I've only been pulled over once since getting my CCP, and although I was not carrying on my person at the time there was a pistol buried in the console of my truck. I didn't say anything about it or my permit to the officer and he didn't ask. I've heard a lot of opinion about that topic as well (even heard of guys that hand over their permit with the license and registration), but since I'm not required by law to inform the officer I choose not to. If he had asked I would have been truthful and forthcoming . . . but he didn't.
No duty to inform here....but if you have one on you I would bring it up if they ever ask you to get out of your vehicle so there are no surprises.
It's respectful to be transparent to the LEO's, you'd be surprised how much they appreciate you recognizing their safety.
I agree, however, being asked to exit a vehicle while having a gun on your hip is an entirely different situation than I was describing having been in myself. You'd have to be crazy to not to say something if you're carrying on your person and you're asked to leave the vehicle. It's all conditional - if you're being asked to get out of the car there is a good chance you've done something worse than a small traffic violation and you're already suspect for having done something wrong! I guess the moral of the story is that we should all just drive more safely...
To me transparency is willingly and honestly answering all questions. I've never been one to volunteer information, especially in a situation where it may very well complicate things. When I lived in Tennessee (no requirement to inform) a good friend of mine got pulled over. He handed his permit to the officer along with his license . . . the cop proceeded to scold him and ask if that was supposed to be a threat...
I KNOW!! I got my first speeding ticket 3 weeks after I got my license. I've gotten somewhere between 20-25 more in my 17 years of driving. No accidents though, so at least I've got that going for me! I've had to sit in the back of a patrol car 4 times. Sometimes they were just for statements like when my dad hit a deer or I got pulled over with 3 drunks in the car that reeked of alcohol and the officer wanted to see if I really was the DD like I claimed. All four times they asked if I had a weapon, and each time I had a pocket knife with me. Once the officer just said "OK". Twice the officer made me take it out and leave it in my truck. And once the office actually reached into my pocket to pull it out!!
Up here, you're on "the list" if you own firearms. If you own handguns/AR's you're really on the list.
I am not aware of lists, but I do know WWW was almost taken after for disclosing he had an open carry gun in the truck (headlight went out, he was pulling into my driveway) in CO in 1990. Up her in WY? They pull you over to ticket you for 4 mph over the speed limit and he has 1 ticket and 4 warnings since 2011, they never blink an eye when tells first thing there is a firearm in the truck. Transparency is interesting to me.
I used to be concerned with lists and didn't get my CCP for the longest time. Pa. is open carry, no permit required but I could never bring myself to do it. It's just asking for harassment from any number of places. 6-7 years ago I finally decided I didn't give a hoot about any list. I was plowing snow in the city and it seemed like there were shootings every couple weeks. Since I do my plowing in the overnight hours, I decided it was time to get my permit because having a handgun in a vehicle is considered concealed. I haven't been pulled over since I got it so I don't have any personal experiences to share. I did however, stop at the State Police stand at the Pa. Farm Show a few weeks ago. I brought up the subject of concealed carry to the trooper. He said he has never had a problem with a CCP holder during a stop. He said it actually sets his mind at ease knowing that the person took the time to go through the background check and obtain one.
Yep. They say the background checks are destroyed everyday. If you buy that...OK. but if you bought your gun or transferred through an FFL they keep that paperwork. The FFL. If one goes out of business or retires or surrenders license for any reason the paper work goes into ATF storage. So essentially the Government has it. All they have to do is pass some law requiring the turnover of background checks and most of the purchases in the last twenty years or so would be in the archives. A messy unorganized archive but they would not hold a list of every gun you had transferred in your name since the checks began. Far fetched....I dont think so. I'm past worrying about that though. I fear enough shadows and my government . I think we have at least another half generation as we know it for gun ownership till it changes...something similar to canada I fear...maybe a mix between their system and our current one?
Here in this state if asked to present your license if carrying you have to show your CWP and inform them. One time I was pulled for supposedly speeding officer was wrong on where the zone was . It was a warning so I did not say anything other than tell him where the real sign was he said it wasnt and I let it go. But I was right I saw it was there on my way home...he had me thinkjng they moved it? Anyway I wasnt carrying but showed or as he was looking over my shoulder when I was shuffling my IDs and I was sure he saw it so I gave it to him but told him I was not carrying. I am pretty sure your license is flagged with one when they run it though if you have one
In the interest of sharing- I was only a few months into being 21, so '88. I did something that caused a passing mailman to call the cops on me. So, I'm heading to the gunshop to pick up ammo, and notice a procession of marked/ un marked LEO's on my tail. I pull into the gunshop and on come the lights! When it was sorted out, we were laughing and comparing our favorite squirrel calibers. But, they ran a .41 mag I had with me. I'd picked it up recently from the wife of one of my fire captains. It didn't just come back not stolen, but they had all of her information. This was in Calif. Always wondered how they had all that information about her. Hmmmm....
Yup, it'll be bad once there's a full generation that grows up to voting age hearing how bad guns are everywhere they turn, and seeing our politicians and the New York Times vilify the NRA.
Education is key here. Take a kid shooting, make fun, make it safe, be patient, and answer any questions.
