Interesting encounter with AZ State Troopers

[AZ_M&P]

Arizona is 1 of 4 states that require NO PERMIT to carry concealed. So why bother with permits when you don't need to? Besides, the 2nd Amendment is your permit: you have a constitutional right to "keep" and "bear" arms (that's 2 rights at once). -----

The attached explains the advantages better than I did!

 

[Duelist]

The attached explains the advantages better than I did!

Those are all very good reasons to keep an AZ CCW.

 

[jtpur]

In Texas if stopped and I was I followed the rule and informed them. Here in Florida no such rule exists. I have been pulled over twice. I did not tell either Trooper. I know that my Florida CCW is in the data base and I'm sure it was run both times. Neither Trooper asked me about being armed and I did not mention it. The reason I did not mention it is because as one poster mentioned people in Florida come from everywhere in Florida. Here in SE Florida you hear more NY/NJ accents than in the Bronx or Newark. I do not trust the cops from Blue states and I am afraid if I mention I am armed I will be up against the wall, spread eagle and disarmed. Sorry for the bias guys but its real. A good friend a Sheriff near where I live. He is from NYC and he has an absolute disdain for guns amongst us mere mortals. He only tolerates me because I am retired, so by his definition I am part of the Fraternity.

 

[85V65Sabre]

I recently had a similar experience to the OP here in Michigan.
I was involved in a hit & run accident, I pulled into a nearby gas station and called the police.

I got all my paperwork/licenses together and sat on the tailgate of my truck. When the officer arrived he pulled up rolled down his window and asked if I had called about the H&R, I told him yes and stood up and approached his cruiser, I handed him the paperwork with my CPL on top and told him that I was carrying.

He never said anything about it and remained seated in the cruiser, he was very professional throughput the whole conversation. He did comment "that I was in pretty good sprits for someone who was just In a H&R".

 

[andyo5]

As I opened my wallet to get my license the FTO must have spotted my CCW card because he immediately asked me if I had a gun on me or in the truck.

AFAIK you don't need a concealed carry card in Arizona. Am I wrong?

 

[shotgun693]

I was a Peace Officer for 35 years. When you pull a car over you might know a lot about the Driver before you approach the car except; is this the owner or was this car stolen, has this guy recently gone off his nut, if he has a permit does he actually have a gun on him? These things among others can be kinda touchy. If the Driver, right up front, tells you that they are armed, where the gun is and asks if it's OK to get their wallet out, then it lets you know 'good' things about that person. While you, the Driver, might not HAVE to do these things it CAN make for a better contact. And yeah, on occasion you'll run into an anti-2nd Amendment Cop. That is the exception not the rule.

 

[AZ_M&P]

AFAIK you don't need a concealed carry card in Arizona. Am I wrong?

You're right.... but it's a very good idea for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to show in a court of law that you have some modicum of knowledge and training should you be involved in a shooting.

 

[andyo5]

You're right.... but it's a very good idea for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to show in a court of law that you have some modicum of knowledge and training should you be involved in a shooting.

How does one go about getting a card in Arizona? Should I start by contacting the State Police?

 

[PALADIN85020]

How does one go about getting a card in Arizona? Should I start by contacting the State Police?

Contact a local office of the AZ Department of Public Safety, which runs the program. Also any reputable gun store can fill you in on the procedures.

John

 

[AZ_M&P]

How does one go about getting a card in Arizona? Should I start by contacting the State Police?

I highly recommend taking the 8 hour class at Scottsdale Gun Club. The first part of the class is range qualifications and firearms taught by John Antrim, who's an excellent instructor. You can find him on YouTube shooting various competitions. The second half of the class is all legal and is taught by Tim Forshey, a criminal defense attorney. I thought the legal part would be a sleeper but Tim is an excellent and engaging speaker and I learned a ton of good information. In fact, I've attended the class two more times so far with friends I've brought into the sport.

One of the things that bothers me is that (as has been said) while the course can be found at any gun shop, they're far from equal. My daughter inquired about the class at one local shop and the counter guy told her he teaches it out of his home, then they go "somewhere in the desert" to shoot. That freaks me out more than a little bit. A neighbor recently found a class for $15. I can't imagine what kind of instruction you get for $15 but it scares me.

