My ...renewed... CCW says this:

Jeez.

I guess the one thing that's for sure is that it would be a bad idea to say to the cop, "Hey, wanna see my gun and see if we can hit that streetlight?"

:)
 
MO has no duty to inform, but I see this as a common sense measure. Police, when in the course of their duties, tend not to appreciate surprises. IMO, volunteering the information (that they'd find easily enough anyway) is a sign of good faith that I am interested in their security and in getting along. Sure, I can remain mum and be within my rights- they can also choose to be more adversarial if they like as well.
 
It's the law !!!

MO has no duty to inform, but I see this as a common sense measure.
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Same is true for IA. and not only is it common sense, it's displaying a courtesy that is appreciated by LEO's. Don't wait to be asked, just hand him your license and permit. ..... ;)

Be Smart and;
Be Safe !!!
 
MO has no duty to inform, but I see this as a common sense measure.
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Not picking on you, but several of you on this thread seem to be anxious to volunteer to police that you have a CWP whether it's required or not. I disagree, if it's a routine traffic stop then there is no way I'm going to inform unless I'm in a "must inform" state. To my way of thinking, it only opens you up to the possibility of an over-zealous officer taking offense and deciding to spread-eagle you on the ground for no reason at all. Cops are human too, and some of them seem to like to make a point of letting you know who's in charge, forgetting who pays their salary.
 
In my state (Alaska) anyone who is carrying is required to hand the officer their photo ID (and carry permit if they have one) and advise the officer they are carrying immediately.

In the handful of times I have been pulled over, all I did was hand my ID to the officer as he came to my window and said "Hello. State law requires me to give you this (my photo ID) and inform you that I am carrying concealed." Only once did that result in anything more than a 'Okay, reason I pulled you over is.....'

By and large, when an officer sees an Alaskan resident following the law about informing them they are armed, they realize you are a law abiding citizen, and if the reason for the stop was something small they just give a warning.
 
The only time I got stopped (TX) I informed the officers and had no problem. My firearm, a 642, was in a fanny pack on the floor. One officer went back to run my plates. The other officer asked for it, my wife handed it to him, he unloaded it and when he finished he gave me the gun back and said load it before I drove off.

I got a warning. That was about 15 years ago, and the last time I got stopped.

Jerry
 
I'm in the camp 'To Inform'. Never had an issue. I just keep my hands visible, inform the officer I;m armed nad tell him "It's 'here' and my wallet is 'here'."

Many ask if I'm planning on shooting them and when I say NO, they generally smile and say to leave it in the holster.

The cops that give people a hard time are the ones that 'discover' the firearm, and the ones that come from states that 'pride' themselves on making weapons arrests, permit of not. This makes the stats look good in places like Chicago when the report is filed even when no charges are filed.

Of course, in Va., I'm sure all officers assume all citizens are armed and base their actions on ours. Smile, they smile. Inform, they're OK. Don't inform and they assume you also have something else to hide.

This from the UTAH BCI site:
If I get stopped by a police officer, do I, as a permit holder, have to tell the officer that I have a gun in my possession?

Although there is no legal requirement to identify yourself to a law enforcement officer, it is recommended to do so.

If an officer finds or sees a gun on your person during their contact with you, and you have not identified yourself as a permit holder in legal possession of a firearm, the officer may assume you are carrying the gun illegally and may take defensive action. For the safety of all involved, it is recommended to immediately identify yourself to the officer as a permit holder in possession of a handgun. This action gives the officer some assurance they are most likely dealing with a law abiding citizen.
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My LEO son goes into defensive mode if he isn't informed and is relaxed when informed.

Your choice.
 
Been pulled over twice since receiving my CCL.

Each time I have all windows down, engine dead and hands on the wheel. I let HIM make the contact and then explain I'm a CCL holder and have a weapon either on my person or within my reach.

Each time the officer has asked where it was and I TELL him, not SHOW him.

First time the officer said he thought my side window tint was too dark. I had just purchased the car and he said get it fixed.

Second time the officer pulled me over for 61 in a 55. After the CCL exchange, he told me to watch the speed, but wanted to know what the heck I was driving.

CTS-V, sir.

Is it fast?

