careful who you ask questions

[fb]

I am currently on vacation in Ft. Walton Beach Fla, Being from Michigan and never haveing carryed a gun out of state, I thought it might be a good idea to check for sure about any resriction Fla. might have that I know nothing about.
So down to the local police dept. I go. I am introduced to a patrolman and put the question to him. Right away he gets suspicious. Do I have the gun on me? Give me your Michigan permit.Ect. He could find nothing out of order. And says the Michigan permit means nothing here in Fla. "not worth the paper it is written on"
Now I know better than that.
So I go to the Sheriffs office, same question.
He says" We have an agreement with Michigan, your permit is the same as ours. You go by the same rules as if you were home in Michigan, plus our rules here. If you want to buy a pistol you have to wait three days before you can pick it up. Any more questions?"
I ask him for his name and badge number, he gave it to me and never flinched. Then I shook hands with him.
I really like second opinions, been carryin here every since.

 

[Molon Labe]

The first LEO was either lying (perhaps because he does not respect your right to keep and bear arms) or ignorant of the law. At any rate, yes, it is always good to get a second opinion.

Even more importantly, you should also have done your own research beforehand. Did you go to http://www.packing.org?

 

[fb]

No, I did not check with Packing.org. I wish I had. Your point is well taken.
One cannot have too much good info, especially on this subect
There are lots of people who do not want guns in the hands of good people.
But I dont have to tell you that.

 

[femoralis]

It is illegal to buy a pistol out of your home state, unless you ship it to an ffl back home for your transfer. Fed. law.

 

[iamhistory]

"The first LEO was either lying (perhaps because he does not respect your right to keep and bear arms) or ignorant of the law."


Unforunately you will find a ridiculous number of average patrolmen/officers/leo's who fit in the ignorant category. They get into the everyday comfort of their duties and are sometimes never exposed to questions like that. I have even had misinformation shared with me by a State Police office near me. To me, that is unacceptable.

I doubt that any LEO would take your excuse of "well such and such Patrolman told me I could......."

LEO or not, I do not trust them to interpret/explain certain laws to me. For example, there are so many DMV laws on the books in our state that some Troopers I know carry a binder with them documenting what the vehicle code is in case THEY have questions.

Trust yourself and no one else. Find out from an expert in the field, not your everyday average beat cop. They are only human.

 

[g56]

The best way to handle out of state carry with a license from your home state, check with packing.org, then follow their links to the states webpages as a back up, it's a pretty good idea to make a copy of the states regulation including the numbers relating to that law, and take that information with you!

Better safe than sorry!

http://www.packing.org/

.

 

[Chipperman]

"If you want to buy a pistol you have to wait three days before you can pick it up. Any more questions?"

Yes, just one more. Do you usually encourage people to commit a felony?
:banghead:

Sad that he knows about reciprocity, but does not know Federal Law about interstate purchases.

 

[Parallax]

A lot of cops don't know the gun laws, I got pulled over and told the cop I had a handgun in my car and he threw a fit, I argued with him and another cop for almost 45 minutes about whether or not I did anything "wrong".

 

[psyopspec]

says the Michigan permit means nothing here in Fla. "not worth the paper it is written on"
Now I know better than that.

Then why'd you have to ask in the first place?

Packing.org is a great resource, and double-checking isn't a bad idea, but do so with a call to the state police or office of the attorney general (or the office responsible for permit issuance and reciprocity) rather than asking the local pd. It simply isn't their area of responsible to know off the top of their heads every state that has reciprocity with their own. And as you found out, asking a local officer is a good way to get a wrong answer and a suspicious eye.

 

[LHB1]

FB,
Just curious but how do you know the second officer was right and the first officer was wrong? Couldn't it just as easily be the other way around?

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've wondered once or twice how cops can claim to enforce laws they're so frequently ignorant of.

 

[Topgun]

Tis easier to get forgiveness than permission.

 

[Indy7373]

Welcome to Fort Walton Beach. How long you here for?

 

[whm1974]

And people ask me why I don't trust cops...

-Bill

 

[Jim K]

I once heard a cop tell a woman that it was illegal in Virginia to own a knife!

I don't know what they cut their meat and veggies with in VA, but I guess they don't have knives.

The horrible truth is that cops are the very worst people to ask about a law; lawyers are second unless you want information in their area of expertise and are willing to pay plenty for it. Cops get a quickie law course in the academy but most spend their time dealing with speeding, overtime parking, D&D, and a few other crimes. Anything off their "short list" is unknown territory.

And many have a visceral reaction to any "civilian" who even owns a gun, let alone carries it. I have seen one cop go absolutely insane on being asked about applying for a carry permit, and another brush off a woman applicant and later say (in her hearing) that, "I wouldn't let her carry a gun, I might want a piece of that sometime, myself." There are some real jewels wearing badges these days.

Jim

 

[DMF]

I am currently on vacation in Ft. Walton Beach Fla, Being from Michigan . . .

. . . He says" We have an agreement with Michigan, your permit is the same as ours. You go by the same rules as if you were home in Michigan, plus our rules here. If you want to buy a pistol you have to wait three days before you can pick it up. Any more questions?"

