My First Concealed Carry Experience w/ LEO

[possom813]

And by the way, they are incredibly stealthy

I remember a fella 'round here that got caught spotlighting deer out of season off of gravel roads. The game wardens set up an animatronic(robot) deer. From the stories I heard he shot the fake deer 6 times with a 30-30 before he laid the rifle on the hood of his truck and said "You got me". I remember the story, but couldn't tell you all the details if I tried.


But my good story.

My riding mower crapped out. I called my brother to borrow his. His delivery truck had broke down and he was at a local shop getting it fixed so I went and picked him up to go get the mower. My hunting buddy and I had been out all morning hunting hogs and were headed back out that afternoon. So, we didn't bother unloading the tools out of the truck.

I was talking to my brother and not paying a lot of attention to driving. I came over an overpass that was clearly marked 35, I glanced down on the downgrade and was close to 60. I tapped the brakes to slow down and noticed a police car at the stoplight at the bottom of the overpass facing me.

For a couple of minutes I thought I was clear. I got about 1/2 mile down the road and saw him turn around. Where he was going to pull me over was a pretty complicated intersection, so I pulled over into a local tireshop parking lot to wait for him to get there.

He almost passed me. He got to the window and did the usual, license, registration, where ya headed. Then I guess he noticed the rifles on the back seat. His attitude didn't change, but he got distracted I guess would be the word.

He asked me some basic questions and then asked me to step out of the vehicle.

Joy, I get out and he asked how many firearms are in the truck. I told him I wasn't exactly sure, but at least 6, maybe more. I also let him know there were two bags of various knives in the back floorboard, and probably 500 rds of various caliber ammunition in the truck.

He asked me what the h*** I was doing with all that on a Tuesday afternoon. So I told him that my buddy and I had been hog hunting that morning and were headed back out in a few hours and didn't want to unload everything out of the truck.

So we chatted for a little bit about where we were hunting and how many deer we got that season and why we prefer the semiautos over bolt guns for hogs.

When it was all said and done I ended up with a written warning that said "speed over limit" without a lot of detail. And a verbal warning to make sure all handguns are well concealed in the vehicle if they're loaded.

It was also probably beneficial that he and my brother were running buddies in high school and my brother was outside the truck with me bs'ing.

For those interested, the guns in the truck were- AR-15, AK47, RRA .45, High Standard .22 Magnum, GP100, Single Six .22--Rifles for hunting, .357 and .45 for sidearms while hunting, .22's for trapped hogs.

-John

 

[bloodedsky]

I had a police officer nearly arrest me because I was taking a walk on the shoulder of a public highway. I wasn't trying to hitchhike, I was walking facing oncoming traffic so that I could monitor whether or not a car was about to veer off the road and hit me, and I was obviously dressed as a jogger.

The dude detained me for 15 minutes, lights flashing, people gawking. Very humiliating.

He never explained why I had been detained.

LEOs are scary people. I'm sure there are a few good ones (and I've met a few myself), but the majority of LEOs in my experience are arrogant and power hungry. How could they not be, given what they do and are allowed to do?

 

[ArmyCop119]

I'm sure there are a few good ones (and I've met a few myself), but the majority of LEOs in my experience are arrogant and power hungry.

I'm sorry you feel that way, bloodedsky.

It's supposed to be the other way 'round.

How could they not be, given what they do and are allowed to do?

One simple word. Integrity.

Those without it should not wear a badge.

 

[geophysicishooter]

Ok, so to get away from the "good cop, bad cop" debate..

From what I've read, my understanding of the law and what I've seen here, the point at which you're obligated under Tx law to inform an officer that you are a license holder and that you are carrying is that point at which he asks you for ID.. (?) Again the question is: at what point during a conversation with a leo does the citizen make good on his obligation to inform of his carry? I mean, if we're just talking, and he/she hasn't detained me for any reason, if it's not a "stop", am I still to uphold my duty to inform? In other words, if in the course of our interaction, the leo wouldn't otherwise discover that I'm either licensed or carrying (runs my DL or plates, searches me or the vehicle), what purpose does it serve to inform, other than just being a good citizen?

