Something to think about

[Madoktor1]

I posted this on my Facebook today and thought I would post it here too for input and discussion.

As many of you know, I had an accident with a deer today. The event caused me to think about a couple things. I have a few officers on my page that can relate to the first one. I have my carry permit and I was armed. When I called to report the incident, I asked the dispatcher to inform the responding officer that I have a carry permit and that I was armed even though Tennessee does not require you to inform LEO's of this.
The officer arrived and I had tucked my shirt so that he could see my firearm and where it was at. He never made a single comment about it and didn't even look at my permit when I gave him my docs for the report.
This brings me to my second thought. Even though I didn't have to inform him, I did because it made the whole situation go much smoother and put us both at ease from the beginning. Yes, we have the inalienable right according to the constitution the keep and bear arms, but there's no reason to be an *** about it. The life you save could be your own. They have a job to do just like we all do. We know how hard our jobs can be when dealing with an *** and theirs is no different.
Many people say that we shouldn't have to have a permit to carry a firearm and I agree to an extent, but, I think that a safety course should at least be required at a minimum in order to carry a firearm. Just think about everybody you know and have known and think how many of them you would not want running around with a firearm with no training at all. Just something to think about.

 

[DeadAye]

I posted this on my Facebook today and thought I would post it here too for input and discussion.

As many of you know, I had an accident with a deer today. The event caused me to think about a couple things. I have a few officers on my page that can relate to the first one. I have my carry permit and I was armed. When I called to report the incident, I asked the dispatcher to inform the responding officer that I have a carry permit and that I was armed even though Tennessee does not require you to inform LEO's of this.
The officer arrived and I had tucked my shirt so that he could see my firearm and where it was at. He never made a single comment about it and didn't even look at my permit when I gave him my docs for the report.
This brings me to my second thought. Even though I didn't have to inform him, I did because it made the whole situation go much smoother and put us both at ease from the beginning. Yes, we have the inalienable right according to the constitution the keep and bear arms, but there's no reason to be an *** about it. The life you save could be your own. They have a job to do just like we all do. We know how hard our jobs can be when dealing with an *** and theirs is no different.
Many people say that we shouldn't have to have a permit to carry a firearm and I agree to an extent, but, I think that a safety course should at least be required at a minimum in order to carry a firearm. Just think about everybody you know and have known and think how many of them you would not want running around with a firearm with no training at all. Just something to think about.

Good idea - Then *they* could issue you a card that you can carry around that proves that you've taken the course....

 

[SMSgt]

I agree with everything you said except about posting on FB.

 

[shooter5112]

I suspect nothing different would have happened if you had mentioned nothing about your permit, and kept your weapon concealed.

 

[agwoodard]

It really depends on where you live, and what the mindset of the department that you will be dealing with is. Not every LEO or department is pro gun.

Where I live, I'm not telling them. It's not required by law, and I know how the majority of them feel about civilians carrying weapons. So for my personal safety, I keep quiet unless asked.

A ticket will cost me maybe a hundred bucks. Being yanked out of my truck, disarmed, cuffed, and suffering a lecture on gun safety and then grilled on why I think I need a gun in the first place that ends up resulting in a resisting arrest or assault on a police officer charge could cost me my freedom. All for opening my mouth about something that is none of their business.

 

[Smoke]

I don't like the concept of having to take a class to exercise a civil liberty. If I need a safety class to own a gun why not a Civics class to vote?

There are 5 states now that do not require permits (which means no classes) of any sort to carry a concealed hand gun and many other states that do require a permit but issue it without any training requirement ; yet their firearms accident rates are no higher than other states that do require a safety course.

As far as telling the cop you are armed (barring a legal requirement) I don't see the point. If you're a law abiding citizen knowing that you are armed doesn't make you any less of a threat of you aren't a law abiding you aren't going to tell him anyway.

The following may offend some folks so I am apologizing in advance.
It has been my experience that there is a subset of permit holders that view their permit as a membership card in some exclusive club and if they encounter a law enforcement officer (whom they also view as a member of "the club") they can't wait to whip out that secret hand shake. That's why they make a point of informing every officer they encounter.


http://www.examiner.com/article/don-t-be-a-gun-dork-traffic-stops

Here is a link to an article by ( I think) Dave Workman on what he calls the "gun dork" phenomena

 

[Old cop]

With rights come responsibilities and I don't have a problem w/people being required to demonstrate knowledge of applicable laws and the ability to safely handle a handgun. I realize I may get flamed for this position but I saw too many bad outcomes during my LEO days by people who did not have a clue, and wound up hurting someone needlessly.

 

[feralmerril]

Is a LEO going to search my car for hitting a deer? So what if he does and finds my gun under a jacket on the back seat? I have the PW to cover it.
Why stir up possibilitys when I cant think up a reason to? Are we that proud that we have a CCL and just have to show it to a officer and hope for their admiring approval?

 

[oberon]

Never had to produce a permit fo' the five-oh. Once had to produce a firearm.
If the guy wants to know if I am armed, he will ask.
"are you armed?"
"never not."
"ok. thanks"
Usually all it takes.

 

[mjsmith1223]

I live in a state where I am required to inform police officers that I am carrying should I have an encounter with the police for some reason. If I lived in a state that did not require me to inform them, I wouldn't. I don't see a need to give any more information than is required or asked for.

Glad the encounter went well. Too bad about the deer. Hope it didn't mess up your car too bad.

 

[SMSgt]

I don't like the concept of having to take a class to exercise a civil liberty. If I need a safety class to own a gun why not a Civics class to vote?

