A+ For the Pa state police

[thetemplateblog]

Well I had my first encounter with a LEO while carrying today over in Skippack Village this afternoon.

As I was sitting in traffic I got rear ended in my truck. The funny part is I have a Class 5 weight distribution hitch and 5 sheets of 4x8 MDF in a short bed. Needless to say the van that hit me lost ;-) My hitch went through his radiator and condenser and the ply took out the grill.

Anyway, the officer showed up and I showed him my LTCF and told him it was in my right front pocket. He just said ok keep it there and took the other drivers information.

He took all of our information and wrote up the report. After he was finished explaining everything he asked what I was packing. I told him a Kahr PM-9, he got a little smile on his face and sent me on my way.

I have happy to report my first encounter was positive.

Dave

[338winmag]

Well I had my first encounter with a LEO while carrying today over in Skippack Village this afternoon.

As I was sitting in traffic I got rear ended in my truck. The funny part is I have a Class 5 weight distribution hitch and 5 sheets of 4x8 MDF in a short bed. Needless to say the van that hit me lost ;-) My hitch went through his radiator and condenser and the ply took out the grill.

Anyway, the officer showed up and I showed him my LTCF and told him it was in my right front pocket. He just said ok keep it there and took the other drivers information.

He took all of our information and wrote up the report. After he was finished explaining everything he asked what I was packing. I told him a Kahr PM-9, he got a little smile on his face and sent me on my way.

I have happy to report my first encounter was positive.

Dave

the only question i have is why did you tell him you had the gun its none of his business as long as you have a ltcf.

[son of the revolution]

Ok , but why in the world did you voluntarily tell the officer you were carrying ?? If it was in your pocket , why bother saying anything until asked ? Chances are he never would have even said anything .

[doc454]

Alot of the LEO's, especially out here in the country, are pretty cool. They're not all out to get us. In Philly, not so sure....

[biggs88]

While it was a ok outcome, you should have kept it to your self.

The fact of you having a gun has nothing what so ever to do with the PSP doing there job taking reports of a car crash.


But anyway, good you did not get hurt.

[son of the revolution]

Alot of the LEO's, especially out here in the country, are pretty cool. They're not all out to get us. In Philly, not so sure....

That may be , but how many times have we all been warned to NEVER volunteer any information ? No matter how Officer Friendly seems or how "cool " they are ?? Im not saying to be a hard ass for the sake of being a hardass , I just dont see the relevance of voluteering your carrying when your not asked and the Officer doesnt bring it up first . Volunteering your carrying , without it being brought up first by the Officer could be interpreted as having something to hide , believe it or not. particularly because your carrying had NOTHING to do with the reason for your encounter . Your volunteering of totally irrelevant information may just be the thing that makes an Officer go hmmmmmmmmmmm...................

Just sayin

[Philadelphia]

Alot of the LEO's, especially out here in the country, are pretty cool. They're not all out to get us. In Philly, not so sure....

There are gun guys/gals and not gun guys/gals. Same as anywhere else.

[ErSwnn]

I know we don't have to say anything but I'm curious as to the other side of this story. Can the LEOs on this site explain why you'd prefer to know if someone is carrying? Legally that is. In the absence of any crime or detainment, do you care if someone is armed and do you want to know? If so, why?

I have been stopped twice while carrying. The first time I offered my status to the officer, mainly just to see how it works. He asked me for my LTCF and then gave it back. He walked to his car, came back a few minutes later. I was given a warning for the infraction and thanked for "being up front and honest".

Second time was 2 weeks ago. In explaining why one inspection sticker was bad I ended up telling him I was on my way to Classic Pistol to watch my wife and daughter take their pistol class. He then asked if there was a gun in the car. Right front pocket Sir. LTCF again. I got another warning, the officer was very nice about it, understood the explaination and that was that.
BTW, I pulled over before he hit the lights. I knew he saw me and wasn't about to play games and wait till he lit me up.

I know, in both cases I erred in giving info not nessesary to the stop. But at the same time I saw no reason to not be honest during the conversation. I had done nothing to warrant an arrest, was legally carrying and the infraction was legitimate.

I can honestly say I have never been hassled by cops other than one in Conn. who had a trap set up, he was just a jerk. I didn't blow a stop sign and he knew it. He also knew I wouldn't be coming back to Conn. to fight a $60 ticket.

[son of the revolution]

But at the same time I saw no reason to not be honest during the conversation

In your second example , in the course of your explanation to the officer about the reason for your infraction ( going to the shoot) , your response triggered the logical follow up if you had a gun with or on you .

However , in your first example , what's "dishonest " about not informing the officer your armed if he never asked ?? It almost sounds like some people feel "guilty " about carrying and NOT informing the representative of " Authority " voluntarily . Almost like feeling compelled after years of childhood indoctrination. Like a "confession " of sorts , to assuage feeling like a "bad boy "

[biggs88]

I know we don't have to say anything but I'm curious as to the other side of this story. Can the LEOs on this site explain why you'd prefer to know if someone is carrying? Legally that is. In the absence of any crime or detainment, do you care if someone is armed and do you want to know? If so, why?

I have been stopped twice while carrying. The first time I offered my status to the officer, mainly just to see how it works. He asked me for my LTCF and then gave it back. He walked to his car, came back a few minutes later. I was given a warning for the infraction and thanked for "being up front and honest".

Second time was 2 weeks ago. In explaining why one inspection sticker was bad I ended up telling him I was on my way to Classic Pistol to watch my wife and daughter take their pistol class. He then asked if there was a gun in the car. Right front pocket Sir. LTCF again. I got another warning, the officer was very nice about it, understood the explaination and that was that.
BTW, I pulled over before he hit the lights. I knew he saw me and wasn't about to play games and wait till he lit me up.

I know, in both cases I erred in giving info not nessesary to the stop. But at the same time I saw no reason to not be honest during the conversation. I had done nothing to warrant an arrest, was legally carrying and the infraction was legitimate.

I can honestly say I have never been hassled by cops other than one in Conn. who had a trap set up, he was just a jerk. I didn't blow a stop sign and he knew it. He also knew I wouldn't be coming back to Conn. to fight a $60 ticket.

There is just no need to tell an officer you are following the law. Having a LTCF and a gun if following the law.

However, in a traffic stop, I have seen and heard a few times that saying you have a gun from the start and showing your LTCF can get you out of a ticket. I guess some police respect that.

But I like to follow what any lawyer or cop(that you personally know) fully recommends: "say nothing but "am I free to go""