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

the way the game wardens here search the home is they let you get into driveway and into house. then come get you. the premise is that you may have taken the poached game inside. it works real well . arounf here it was rockfish . they observe from shore with a starlight. follow you home and they quite often find frozen fish from previous outings in the freezer. this isn't some guy going and taking home an extra gut hooked fish. we are talking guys who are in buisness and make a lotta cash. the moron i know lost truck boat and gear. and his bust started a bigger investigation into bear poaching and sopme other stuff. he squealed to get his boat back and lots of folks went down. they get no pity from me

 

[btucker1947]

Again the question is: at what point during a conversation with a leo does the citize

I,m glad you brought that up Geo, because I don't think anyone has addressed that question. As far as myself, I may not say anything about having my CCW on me; unless the Officer came up to me, and wanted to see my ID. Then I was told the correct procedure is to hand him both , Drivers License, and CCW License. Tell him you have a CCW license, that you have the weapon on you, or where it is. I say we are not obligated to tell anyone unless it's a Lawful Officer, performing his duty. I have been stopped by gamewardens, and and one Police Officer; they just handed it back to me, like so what. Now, I welcome any different views on this issue.

 

[oneshooter]

New Years day(2:30am) I was going home from my sisters house with my Loving Wife beside me and youngest son(9yrs) asleep in the back. Got caught in a Sheriffs checkpoint. All traffic going both ways was stopped. All had to show license and insurance.
When my turn came I showed the Officer my TDL, CHL, and insurence card. He asked if I was armed, I replied yes (SIG 220 full size) and then asked where the gun was. T told him it was on my right side, IWB holster, under my shirt. He asked if I had been drinking and I told him that as a diabetic I can not partake of adult beverages. They don't play well with my medication.
He asked if I would be willing to take a breathalizer test, when I said yes he said that it wouldn't be needed! Said drive safe and watch out for drunks and sent me on my way!
Very profesional, very polite, and to the point.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Sans Authoritas]

Oneshooter,

You just told us all that you got stopped by armed men at a checkpoint, asked for your papers, and with no probable cause, you were asked to submit to what amounts to a search of your person, and you're O.K. with that?

The Founding Fathers would be hanging nooses from the liberty tree right now. But the people who live in this geographical region think that it's fine and dandy for peaceful adults to be subjected to such outrages by their badge-bedecked fellow members of the human race.

Soon, there will be checkpoints for every "crime" under the sun. And the sheep will suffer them all with only a random, quiet bleat here and there.

Outstanding.

-Sans Authoritas

 

[dcal]

Oneshooter, what bothers me about your story isn't so much what you did, that's your prerogative. And I understand why you did that as well.

What does bother me is not what happened, but what would've happened if you had said no. I'd like to think if in the same situation I would object. But given the potential for a seriously bad night, unless I was ready to spend the night in the clinker and some money on a lawyer, I don't think I would.

It's sad what we give up for some perceived safety.

 

[oneshooter]

I see no legal problem with the checkpoints. They are set up to catch drunk drivers and do that very well. The LEO I was in contact with was very professional, did not ask to see my weapon, did not require me to disarm, and was nether anti nor pro CCL.
The majority of County and State LEO's in Texas are this way. Highly profesional and well versed in the law. The City cops and Constables are another matter!

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[ChrisMG]

Sounds like the Texans should send some of their Warden's our way. Our wardens aren't respected, and often in a lot of trouble themselves with various investigations into their conduct.

Always a bad apple to spoil the barrel...

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

dcal what do you IMAGINE would happen if he had said no? or more importantly if you had said no?

 

[dcal]

Hassled that's all. I think I exaggerated a bit with the clinker.

But it would throw a flag from the LEO's perspective, wouldn't you agree? I think I'd be asked to step out, no?

 

[Sans Authoritas]

Oneshooter,

I'm saddened that you see nothing wrong with DUI checkpoints.