Those civil liberties originated back in the day when the nearest neighbor was 5 miles down the muddy trail, not on the other side of the condo wall like we have today. And after seeing how dumb people can be during my military firearm courses, I tend to think a lot of people do need some level of basic the-bullet-comes-out-here safety training. And hopefully, voting doesn't mean lead projectiles flying around.

 

[smokindog]

Couldn't disagree more. Politicians (recipients of votes) have killed more people than firearms by large orders of magnitude. Besides, the form of Government to vote for electors was actually established to have "the learned" protect the ill-informed from themselves.

All rights are sacred and SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED!

Those civil liberties originated back in the day when the nearest neighbor was 5 miles down the muddy trail, not on the other side of the condo wall like we have today. And after seeing how dumb people can be during my military firearm courses, I tend to think a lot of people do need some level of basic the-bullet-comes-out-here safety training. And hopefully, voting doesn't mean lead projectiles flying around.

 

[307-Niner]

I live in a state where I am required to inform police officers that I am carrying should I have an encounter with the police for some reason. If I lived in a state that did not require me to inform them, I wouldn't. I don't see a need to give any more information than is required or asked for.

Glad the encounter went well. Too bad about the deer. Hope it didn't mess up your car too bad.

I lived in Alaska for many years, no permit required to carry concealed or in your vehicle. The law required you to immediately inform any officer you came into contact with that you were armed. This practice brought some mixed results. A couple of times it was no big deal. One time the officer secured my weapon in his car until the stop was done. But there were a couple times when the officers got real jumpy, agitated, forceful, hand on his own weapon, etc.

After that, I met a group of officers at a restaurant during lunch. Chatted for a couple of minutes & asked them what they thought about the subject. I was told that there were so many "new to the job" officers out there & many of them get over excited when the other guy has a gun. He suggested that I might be better off not mentioning my weapon unless asked. I never had any issues after that, I just kept it to myself.

 

[Kanewpadle]

When dealing with cops, I've found that being completely honest works best. Some don't agree. But it works for me.

 

[Don 73]

Even if Ohio wasn't a 'must inform' state, I would still prefer to be told, I've gotten to hate surprises as I've gotten older. That being said, my Lt (ex-SWAT) prefers to take the weapon out of play during a stop (he holds on to it until the stop is over) personally, I say leave it where it is (as long as it's holstered/secured) & not just lying there.

 

[Smoke]

Those civil liberties originated back in the day when the nearest neighbor was 5 miles down the muddy trail, not on the other side of the condo wall like we have today. And after seeing how dumb people can be during my military firearm courses, I tend to think a lot of people do need some level of basic the-bullet-comes-out-here safety training.

I could point out along the same lines that the Second Amendment originated when 4 aimed shots a minute was considered rapid fire.

Instead I will again state the fact that while several states require absolutely no safety training before issuing a permit and five states don't even require a permit they don't seem to have an inordinately higher firearm accident rate than states that require extensive training.

If I can't teach you everything you need to know about firearms safety (the 4 rules) in 5 minutes I could pound it into your head for life and get nowhere

And hopefully, voting doesn't mean lead projectiles flying around.

Political discussion is banned on this website so I'll just say that voting has done far more damage to America than guns ever will

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

I had a co-worker who went through a similar incident. He lives out in the country and struck a deer with his truck, then pulled over to call it in. He carries concealed and informed them over the phone. When the officer arrived he noted the damage and that the deer was alive but struggling on the side of the road. It wasn't going to make it so they decided it would be best to put the deer out of it's misery.

From what my co-worker said, the officer was really nervous and his hands were shaking. He fired his Glock twice and missed. Co-worker asks if would be ok if he unholstered his weapon and took a shot at it, which the officer nodded yes and agreed. I suppose this sort of thing would probably only happen in his small town, but still always a good thing to inform you are carrying. Plus it's the law in my state.

 

[Donn]

I live in a state where I am required to inform police officers that I am carrying should I have an encounter with the police for some reason. If I lived in a state that did not require me to inform them, I wouldn't. I don't see a need to give any more information than is required or asked for.

Michigan here too. Wish the law was otherwise, but till it is, I'm notifying the officer first. Had one encounter. Didn't handle it any different than if I wasn't armed. Engine off, window down, seat belt fastened, both hands on the wheel in plain sight.

 

[Protected One]

I lived in Alaska for many years, no permit required to carry concealed or in your vehicle. The law required you to immediately inform any officer you came into contact with that you were armed. This practice brought some mixed results. A couple of times it was no big deal. One time the officer secured my weapon in his car until the stop was done. But there were a couple times when the officers got real jumpy, agitated, forceful, hand on his own weapon, etc.

After that, I met a group of officers at a restaurant during lunch. Chatted for a couple of minutes & asked them what they thought about the subject. I was told that there were so many "new to the job" officers out there & many of them get over excited when the other guy has a gun. He suggested that I might be better off not mentioning my weapon unless asked. I never had any issues after that, I just kept it to myself.

So, basically, the police suggested that you break the law.

 

[feralmerril]

Some old time cops have common sense. On my 35 year job I used it every day and probley got bit several times. -- Lightly. Still, I believe I was on that job longer than God knows how many several thousand other guards that came and went through the years. In my experience the nit pickers that had to call the captain all the time on stuff usually were the ones in hot water the most. In my case I never hardly ever called for advice and I was never questioned about my calls. Most boss`s liked us underlings that used our heads. Things ran smoother.