My advice - Stick with the well known, reputable outfits. You might pay a little more, but I honestly think you'll learn a lot more too. The old saw "You only get what you pay for" even seems to apply here.

 

[rjtmac]

Texas Stop ....

I was pulled over while on my bike. Was speeding in a work zone. The work zone cones ended and I had gone about a mile beyond them and had accelerated from 50 to 75 the normal speed limit. I met the patrolman and he immediately U turned and gave lighted chase. I couldn't for the life of me figure why.

I pulled over and stayed on the bike, kick stand down. He approached and asked for my license. He said "You were doing 74 in a 50 mph WORK ZONE. I told him I thought I was clear of the zone. He explained that the zone extended all the way to the next town which was about 8 miles down the road. He said it was ridiculous - wasn't well marked and he was only giving warnings. He asked to see my license and insurance. I, as have been told by my CHL trainer and and others, handed him my Drivers License and CHL License together. He didn't bat an eye.

He asked if I had a gun on the bike or on my person. I told him I had a gun in my carry vest. He told me to remain on the bike. He went to his car and ran the license. When he returned he in a conversational way asked what gun I was carrying. I told him what it was and he asked some questions about it. Never asked to see it. He never seemed apprehensive or uncomfortable. Of course whose gonna be afraid of an old guy on a bike.

He then asked about my bike and we went over mods and riding trips. He must have been having a long morning. We had about a 15-20 minute roadside visit.

 

[Retired Chief]

Sure, you don't have to say you are carrying. Sure, you don't have to tell the officer which pocket your license is in and that is what you are reaching for. Sure, you don't have to reach slowly and easily for something.
Early in my career, my partner and I stopped a car for speeding. It was cold, so the driver was wearing a hip-length coat. He got out of his car, and was polite, but gave the normal reasons for speeding of "just got off work, am going home and wasn't paying attention to the speedometer." I asked for his license and registration, he brushed his coat back and moved his right hand toward his backside. I saw a holstered revolver on his right hip, yelled "GUN" and went for my .45. My partner, who was on the passenger side of the suspect vehicle, also drew. Since the driver has his hand within inches of his gun before I saw his gun, I figured I was dead, but hoped to get a shot into him before I died. As I was unholstering my weapon, he stuck both hands in the air and yelled "Don't shoot!" repeatedly. No one shot. Turned out he was a security guard who had gotten off work an hour before, then stopped at a gas station to flirt with the gal working there. Speeding to get home before wifey figured out what was what, so busy thinking about what to tell wifey that he forgot he was wearing a sidearm.
Sure, you have the right not so say anything. Sure, you have the right to reach into pockets without saying anything, Sure, you have the right to move as quickly as you wish. Just remember, cops are people too, and being right could possibly mean you could be dead right. Don't be so prickly and life can be much smoother.

 

[DevilDog72]

I have had a couple of stops by LEO's here in Texas, both were non events. One was with a city cop and the other with a state trooper. I kept my hands in plain sight, advised the officers I was armed and location of weapon and produced both driver and carry licenses. I also keep my wallet in the weak side hip pocket. Both treated my weapons carry as a normal condition. Both encounters resulted in a warning for my infractions.

My step daughter is a Detective with the Arlington, TX PD and they are trained to expect a weapon in every car they stop as.... this is a normal condition in Texas.

 

[old bear]

Both of these officers, in fact, were exceedingly polite and respectful through our entire interaction. Absolutely no hint of any bias against lawfully armed gun owners, nothing at all. All in all a really positive experience and a tip of the hat to the fine troopers at Arizona DPS!
__________________

Now that is the way every encounter should happen. When I was on the job, I wanted every CCW holder to advise me if they were armed or not. Under normal conditions, my take was, that's just fine, or please secure your weapon in the trunk of your vehicle. Only once did I take control of a citizens weapon. Which I returned unloaded as soon as he calmed down.

No one should be abused or mistreated because they are legally carrying a weapon.

In my current home state we are required by law to inform L/E if you are armed upon contact with that L/E.