How to interact with police while armed

Sterling Archer · Jul 21, 2017

Given events of late, like the Damond shooting and police attacks, I felt compelled to write an article on how to interact with police. I'm always interested in feedback as well.

zincwarrior · Jul 21, 2017

Only interact with Texas PoPo. Odds they will shoot you for having a CHL: LOW. Odds you may end up discussing firearms: High.

Salute to Texas PoPo!

easy rider · Jul 21, 2017

Now I do have an LTC but many in Texas that have a gun in their car don't. The last time I got pulled over I had my LTC on top of the DL and as the officer saw it I told him "I am armed" and explained where it was. The officer told me to keep my hands on the steering wheel while he took my licenses and proof of insurance to his patrol car. I will also say that with me and many that I have seen here in Texas, that the officer often goes to the passenger side window. I was respectful and truthful and I ended up with a warning.

As far as those that don't have an LTC, I believe things could go wrong if you don't inform them that you are armed, but never reach to show. Truth and respect goes a long way, never argue.

Shady · Jul 21, 2017

Interaction is easy.

Do what the cop tells you. Don't reach for anything till he tells you.

Nightwatch · Jul 21, 2017

I don't say anything-just hand them the LTC with the Dr. Lic IF they ask for ID. If they want to know about it, they'll ask. No chance for them hearing you wrong or getting startled that way.

majormadmax · Jul 21, 2017

The law is pretty straightforward...

Sec. 411.205. REQUIREMENT TO DISPLAY LICENSE. If a license holder is carrying a handgun on or about the license holder's person when a magistrate or a peace officer demands that the license holder display identification, the license holder shall display both the license holder's driver's license or identification certificate issued by the department and the license holder's handgun license.

There is no "duty to inform" other than presenting your CHL/LTC...

Kar98 · Jul 21, 2017

majormadmax said:
The law is pretty straightforward...

There is no "duty to inform" other than presenting your CHL/LTC...

Straight and to the point, thank you.

kyletxria1911a1 · Jul 21, 2017

zincwarrior said:
Only interact with Texas PoPo. Odds they will shoot you for having a CHL: LOW. Odds you may end up discussing firearms: High.

Salute to Texas PoPo!

I've stood on i10 near elpaso for 45 minutes talkin guns

easy rider · Jul 21, 2017

kyletxria1911a1 said:
I've stood on i10 near elpaso for 45 minutes talkin guns

Were you in handcuffs?

kyletxria1911a1 · Jul 21, 2017

easy rider said:
Were you in handcuffs?

Naww iz a free negro.....
A citizen of the free State of johnson

Dawico · Jul 22, 2017

easy rider said:
Were you in handcuffs?

Heh

Dawico · Jul 22, 2017

Sterling Archer said:
Given events of late, like the Damond shooting and police attacks, I felt compelled to write an article on how to interact with police. I'm always interested in feedback as well.

https://gunpowdermeditation.com/2017/07/20/how-to-interact-with-police-while-armed/

Not bad. It does have kind of a negative undertone but isn't untruthful.

Two notes. You say you roll the window down a little bit but then say you have the window down all the way with your "papers" out. It is hard to tell which you do when.

First off, "papers" doesn't read well. Sounds very Nazi Germany-ish. Information or licenses may be better.

Secondly, when I get pulled over I roll the front and back windows all the way down. I have tinted rear windows and the officer can assess the passengers (or lack there of) in the back seat as they approach.

But all in all not a bad assessment of what is really happening when you get pulled over. It does show a side that many drivers do not think about.

Dawico · Jul 22, 2017

BTW, the stray dog analogy is a very good one. I knew exactly what you were talking about as soon as I read it.

vmax · Jul 22, 2017

easy rider said:
Were you in handcuffs?

You win the interwebs with that post

BRD@66 · Jul 22, 2017

Keep you mind on your drivin'
Keep you hands on the wheel
Keep your snoopy eyes on the road ahead

karlac · Jul 22, 2017

All you really need to know:
... basic "courtesy".

Vaquero · Jul 22, 2017

karlac said:
All you really need to know:
... basic "courtesy".

Yep.
Armed or not.

easy rider · Jul 22, 2017

karlac said:
All you really need to know:
... basic "courtesy".

^ THIS!

Most encounters that go bad are from people that argue or resist. The LEO has already figured out what he/she is pulling a person over for. You may disagree why, but at that time is not the place to argue it. Over the years I have gotten out of many fines just treating the officers with respect and courtesy. Save the arguments for the court.

Sterling Archer · Jul 22, 2017

Dawico said:
Two notes. You say you roll the window down a little bit but then say you have the window down all the way with your "papers" out. It is hard to tell which you do when.

i may have worded that poorly. My window goes all the way down, if I have tinted windows then I'll lower the rear part way so they can see inside and verify no one is there. That's what I was trying to convey.

rman · Jul 22, 2017

as a non-white that's been pulled over a lot, my general rule of thumb is to not be stupid. I've probably been let off 4x more than had tickets.

Last time I even stuck my head out the window and smiled to say hello. In retrospect that was probably a really bad idea, but i think the cop figured I was dumb as rocks and probably harmless.

Sent from my SIG Sauer

How to interact with police while armed

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