if you get pulled over, do you tell the cop you have a gun on you?

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As a retired LEO I agree with the way GeauxTide does it and thats the way I do It.

"Officer, I have a permit to carry a handgun and I'm wearing it. How do you wish to proceed?"
 
No matter if the law says yo don't HAVE to...

How can it be a bad idea, to inform the officer, and request instructions?

Should keep you from panicing a rookie (or a veteran;)), and keep you from getting shot or shot at.

If you don't tell, and they find out (see it/computer says permit holder), that creates instant suspicion...why did you not tell them?

Usually, things only go downhill from there!
 
Here in sunny FLA, not required to inform and CCW info DOES NOT show up when the drivers license is run. This info was given to me at a finger print run for a different matter from the Sherrif's office. It was suggested to me after asking a LEO about this very subject and his responce, better to let them know at the start, reason being, this officer at a traffic stop was unaware that the driver was carring and had a permit, when the driver reached for the glove compartment the butt of his revolver slipped out from under his shirt and was spotted by the officer. Driver pulled from the vehicle at gun point and on the ground and cuffed. I guess we can say this all could have been avoided had the driver stated he had a CCW permit and was carring, YES/NO? The officer was only protecting himself under the circumstances. All was good after the permit was available to the office and the driver cleaned the mess out of his shorts while learning a valueable lesson. I agree with informing LE of carrying and the CCW permit. Better that being pulled from a car at gun point or worse, shot!
 
Gotta here...

Definitely check out your state laws. If you have to, do. If you don't have to and they are going to find out you have a CCW anyway, then you will have less of a hassle than if you tried to keep it from them.
 
tell

The states that I live and drive in most of the time are NJ, NY, PA. I carry only in PA. It has been my experience - with other people and watching from my car - that police do not want the driver of a stopped car to get out of the vehicle. I suppose that if the stop is because erratic driving attracted attention and maybe DUI is suspected, then an LEO may want the driver out of the car. (If a driver IS DUI and carrying, then they are wrong on two counts.) I don't know even about that - my wife was stopped once because she attracted attention and the trooper thought that maybe she had had a few too many (she was eating a pork chop while driving and dropped it.....). She was not asked to leave her car.
In any case, since most of the time a driver is not asked to leave their vehicle, why would they want to tell the officer involved about a weapon?
It seems to me to be a situation where I would offer only the necessary info to answer the questions that I was asked and volunteer nothing else.
Pete
 
In the instances an officer pulls me over as soon as he exits his vehicle and walks towards me I yell to him, "I got a gun!".

That lets him know right from the get go.
 
parisite said:
In the instances an officer pulls me over as soon as he exits his vehicle and walks towards me I yell to him, "I got a gun!".
Click to expand...

You ever actually tried that in real life? I'm a long way from an experienced gun owner/carrier. (I just got my first gun in late March, got my CCW *finally* in mid-June.) I *have* known quite a few policeman, though. I worked for a county sheriff for a year -- in a non-sworn role, but with sworn officers. I've got two brothers in law who are police officers, and several friends who are or have been policemen/women or sheriff's deputies. I'd bet you a considerable sum of money that every last one of them would veto your approach decisively.

What I keep hearing from the police officers who state a preference is that you notify them by handing them your concealed carry permit along with your driver's license. It's probably best to keep your hands on the wheel and visible til they tell you that you can get your license out. Most also would not object to being told, but NOT BY YELLING, "I HAVE A GUN!" That's liable to stir up more excitement than you or the police officer wanted, and considerably delay your arrival at your destination.

Sheesh. :rolleyes:
 
The one time I was pulled over since I got my CCW was in AZ. I decided to hand my permit to the officer with my Drivers License just in case it was required in AZ. He thanked me for letting him know but then carefully disarmed me and held the weapon in his car until he finished with me. He said he ran the gun serial and everything was good to go but he did unload the gun before giving it back. It ended up taking 3 time longer for the stop than normal so next time if I am not asked to get out of my vehicle I'm not mentioning it.

VL
 
Michigan Law

As stated esle where in this thread in Michigan you must inform LE officer when pulled over. I have been stop twice by the State Police. I sat still with my hands on the wheel until the officer came to the window. when He asks for my Lic & Reg proof of Insurance I tell the officer I am carrying concealed I was asked by the officers where the weapon is what I am carrying. It is normally on my right hip and I told the that I am now going to reach for my wallet that is also in my right back pocket. Neither officer moved while i reached for my wallet. both times I was let go and thanked for my military service. IMO is better to inform the officer. If I were driving in a state the honor my states CWP I would inform that officer also
 
If asked, to exit the car, I affirm my intent to comply, then add, "Officer, I am exercising my privileges pursuant to penal code 12050." We take it from there.
 
Ok having been stoped 2 times since I recived my ccw here is what I have done.

1. If im carring I give the officer ccw permit, DL, insurance

2. If gun is in car, dl, insurance ccw permit

I have only used 1 since I allways have a gun on me but this was recomended to me by my county Sheriff.
 
I am extremely courteous to police. In my state, we are not required to inform the police officer during a traffic stop. My philosophy is that the gun has no bearing on what is going on at that particular time and I have no reason to inform the police officer. If it becomes generic to the situation, I will inform the police officer. My carry permit is immediately behind my drivers license, so any observant officer will notice that I have a carry permit. He/she will ask if it is important to them.
 
In the instances an officer pulls me over as soon as he exits his vehicle and walks towards me I yell to him, "I got a gun!".

That lets him know right from the get go.
Click to expand...

Lord Jesus, I hope you are joking! :eek:
 
No. He can see it sitting right beside me on the seat. Believe it or not, I have not yet had a cop even mention the gun.
 
If I am stopped I get my license and permit out as soon as possible and put my hands on the steering wheel. I do not want to be reaching behind my back while he is standing there.

Last time I was stopped I handed license and permit to the officer. He asked me if I had it (the gun) with me and where it was. I told him yes and it was on my hip. That was all that was said about the gun.

He warned me to slow down and let me go. As said before in Tx we have to notify. Makes no difference to me.
Dallas Jack
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - this is a double edge sword.

Assuming your dealing with a level headed, cool, LEO - I would say not a bad idea if you think you will be subject to a probe/pat down type search.

However, if your firearm is well concealed and you are legally permitted to carry, all paperwork in order, why bother, again, unless you will be searched and at that point you better anti-up.

Now, what if you offer up that info to a disturbed LEO, angry type guy, hot under the collar, quick on the draw, paranoid type, (and their out there) you may get more than you bargained for, God knows what that type of guy will do, right paperwork so you loose your carry rights, cause the guy is a steam head...

Bottom line - it's and incident to incident call there is no right answer here.
 
MaNiFeSt Thanks for fixing the title. :D

Here is what the police in my home town say to do.
Say
"I have a concealed carry permit and I am carrying now. I can show you whenever you want"
They said NOT to say 'gun', 'handgun', 'weapon' or anything like that.
It may be the only word the officer picks up on.:eek:
 
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