I see more dangerous, psychopath non-drunk drivers every day than I see drunk drivers. And there's nobody doing anything about them. Real, proximate threats. I'll wager you see the same thing where you live.

Yes, we all think dangerous drivers should be removed from the streets. It's a good end. But your means must be just, as well. One cannot reasonably or morally stop everyone on the street because they may have a murder weapon or kiddie porn in their trunk. Or because they may be smuggling human slaves into their home state, or they may be carrying slaves to freedom on the underground railroad.

You can apply the "they're stopping criminals" logic to any real crime, and the contrived "crimes" that the government has, does, and, mark my words, will again make up. Would you support stopping every car on a highway to run their papers and see if anyone is an escaped sex offender? Why or why not?

-Sans Authoritas

 

[rantingredneck]

Good to hear.

The few times I've had experiences open or concealed carrying have been positive.

Most recent was a license/DWI check a few weeks back. As I pulled up to where the officers were staged I handed him my license and permit and said, "I am a NC CHP holder and I am carrying".

He looked at the ID and permit and said "Have a nice night Mr. _____"

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

arounf here they use that sneaky flashlight with the alcohol sensor built in they just need your window down and you to breath near it.they have it down to almost a rolling stop.

 

[btucker1947]

Gotten away from the question Geo asked

From what I've read, my understanding of the law and what I've seen here, the point at which you're obligated under Tx law to inform an officer that you are a license holder and that you are carrying is that point at which he asks you for ID.. (?) Again the question is: at what point during a conversation with a leo does the citizen make good on his obligation to inform of his carry? I mean, if we're just talking, and he/she hasn't detained me for any reason, if it's not a "stop", am I still to uphold my duty to inform? In other words, if in the course of our interaction, the leo wouldn't otherwise discover that I'm either licensed or carrying (runs my DL or plates, searches me or the vehicle), what purpose does it serve to inform, other than just being a good citizen?

 

[english kanigit]

My last interaction was about three weeks ago. I was driving from near El Paso to Sweetwater. The problem is that I had a taillight out. Not a lot of choice in the matter as it's about 7:30pm on a friday night. I got on the road right after work and knew I would have an interesting drive.

A 3 hour drive took about 4 and a half. I was stopped four times. Twice by DPS cops and twice by small town officers.

The small town guys stopped me and we went through the whole DL, CHL, and Insurance card business. A little small talk (Where are you headed?, Your DL is from KS, why are you here?) I give them the (true) story of what happened to my light. They say no problems, don't touch the gun and sit tight. I get a warning and I'm on my way. Polite, respectful and efficient. Quite a breath of fresh air and, in my experience, normal for rural Texas.


My 'involvements' with DPS that night were not at all pleasant. Same process up until they get my CHL card. Then the normal questions. "Are you armed? Where is it?" All fine and dandy so far until they tell me to step out of the vehicle and declare that they will disarm me. I understand that the officers are allowed to do this here but I had never run into it before. The most trouble I had ever had was being told to leave it on my seat before joining the officer in his cruiser. Naturally I open my mouth, "Excuse me sir but why would you need to do that?" Now they're irritated. Fabulous.

Mr. DPS asks me where they're at. I tell him my 1911 is behind my right hip and my .38 is on my left ankle. With him behind me I get the arms out pat-down and told to lace my fingers together on my belt buckle and feel my 1911 being withdrawn. Next I'm told to put both hands behind my back. I do so and as I start to feel him fiddling with my ankle rig he grabs both my thumbs. This startles me and I start to turn. Stupid me. I get the thumb crunch 'n twist and the wonderfully authoritative "Don't Move". On this stop I end up waiting in the shoulder for about 15 minutes. Once he finally gets back to me I ask him, "Whats up with the whole disarming thing?" The only reply I get is, "It's something I do to everybody. I run the serial number on every gun I come across. You never know when you will find a stolen gun that somebody bought at a gunshow."

