I (or anybody else for that matter) don't know what happened prior to or during the shooting. So I will not speculate. The one thing I will say is that in the aftermath of several critical incidents I have experienced while on duty, people have pulled out cell phones and began recording while giving a prologue quite different than the way I remembered things happening.
People don't understand that everyone else can not telepathically know the things that they know. I have a Doberman Pinscher and a Rottweiler. The Doberman is about 80lbs and the Rottie is about 100 pounds. Neither has ever displayed any signs of aggression toward anybody. I know this. However, if my dogs broke loose from my backyard and ran full speed toward a stranger on the street, regardless of the fact that they just wanted to play, I would absolutely understand if he/she felt in fear of serious bodily harm or death and reacted accordingly.
Police have to carefully walk an ever thinning line between being indicted on criminal charges and being murdered on duty. I get on facebook and read the stories several police controversies this year, then I get on the Officer Down Memorial Page and read the stories of my 29 brothers and sisters who have been murdered in the line of duty this year. Then I get up, take a shower, head to the station, put on my uniform and 30 pounds of gear, walk out into the 110 degree weather and hope by the grace of god I can read every situation correctly and don't end up on the news before the end of my shift.
Okay, off of my soapbox. I stop people on duty all the time that are armed. This:
I don't get wrapped around the axle about guns on traffic stops. However, I run into them fairly regularly, AND I've never had somebody try to shoot me on a traffic stop.
One last thing, and strictly an opinion. Whether or not there is a duty to inform, it is always a good idea. I don't know a single cop who would not want someone to make them aware they were carrying during a traffic stop. While not always illegal, if the cop ends up making the discovery on their own, it probably won't help the situation any.
Just my .02 cents on the matter.
People don't understand that everyone else can not telepathically know the things that they know. I have a Doberman Pinscher and a Rottweiler. The Doberman is about 80lbs and the Rottie is about 100 pounds. Neither has ever displayed any signs of aggression toward anybody. I know this. However, if my dogs broke loose from my backyard and ran full speed toward a stranger on the street, regardless of the fact that they just wanted to play, I would absolutely understand if he/she felt in fear of serious bodily harm or death and reacted accordingly.
Police have to carefully walk an ever thinning line between being indicted on criminal charges and being murdered on duty. I get on facebook and read the stories several police controversies this year, then I get on the Officer Down Memorial Page and read the stories of my 29 brothers and sisters who have been murdered in the line of duty this year. Then I get up, take a shower, head to the station, put on my uniform and 30 pounds of gear, walk out into the 110 degree weather and hope by the grace of god I can read every situation correctly and don't end up on the news before the end of my shift.
Okay, off of my soapbox. I stop people on duty all the time that are armed. This:
is the best way handle the situation. This lets the officer know not only that you are armed, but that you are well informed and responsible. Let them decide how they want to proceed from there, and listen carefully. If you have any questions or issues with the stop, it's not a good time to address them. Save them for the conclusion of the stop or call in later. While a simple "Why'd you stop me?" is not a hostile question, the vast majority of the time it's a question officers hear from hostile people.I place my hands on the steering wheel immediately. I do not reach for my paper work. I sit with my hands on the wheel until the officer can visibly see them. I then inform the officer that I have a permit to carry a concealed weapon and that I am armed.
I don't get wrapped around the axle about guns on traffic stops. However, I run into them fairly regularly, AND I've never had somebody try to shoot me on a traffic stop.
One last thing, and strictly an opinion. Whether or not there is a duty to inform, it is always a good idea. I don't know a single cop who would not want someone to make them aware they were carrying during a traffic stop. While not always illegal, if the cop ends up making the discovery on their own, it probably won't help the situation any.
Just my .02 cents on the matter.