It'll do, in a pinch.

laughed and said be careful and let me hear it.

I obliged ...
 
The last speeding ticket I got was several years back and in Colorado. (I have a TX drivers license and CHL.) I handed the officer my DL and CHL just like I would in Texas. He just handed the CHL back to me and said I didn't have to give him that.

I mailed the check to pay for the speeding ticket after I got home. :(
 
No harm done; .... Right ???

I handed the officer my DL and CHL just like I would in Texas. He just handed the CHL back to me and said I didn't have to give him that.
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And no harm done. Now, if you had been a "bull-Head" about it and not informed him, who knows what the outcome could have been. .... ;)


Heads-up and;
Be Safe !!!
 
If he isn't informed, how does he know to go into defensive mode?
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Ooos. I elided part of my post and didn't catch it.:mad:

If not informed and he spots it when the driver moves around, or it's visible in the glove box when the driver opens it. These are a couple of examples he mentioned.
 
A friend who is a LEO told me that when he checks the computer it is going to show whether you have a permit or not. In TN you are not required to inform but he said it's always a good idea to let them know on the front end because he is going to find out either way and if you haven't told him, he is put on the defensive and suspicion is up. He also said since the drivers license number and carry permit number are the same that I could just hand the permit over when asked for the DL.
 
In TN you are not required to inform but he said it's always a good idea to let them know on the front end because he is going to find out either way and if you haven't told him, he is put on the defensive and suspicion is up.
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Would you please ask your LEO friend, in his experience, how many 'bad guys' get Tennessee permits?

'Caution' is always appropriate. 'Suspicion' regarding someone who has met those requirements seems odd, to me.

(Also, I cannot pass without noting that ZZ Top has apparently dissolved, as Bill Gibbons is now Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.)
 
Pahoo said:
And no harm done. Now, if you had been a "bull-Head" about it and not informed him, who knows what the outcome could have been. .... ;)


Heads-up and;
Be Safe !!!
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As mentioned before in Ohio when they run your plate, which is done before they approach you, it comes up that you're a CCL holder. You might as well tell them. Since its required there could be a fine or even lose CCL. For the violation. This may also be implemented in other states that require notification
 
A friend who is a LEO told me that when he checks the computer it is going to show whether you have a permit or not.
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Again it's state, and I suspect system, dependent too. I've heard that in my state the information is available to officers i, but is "not on the first screen" and "they have to look for it." I don't remember if this is state or local police. For all I know the state and different local police departments may be using different systems (same data) that make permit information more or less visible depending upon the system.

he spots it when the driver moves around, or it's visible in the glove box when the driver opens it.
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Concealed means concealed. If you think the officer is going to see or find the gun, then inform. I've yet to meet an LEO that likes surprises.
 
Garycw said:
As mentioned before in Ohio when they run your plate, which is done before they approach you, it comes up that you're a CCL holder. You might as well tell them. Since its required there could be a fine or even lose CCL. For the violation. This may also be implemented in other states that require notification
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Out of curiosity, when they run your plate? Or when they run your DL? In Arkansas, your CHCL comes up when they run a DL. Running plates just tells you to whom a car is registered. It doesn't really tell you who's driving.
 
Do the right thing !!

Ya know, a very important question to ask, is whether or not, the LEO, has a right to know that you are carrying and the sooner, the better. By my measure, the answer is very clear;
ABSOLUTELY !! .... :)

Be Safe !!!
 
Spats McGee said:
Out of curiosity, when they run your plate? Or when they run your DL? In Arkansas, your CHCL comes up when they run a DL. Running plates just tells you to whom a car is registered. It doesn't really tell you who's driving.
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I thought it was the plate, as I was told, but it could be the DL or both? It very well could be the DL though since that is what is used when getting CCL. You could always be driving some else's car.
 
In my job I interact with LE several times a month. If it's not obvious (sometimes we OC) I always inform them. We usually work with the same officers or constable so they already know. I consider it common courtesy. I like to know who's got a gun around me, I assume they do to. And while I hope it never necessary we may be backing each other up.

I've never been pulled over while armed so I haven't faced a cop as a scofflaw. (I drive so fast they've never been able to catch me. ;) ;) )
 
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