How much trouble would I've been in...?

[Filbird]

Here's the short story version... last Sunday, working around the house all day in sweat pants and a t-shirt, decided to go for a walk at the last minute, threw the 442 in the front pocket and was just locking the front door behind me when I realized I did not have my wallet. There is no back pocket on those sweat pants, so I had left the wallet on the dresser that morning. Went back in the house real quick to get that wallet!

It got me thinking... The .38 was in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster but it was printing a bit in that front pocket. What if I had not realized that I did not have my wallet, had gone on my walk as planned, and been stopped by an LEO - because he/she recognized I was carrying? I would not even have had my regular ID, never mind my CHP. What would they have done?

 

[cp1969]

Probably would have ran you in and when someone brought your wallet containing identification saying you are who you say you are and produced the carry permit, then let you go.

At least that's how it would work where I live.

 

[D7dun]

You must carry your CCW Permit if you are carrying!

Sir:

All you are doing is making a potential serious problem for yourself that will have long reaching negative consequences that can all be easily avoided by ALWAYS carrying both your firearm and your CCW Permit without fail.

You are lucky to live somewhere where your State trusts it's citizens to exercise their Rights in this matter. The least you can do is to do your part and comply with the laws where you live regarding CCW.

If stopped, most LEOs would allow you to call home and have someone bring your permit to the scene or, after disarming you, take you home in handcuffs to get it. Until then, you will be considered by LE as a "Man with a gun!" This is not good for you!

This type of contact, not only will have all the LEOs in the area responding, but will divert considerable LE services away from other citizens that need help.

However, some LEOs might NOT extend you that "Courtesy" and take you into custody, criminally charge you and TAKE YOUR FIREARM as evidence of your CRIME.

Suddenly a good law abiding citizen, by his own doing, becomes a Criminal just like any other!

You will then have an Arrest Record, pay unreasonable hourly rates to an attorney to defend you, lose your CCW forever and your firearm may or may not be returned to you? This will be the best you can expect.

The worst could include a Criminal Record, jail time and fines and loss of your reputation as a law abiding citizen. Some employers might terminate you also because you NOW, by your own doing, have a Criminal Record and you ARE a criminal!

As you might see, there is no upside to you carrying a firearm in a public place and not also carrying your CCW Permit.

All this can so easily be avoided. I urge you to do so! Exercise your Rights and handle your Responsibilities. Remember, if you don't handle the business, the business handles you!

However, a man should do what he thinks best.

I hope this helps?

 

[Filbird]

Thanks for the responses so far. Keep in mind, I'm not ADVOCATING going outside without a license! It just struck me how easy it was to almost make that mistake.

The funny thing is that I'm one of those boring, routinized people who always has the same things in the same pockets: wallet here, keys there, small swiss army knife here... But, that one Sunday I decided to throw on my sweats that morning, which I hardly ever wear, and it threw me off my routine.

I was telling this story to a friend who said, "well, how many times have you gone for a drive and realized that you did not have your wallet?"

Somehow, it seems worse to be carrying without the CHP than to be driving without the DL, but in the end, I suppose it's the same thing: you have the official approval to do both things, but have done something boneheaded and forgotten to carry the proof of that approval.

 

[The Highlander]

If I'm off my property, I've got the dl and hcp, as well as the SR9 (or G17, or P220). Dang, I hate all these acronyms.

 

[bitstream]

Many of us are creatures of habit; break the routine and it's easy to forget something like that.

As far as how much trouble you could have gotten in. I'd say that depends on what state/county/city/section you live in/were caught without the ID in. Depending on the Officer/D.A./Judge, you could get anything from a pat on the wrist to a stay in the jail.

Thanks for posting to remind us all to double check each time we walk out the door. My habit is to check for wallet/ID, keys, and cell phone each time I go out the door.

 

[russp1]

I wonder if any holster makers have thought of a slot on their products where a laminated copy of the carry permit could be placed to avoid this problem; as long as you carry in a holster.

 

[DeathGrip]

I wonder if any holster makers have thought of a slot on their products where a laminated copy of the carry permit could be placed to avoid this problem; as long as you carry in a holster.

I had the same thought followed by,No LEO is gonna let you reach anywhere near your gun.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

Check what the laws are in your state.

In Kentucky, if you are caught carrying concealed without your permit, I believe that you are charged with a misdemeanor offense which carries a $25 fine.

When an LEO runs your drivers license or SSN (I had a LEO run mine the other day) it shows up that you have a CCW and displays the information that is contained on your CCW.

Carrying without your permit may be a feloney, a misdemeanor, or may not be a crime at all which is why you should check and know what the stte law saws about being caught with a concealed weapon without your permit.

 

[watchmanjimg]

Check what the laws are in your state.

In Kentucky, if you are caught carrying concealed without your permit, I believe that you are charged with a misdemeanor offense which carries a $25 fine.

