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, I would (and have) hand my permit over with my license and registration.
O.K. fine, I'm glad that works for you. I'm not going to do it.
My advice is do whatever you want as long as it's within the CCW laws in the jurisdiction. If your actions are not made in ignorance, and you're comfortable volunteering your status, I say its your own judgment call.
Maybe you should reread my original post. I made no recommendation on what and when
you should do anything other than minimally comply with local law and that any unnecessary actions taken by you should be based on personal choice rather than ignorance. It seems you're up on your local requirements, and you know what you're doing. Since you were asking what others who've been in that position would/could/can/have done that’s the answer your getting, and they are all correct (and sometimes contradictory) responses based on the individual and jurisdiction.
One tip I would advise at this point would be to be able to site statutes by number as to why you didn't. Once I was pulled over (about 6 months prior to obtaining my CCW permit) by a state trooper. I was on my way to the range and had my shotgun in the trunk. When I was stopped, and the officer asked where I was headed - the route was a main access to the airport and most speeders were late for a flight. The tone of his voice told me he was a jerk, and being a 26 year old driving a Mercedes I already got the ticket for 77 in a 65. Knowing that the worst he had me for was a simple speeding ticket, I decided to be a jerk back (verbally) and be abrupt about what I told him. Since my true destination had a higher humor factor
for me that "I do not wish to discuss my personal life officer" I told him I was headed out to the gun club and he about freaked and asked if the gun was locked in the trunk and was noticeably on edge. I politely informed him according to C.R.S. 18.12 that I could carry a firearm practically in any condition/location in my car as I saw fit. Needless to say, wrong answer. He starts looking in all my windows and calls for a backup car. I then told him that if it would calm him down that yes, my Beretta was in the trunk.
After that he calmed down, but his professionalism left a lot to be desired. I understand from a few LEOs I know that professionalism in the Colorado State Patrol isn't high to begin with (apologies to any CSP members here who may be above average) and if I weren't up for game of roadside verbal cat-and-mouse I imagine I'd stonewall them as I would other non-gun-friendly jurisdictions.
Long and short, the answer is, as it was the last time "it depends." It depends on what has been done leading up to the point in the stop that the officer asked if you are armed. If you have a rifle case in the back seat and boxes of rifle and pistol ammo - I bet he'll ask about the pistol. If you're agitated like you drank a gallon of coffee - he'll be agitated. If he's a jerk - well... then it's just not going to be an easy roadside chat.
If you act like you've been there before and are calm and collected - there will be no reason for him to ask and no reason for you to tell. I don't know what CO city you're in, but in Park, Douglas, Larimer, and Arapahoe counties, the cops are generally pretty cool about armed civilians. In my experiance, CSP, JeffCo, Denver and Greenwood Village are [non high-road comment omitted].
If the cop is being a jerk, I like XDKingslayer's comment - simple and to the point, and what I would use in a non-gun-friendly jurisdiction.
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" Why didn't you tell me as soon as I made contact W/ you?"
Because I'm under no legal obligation to tell you officer.
