AZ highway patrolman gave us a scare...

[Lupinus]

If the gun is anywhere near where I need to reach to get him what he asks for I would tell him, which is why I'd do my best to not store it in that area I'd have to reach for like the glove box. If I had one on my hip I'd let him know before reaching for my wallet. All in all if it's in an area I need to go he will know about it. If it isn't he wont because there is absoloutly no need for him to know so long as it isn't where I'd come in contact with it durring the stop.

 

[USMCsilver]

This is why I keep my handgun under the seat.

That's illegal here in SC even with a CWP. Has to be on the person (if a CWP holder) or in the dash/glove compartment for a non CWP holder (or for a CWP holder if he desires).

 

[Powderman]

Answers interspersed.

He instructed me to hand it to him and you wanted me to say no?

For your safety, YES. How do you know that the officer's partner, who would be standing out of your field of view, did not hear him or her tell you to hand them the gun? Suddenly, they see you with a firearm in your hand. What do you think it going to happen?
I did not unholster it. I grabbed it by the barrel very slowly and handed it to him just as he asked. I was perfectly comfortable following his directions.

If you were a LEO would your rather have your hand on your sidearm ready for a problem or reaching in for a weapon and losing mobility and field of vision? He handled the situation in a way that he was comfortable. We complied. That is the most important thing if you ask me.

And if he had an FTO that was out there with him, he would have had his but handed to him on a plate. Reaching in for a weapon? Nope. That's not the way it should be done.

And as for having a hand on your sidearm, if I let you get a firearm in your hand, then I am now faced with drawing against a drawn gun. Think about it.

Moreover, in a timed study done by Calibre Press--one of the companies that deals with a lot of officer safety issues--it was proven, over and over again that a person seated in a car with their gun in hand can get a shot off at an officer standing outside the car in NINE HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND. That's faster than most people can BLINK.


I see a lot of suggestions here. Some saying we should not obey the LEO's commands. How many of you are actual LEOs? How many are making assumptions without any experience?

I'll simply refer you to my profile.

 

[jtward01]

Here in Florida we can carry a gun in the car as long as it's in a secured enclosure, which includes a holster, zippered soft case, glove box, center console, cardboard box or whatever. The glove box/console does not have to be locked. The gun just can't be "immediately accessable" as though it were concealed on the body (for non-CWP holders).

On those few occassions when I feel the need to carry a gun in the car I use a zippered soft case which I slide into the map pocket on the back of the passenger's seat. I leave the zipper open enough that I can slip my hand in and withdraw the pistol. If I ever get stopped by a LEO all I'll need to do is reach over and pull the zipper closed and voila', all's legal.

 

[Andrew S]

I value your input as a LEO then. A civilian telling me not to comply with directions of a LEO would have just been just silly to me.

No partner. Direct conversation with the single officer. I followed his instructions with caution.

Forgive my ignorance but what does FTO stand for? How would he retrieve it without reaching into the car then? The way I see it there are two ways for him to acquire the weapon. One being me handing it to him and two being him reaching in and getting it. If you have another way it might illustrate your point better.

I have thought about it and he has full vision of the vehicle and the benefit of mobility outside of the vehicle. I am sure that nine hundredths of a second wasnt with a firearm that was holstered in a persons lap with his hands at his side and the officer telling him how to grab the gun. He had full control of the situation and could have pulled on me and/or moved to safety well before i even touched the gun if I did something wrong.

 

[Mr_Moore]

One other small point, if it's concealed on the passenger side, and the passenger has access to it, but doesn't have a CCW, then it's a violation.

Woah, I never thought of that. Thanks for the info.

 

[Powderman]

I value your input as a LEO then. A civilian telling me not to comply with directions of a LEO would have just been just silly to me.

No partner. Direct conversation with the single officer. I followed his instructions with caution.

Forgive my ignorance but what does FTO stand for? How would he retrieve it without reaching into the car then? The way I see it there are two ways for him to acquire the weapon. One being me handing it to him and two being him reaching in and getting it. If you have another way it might illustrate your point better.

I have thought about it and he has full vision of the vehicle and the benefit of mobility outside of the vehicle. I am sure that nine hundredths of a second wasnt with a firearm that was holstered in a persons lap with his hands at his side and the officer telling him how to grab the gun. He had full control of the situation and could have pulled on me and/or moved to safety well before i even touched the gun if I did something wrong.

FTO stands for Field Training Officer. This is the cop that you see right after you graduate from the academy, who instructs you on department policy, and makes sure that you are able to do the job before you're out on your own.

Now, as to how I have done it, I have a simple rule of thumb:

The folks with CCW are more than likely the good guys. I take that stance because a valid CCW tells me that you have already gone through a background check, and that you are law abiding. That is the main reason that if and when you are stopped by a LEO, you should inform them that you have a CPL/CCW/permit to carry.

Usually, what I hear is this:

"OK, officer, but before I reach for my license, you should know that I have a valid CCW, I am armed (quick location description follows), and I have to reach past it to get my information. What do you want me to do?"

A giveaway that the vehicle I am approaching might be a good guy is that the hands are in plain sight--ALWAYS.

If the firearm is holstered, I tell them to go ahead and give me the license/registration.

If the firearm is in the glove compartment, and they tell me the registration is in there, I say, "OK. Let's just leave it there, then, and let me see your license, please." From that point, I am watching that glove compartment like a hawk. The license check sounds like this:

"N104, with a name."

(Dispatch) "Go ahead"

"Last of xxxx, first of xxxx, middle initial xx, for xxx, date of birth xx-xx-of-xxxx; check CPL, please."

About 10 seconds later:

"N104"

"Go ahead"

""Subject is clear, all ways, CPL valid until xxxx"

My usual traffic in this case is:

"Thank you. I'll be cleared with advisory/warning."

I return the license, tell them to slow down, and be careful.

(Translation: Unless you are REALLY boning up, I usually issue warnings anyway.)

 

[AZLibertarian]

Just my 2 cents...

I glued a cheapy holster into the center console and keep my BHP there. The console stays closed unless and until a LEO wants to see it.

I also have blown up a copy of my driver's license and CCW and keep this on the visor over my head. I show this first to the LEO before reaching for either my wallet or the glovebox.