Yeah Sheriff, I have a question, why would you suggest that it's OK to violate federal law, by purchasing a pistol out of state?

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#f2

(F2) May a licensed dealer sell a firearm to a nonlicensee who is a resident of another state? [Back]

Generally, a firearm may not be lawfully sold by a licensed dealer to a nonlicensee who resides in a state other than the state in which the seller's licensed premises is located. However, the sale may be made if the firearm is shipped to a licensed dealer whose business is in the purchaser's state of residence and the purchaser takes delivery of the firearm from the dealer in his or her state of residence. In addition, a licensee may sell a rifle or shotgun to a person who is not a resident of the state where the licensee's business premises is located in an over-the-counter transaction, provided the transaction complies with state law in the state where the licensee is located and in the state where the purchaser resides and provided the sale complies with all applicable federal laws. [18 U. S. C. 922( b)( 3)]

Emphasis added. Notice what is conspicuously absent from the firearms that may be sold to non-residents. HINT: it starts with Hand and ends with Gun.

 

[Riverrat66]

If you travel to Florida often you should apply for a Florida non-resident CCW permit. I did, it's no big deal to obtain and it good for 4 years. Then you'll be sure you're legal. You can apply here:
Florida Dept. of State
Division of Licensing
P.O. Box 6687
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6687
850-488-5381

I've got CCW permits in 5 states, NY and the 4 states that I travel to the most. NY State does not reciprocate with any other state. So if I want to be legal I must have an non-resident CCW permit for whatever state I'm traveling in.

 

[El Tejon]

Many police officers are directed to give incorrect counsel as to gun laws.

For example, in a county near me, the County Attorney was asked by the newly elected Sheriff whether Indiana had a concealment requirement (CCWs in other states had been in the national news at this time a lot). The County Attorney told the Sheriff that there was not. The Sheriff was shocked by this, so he directed his deputies and the clerk handing out the application to tell people that they must conceal it. [I have been told by several LEOs in my state that this is "the law" and I must cover up. I smile and nod and say "No thank you, officer. Have a nice day."]

This practice became a tradition and was very hard to change.

Do NOT seek legal advice from the police (nothing ugly it's just not their job).

 

[Riverrat66]

There are so many "grey" areas when it come to firearms, especially handguns and concealed carry, that it's almost a joke! Every state and county has it's own rules. And even the people who enforce those rules are not sure of them. Everyone needs to get on the same page.

When I applied for my non-resident CCW permit in Pennsylvania, which has a "shall issue rule" the sheriff in the county that I applied in said "he was not issuing any CCW permits, period!" I had to drive to another county 5 hours away before I found a sheriff that would issue a non-resident CCW permit. So even if the state says they are a "shall issue state", it's up to the discretion of the sheriff of the county you're in, if he feels like issuing a permit! No one wants to make it easy for something that is our right to have. But then dealing with the police about any matter is a major PITA. They always have this holier then thou, I'm above the law attitude anyway.

 

[WEPS]

I have to agree with most what you guy's are saying however, Law Enforcement here in Las Vegas has always been more than helpfull with me.

 

[DMF]

Every state and county has it's own rules. And even the people who enforce those rules are not sure of them. Everyone needs to get on the same page.

Well I guess that means you're in favor of the federal government coming into control how the issue of firearms ownership, and concealed carry are handled. Hey I guess it's your right to want more control to go to the feds and oppose states rights and sovereignty, but it probably won't make you popular with many THR members.

Although at least I won't have to argue with you about the commerce clause, the supremacy clause, and how the federal government gets jurisdiction over other issues in future debates, since you're for everyone getting "on the same page," across the country.

 

[Riverrat66]

Well I guess that means you're in favor of the federal government coming into control how the issue of firearms ownership, and concealed carry are handled. Hey I guess it's your right to want more control to go to the feds and oppose states rights and sovereignty, but it probably won't make you popular with many THR members.

Hey buddy,

That's not what I said so don't put your spin on it! All I meant was a person could not tell how any given jurisdiction would react to them carrying a concealed firearm especially when the law enforcement people don't even know their own laws. I'm not in favor of any more gun control. In fact, what gun control we already have does not work! Sounds to me like you're a real trouble maker. But I guess it's your right to speak your mind, no matter how stupid it may sound.

 

[2nd Amendment]

Fascinating how DMF comes up with such a statist comment. On second thought, I suppose it was entirely predictable.

No, what is wanted is an elimination of most of the gun laws...and most of fedgov and positions such as those that allow some people to exist on the government dole...

 

[Riverrat66]

Fascinating how DMF comes up with such a statist comment. On second thought, I suppose it was entirely predictable.

With more then 1000 posts in less then 1 year and 3.75/day, DMF must be an expert on everything. And he quotes Dr. Evil too! Yahoo!

If it was so predictable, must be everyone knows this guys routine?

 

[cordex]

If police aren't qualified to advise people on the law, how can they be qualified to arrest people in the name of the law?

If police can't be expected to understand the laws that they're trying to enforce, how can we be expected to?