Glenn Dee and JGCoastie,
I see neither of you have addressed hogdogs' point about conservation officers / game wardens, but it was a good point. They are dealing with guys who they KNOW are carrying guns, typically rifles, shotguns, or big-bore handguns. In many cases, those folks will have a long gun in hand.
I don't often hear of conservation officers or game wardens making an approach with a drawn weapon aimed at a hunter's COM.
If you want to use the "license" issue, these officers could do a very similar check, for a hunting license vs a carry license. Either way, hunting in the woods or carrying in Philadelphia, the person has to have a license.
So why do Philadelphia cops approach with drawn guns, when game wardens typically do not?
(Oh, by the way, when last I lived in Florida, conservation and game warden types had higher per capita shooting incidents than the regular LE agencies, primarily due to stumbling across marijuana crops. In fact, I suspect many such officers in many states have more dangerous dealings than do most Philadelphia police.)
JGCoastie, a drawn weapon, held at low ready, might arguably be called "officer presence." That same weapon, aimed center mass, without any cause would arguably be called "assault."
I see neither of you have addressed hogdogs' point about conservation officers / game wardens, but it was a good point. They are dealing with guys who they KNOW are carrying guns, typically rifles, shotguns, or big-bore handguns. In many cases, those folks will have a long gun in hand.
I don't often hear of conservation officers or game wardens making an approach with a drawn weapon aimed at a hunter's COM.
If you want to use the "license" issue, these officers could do a very similar check, for a hunting license vs a carry license. Either way, hunting in the woods or carrying in Philadelphia, the person has to have a license.
So why do Philadelphia cops approach with drawn guns, when game wardens typically do not?
(Oh, by the way, when last I lived in Florida, conservation and game warden types had higher per capita shooting incidents than the regular LE agencies, primarily due to stumbling across marijuana crops. In fact, I suspect many such officers in many states have more dangerous dealings than do most Philadelphia police.)
JGCoastie, a drawn weapon, held at low ready, might arguably be called "officer presence." That same weapon, aimed center mass, without any cause would arguably be called "assault."