While I agree that just the mere carrying of a firearm does not produce RAS, and having used Hawkins myself as evidence of this in the past. I have recently reread Hawkins and I think we may want to be careful saying that Hawkins addresses this issue completely.
From Hawkins:
Quote:
We do not address the scenario in which the officer has an independent reason to believe that a
crime (carrying an unlicensed gun) may be in progress, inquires as to whether the gun is licensed and
the person does not answer.
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I'm not sure what a unlicensed gun is under PA law, I thought people were licensed. I supposed this could be twisted and possibly used to say that Hawkins doesn't address an officer asking for a LTCF when they see a person carrying a firearm. Just thowing it out there for discussion.
I personally still believe that just as driving a car in and of itself doesn't give RAS without any other circumstances, neither does just carrying a firearm.