resource for this stuff.
 
In Virginia (assuming you have a CCW permit) you are fine. If there is any question then open carry is also legal.

Of course that doesn't stop the occasional uninformed or overzealous officer from detaining a law abiding citizen.
 
There are too many variables for a definite answer.

First variable , you're 15 you can't leagaly carry open or concealed.

There's your PC for a search right there.

As an adult, my policy is if the cop is going to put his hands on me I would tell him I was carrying first.
I'm not required it just seems like a good idea.

If a cop just walked and told me to "assume the posistion" I'd voice that he was searching me W/out consent but I wouldn't physically resist.

I'd damn sure get his business card and contact my Lawyer ASAP.
 
The answer is purely a matter of state law, which varies greatly.

In Ohio, not only is it not a crime to "print", but open carry is legal, although you will occasionally run into a poorly trained cop who doesn't know it or a malicious one who doesn't care.

In Ohio, if you have a CHL and are approached by a cop FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS, and are carrying concealed, you must notify him that you have a CHL and are carrying. If it is NOT official business (you're both in the same checkout line at the grocery store, etc.), or you are not carrying, you do not need to notify. Obviously, if you're NOT carrying, you CAN'T "print".
 
p2000sk

"Beware the man who wears a belt and suspenders, for he shows no faith in either." John Wayne, I forget which movie, possibly "The Shootist".
 
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