On DPS stop #2 the cop calls for backup. Lucky me. :banghead: Same damn thing right down to search and disarm technique. I start asking questions, again. This time the trooper says the magic words "Officer Safety". When I tell him that I had never had this happen before until tonight during my previous stop by DPS. He tells me, "Well I don't want to get shot in the back of the head." This time I spend around 30 minutes freezing my nuggets off standing in the ditch in a t-shirt with his backup glowering at me from behind their damned spotlights.

All in all a real fun night. I'm glad I ended it with the same number of holes as I started with. NONE. Despite what this rant sounds like I don't want to knock those behind the badge, easy though it may be to do. I have known many officers from working at a shooting range and all my travels. All most every one that I have ever run across has been decent, fair and just. That night I knew I was in the wrong but I had to make the drive. I fully expected to get stopped. I fully expected to get a ticket even. To any DPS cops reading this, please warn me in advance next time that you will treat me like a damn criminal. If I know that in advance I will at least aspire to earn the treatment I receive.


Ek

 

[oneshooter]

dcal, if I had refused to take a breathalizer test I would have been detained untill a warrent could be issued by a judge. There ia a judge on call, the paperwork takes about 15 minutes, and a EMT was on hand to draw a sample.


Sans Authoritas, the only times that the checkpoints are used are during the "heavy drinking times" during holidays. The times and places are given out and are posted. If you are caught than it's your own fault.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Sans Authoritas]

OneShooter wrote:

Sans Authoritas, the only times that the checkpoints are used are during the "heavy drinking times" during holidays. The times and places are given out and are posted. If you are caught than it's your own fault.

One, with all due respect, that logic is fundamentally flawed. I am saying that checkpoints are fundamentally unjust, and you are saying, "They don't use them too much." It's the equivalent of saying, "I'm opposed to murder, except when I'm really angry, so don't make me angry, or my murdering you would be your own fault." Being angry does not justify the act of murder in itself.

-Sans Authoritas

 

[Old Dog]

Interesting how a thread titled, "My first concealed carry experience w/LEO" is turned into a debate on DUI checkpoints. Perhaps someone should begin another thread in Legal regarding this civil liberties issue, but some of the comments aren't really relevant to the topic.

After all, some might come to this thread looking for stories about how others handle that experience, but probably not for a discussion of the legality of DUI checkpoints.

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

Good for you

 

[geophysicishooter]

Btucker, Thanks for attempting to keep the thread on point. You're right, no one has really gotten to the crux of the matter of when it is that you need to inform the officer.

Maybe I should start a new thread.. maybe in legal..

 

[GBExpat]

Winter of ~1977-78 I was driving to work late one night on the strip in VaBeach and a policeman lit me up & pulled me over.

Told me my taillights were out ... I apologized, told him that I knew exactly what the problem was and could fix it in seconds (there was one in-line fuse in the MGB engine compartment that liked to develop a bit of corrosion, periodically) ... and would he please peruse this (handing him my CWP) while I took care of it ... at that point I doffed my coat revealing my Walther PP in its Roy's pancake holster, popped the bonnet & quickly cleaned the contacts on the fuse.

The officer was cool ... and didn't even write me a warning.

O'course, compared to now, that was an "easier" time ... and most of the guys working late shift at 2nd Precinct were pretty easy-going.

 

[btucker1947]

No Problem Geo

It looks like you might have to run the thread again
We got everybody going though,../ and some good stories, too.
Still, No one really answered your question. I have had a CCW now for around 8 years and to the best of my knowledge, just because a cop is in the store and he says Hi, there is no reason to pull out your ID and tell him you 're armed; but if he comes over to you doing his duty, and wants to see ID, show him and tell him.
If he comes over and you're both just talking about fishing ; If you get nervous about it, you might want to use your Judgment, and pull out your ID and say," Officer I just wanted to let you know I have a CCW License and my pistol is in my pocket." I believe he would appreciate you telling him, in that way. I would not tell him that I have a Gun, first, though. I would bring up the license first and have it in my hand. Always use good judgment, that's why we have the CCW's because we exercise good judgment , and we absolutely have to stay within the law.