When an LEO runs your drivers license or SSN (I had a LEO run mine the other day) it shows up that you have a CCW and displays the information that is contained on your CCW.

Carrying without your permit may be a feloney, a misdemeanor, or may not be a crime at all which is why you should check and know what the stte law saws about being caught with a concealed weapon without your permit.

Excellent post. Not having your permit on you is a lot different than not having one at all.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Come to Arizona.....no permit required.

 

[Capt Steve]

Come to Arizona.....no permit required.

Lee, you beat me to it but I gotta admit the new law makes me nervous.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I had the same feeling when the law was first proposed. I asked a friend who happens to be a County Sheriff what he thought about it and his reply was that it made no difference to him because they treat every vehicle stop as if the occupants are armed. Before this law went into effect, Arizona had all ready eliminated the requirement for retraining for permit renewal, which again I thought wasn't a good idea. Requiring a permit for concealed carry won't stop felons from carrying, it only gives government more power to control the honest people, and generates income for the State. Open carry and vehicle carry without a permit has been legal for quite some time anyway. Time will tell, but so far there hasn't been any problems that I have seen reported in the news because of this law.

 

[GatorFarmer]

In most of VA? Very little. Maybe get you a lecture, unless you looked like you were up to something. I can't even imagine being stopped for "printing" unless you seemed to be doing something sinister.

VA is an open carry state, no permit needed. All you'd have had to do is jam it in your waistband.

At worst, you might get a lecture or some questions asked.

The majority of police, DAs, and judges don't have time or care about petty stuff. Unless you've become an annoyance or have enemies, no one is going to hassle you all that much.

 

[Capt Steve]

I had the same feeling when the law was first proposed. I asked a friend who happens to be a County Sheriff what he thought about it and his reply was that it made no difference to him because they treat every vehicle stop as if the occupants are armed. Before this law went into effect, Arizona had all ready eliminated the requirement for retraining for permit renewal, which again I thought wasn't a good idea. Requiring a permit for concealed carry won't stop felons from carrying, it only gives government more power to control the honest people, and generates income for the State. Open carry and vehicle carry without a permit has been legal for quite some time anyway. Time will tell, but so far there hasn't been any problems that I have seen reported in the news because of this law.

Lee, we agree. I was expecting a number of incidents involving un informed fools with a gun stuck in their pocket or purse and no concept of what the law allows. As noted I have yet to hear of any incidents and I'm sure the media would be all over any inappropriate behavior. Still, I think anyone who carries should be informed on their responsibilities as not knowing the law will get you into far more trouble than a gun will get you out of.

 

[shovelwrench]

Excellent post. Not having your permit on you is a lot different than not having one at all.

+1

Unless the LEO had a chip on his shoulder that day it should'nt matter a whole lot, as long as you have a valid permit on record. Its no more then a phone call to check.

Personally I would be more angered by police stopping me for "printing". I'm pretty sure an officer thinking you may be carrying is not probable cause for a stop or search of ones person.

"Show me your papers" is not legal anywhere in the US as of yet.

 

[cp1969]

Requiring a permit for concealed carry won't stop felons from carrying, it only gives government more power to control the honest people, and generates income for the State.

Controlling honest people or generating income for the state is, IMHO, a very poor reason for a "law" to be on the books. Honest people don't need to be controlled and if the state needs money, let them be honest about it and tax something.

That Arizona has no law regarding concealed carry, is, if you ask me, exactly what the writers of the Constitution had in mind. The Constitution makes no presumption that one group of men should have the ability to decide that another group should be denied the right to bear arms.

 

[watchmanjimg]

+1

Unless the LEO had a chip on his shoulder that day it should'nt matter a whole lot, as long as you have a valid permit on record. Its no more then a phone call to check.

Personally I would be more angered by police stopping me for "printing". I'm pretty sure an officer thinking you may be carrying is not probable cause for a stop or search of ones person.

"Show me your papers" is not legal anywhere in the US as of yet.

It shouldn't matter indeed, and at least in Florida it doesn't matter--well, not much. Failure to carry permit and ID while packing is a noncriminal violation punishable by a $25 fine.

 

[Old cop]

As a retired LEO all I can say is always carry your concealed carry permit and your driver's license. It will save you a lot of grief over the long haul.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

That Arizona has no law regarding concealed carry, is, if you ask me, exactly what the writers of the Constitution had in mind. The Constitution makes no presumption that one group of men should have the ability to decide that another group should be denied the right to bear arms.

Very well said. Due to some quirks in the Arizona law regarding concealed carry I will continue to renew my permit every 5 years, one of which is Reciprocity with other States. I can also now carry in restaurants that serve alcohol if I have my permit; no permit, carry is not allowed. The new law can be a bit confusing...at least it's a whole lot better than living in an anti-gun State.