Guns and Traffic Stops

Over in Gun Laws is a thread that I would like to hijack. So I thought I would start a new one here. The OP of that thread was telling about a stop that happened to him.

I would like to hear from others about the times they have been stopped with a weapon in the vehicle and also about Officers that have made stops and had to deal with weapons in the vehicle.

For example, I stopped a young man and his wife one night for running a stop sign. When I approched the car, he had the interior lights turned on and his hands were on the steering wheel. I could see a 1911 on the floor. He said that he did not want to do anything until I told him to. I said just dont move toward the gun and we will be fine. He produced his license and insurance. I gave him his ticket and he was on his way. Everyone was safe, professional and polite.

308th_sps

i've been in that situation multiple times. once, a guy came through a checkpoint with a para p14 ltd on his center console. it led to a nice conversation about how much we liked 1911's.

as far as traffic stops go, i've never been in a situation where i felt removing the gun from the average joe citizen was necessary. however, there were situations, such as when stopping the suspect of a crime or stopping a known criminal, where it was. it is all about attentiveness or situational awareness, using good positive communication, and using COMMON SENSE.

I have said this before. I have been through multiple stops and they all went very similar. One resulted in a ticket the rest did not.
When Blue lighted I find a nice safe place to pull over where we will both be out of danger, usually a parking lot. I turn on the dome light if it is dark and roll down the windows. I put my hands on the wheel fingers to the sky. I wait for the officer to come to the window before I do anything. The first thing out of my mouth is I am a CC permit holder and my weapon is located (wherever it is). I then wait for a reply. He usually asks for license and proof of insurance. I hand him that plus my carry permit. I produce that and usually I am on my way.
I have never been asked to produce the weapon or had any grief from the cops. Even when I get a ticket it is usually a polite exchange.

I know people will critique this and say that I am giving up rights blah blah blah, but I think that if I do everything I can to keep the cop safe and feeling comfortable things will go better. If it does go south all of my actions are on the dash cam so I have a fighting chance in court.

I got stopped in LA in January for speeding, 51 in 40. It was cold, about 30 degrees, and the office got on his horn and asked me to walk back to his car, so he didn't have to get cold. Well I have a CCP and had a pistol in my jacket pocket. I hung my arm out the window and motioned him forward to me. He came, and I informed him I had a gun in my jacket and had a CCP. He seemed alarmed. He tried to reach in my jacket and pull it out but couldn't. So he asked me to pull it out very slowly. I gave it to him and he held it way out in front of his body and held his head back like it was going to explode or bite him or something. Then he unloaded it on the hood of his car, and called for backup. When it was all over, he put the loaded mag and +1 bullet on the rear seat, and gave me my empty pistol, and told me not to touch it with him around.

It seemed like I was his first encounter with a gun, and he had no idea how to handle the situation.

I got stopped the other night in a roadblock leaving work. I had forgotten my CZ SP01 was laying on the passenger seat of my truck. The officer seen it and asked if it was loaded I replied jokingly well it ain't doing me no good unloaded, he laughed and asked if he could see it, I said sure but don't shoot me while I reached for it he laughed and said don't worry. He dropped the mag and jacked the round and handed them back to me and asked how I liked the CZ. We talked for a min and he handed me back my pistol and said have a nice night.

I was stopped recently in LA. After I pulled over, I placed my hands out the window, fingers spread. The officer was laughing as he approached and said I must be either a cop or a criminal. I told him I had a weapon, concealed and where it was. He told me to not reach in that area and we would be fine. He checked my ID, ran my name, and after we talked a couple of minutes, let me go on my way, with the usual warning to slow down..We both went home that night happy.

http://www.msgunowners.com/t15657-tips-when-stopped-by-leo?highlight=tips

I had started this thread. Don't know what happened to my first post but it said hands on wheel, lights on etc.

That's a practice I do anytime I'm at a roadblock, etc. No need to make the officer second guess what he is walking up to

sounds like good advice. i have utmost respect for all our leos, they need our prayers for wisdom and safety. .

Well I see nothing wrong here but what is being overlooked is the simple fact that Weapons carry in a vehicle is 100% legal permit or not ( so most LE would treat situation as if he knew there was a weapon in vehicle). So why unless I had the weapon out in the open would I bother to say a thing. Only and I say only unless otherwise asked by said Officer of the Law if asked to step out of vehicle would I consider saying anything( only if weapon is holstered on my hip).. If you are a permit holder your permit number is the same as your DL# so he could easily check if he cared to, which he dont. Please dont take this as a smart butt post as I am not smirking at all just stating my opinions to said subject. I dont think there is a right way or wrong way to deal with situation only personal preferences....

Savageshooter I could'nt agree more....They deal with all the scum and low lifes.............and dumbazz's!! Takes a special kinda person to work that beat.

As I understand it, when the officer runs your license, they will tell him you are a permit holder, and 99% of the time his first question to you will be, "Do you have a weapon in the vehicle, and where is it located?"

Given the likelihood of this sequence, I figure there's no point in making the officer feel like I'm withholding information from him, so I'll tell him right off the bat.

Last time I was stopped (Ridgeland PD, for an expired tag) the officer asked me where the weapon was, and when I told him it was in a holster, inside my work bag on the passenger seat, his only comment was, "Good."

I was stopped a few years ago by MHP. I did not initially volunteer that I had a weapon but when he asked for proof of insurance I responded, "Sir, I am going to get my insurance card. However, it is located in the center console, directly beneath my loaded pistol." He replied that this wasn't a problem and it was my right to have the weapon. I thanked him for his response and explained I was advising him only to keep him from being alarmed. That was the end of that discussion.

gunluvinatty wrote:I was stopped a few years ago by MHP. I did not initially volunteer that I had a weapon but when he asked for proof of insurance I responded, "Sir, I am going to get my insurance card. However, it is located in the center console, directly beneath my loaded pistol." He replied that this wasn't a problem and it was my right to have the weapon. I thanked him for his response and explained I was advising him only to keep him from being alarmed. That was the end of that discussion.

and thats the way it should go...respectfully giving him the info when necessary, him respecting your rights, and no one got shot

powerstrokin06 wrote:Well I see nothing wrong here but what is being overlooked is the simple fact that Weapons carry in a vehicle is 100% legal permit or not ( so most LE would treat situation as if he knew there was a weapon in vehicle).

In MS. Not true in other states. MOST states you are required to inform a LEO immediately if you have a firearm in your vehicle, permit holder or not. It's easy to forget that not all states are as gun-friendly as MS. I know that of the states I frequent the most, MS, AL, LA, and FL, MS is the only one without the requirement to immediately volunteer that you have a firearm is MS.

My brother was stopped at a roadblock, showed his DL and ins card so everything was fine. He knew the officer and the officer knew that there was a high possibility of a firearm somewhere close. No one mentioned it until another officer, young and green, walked up on the passenger side and saw the Ruger stuck between the seats. He yells "GUN GUN" draws his weapon but does not point. This officer had gotten every officers attention at this point and all holsters were unsnapped and made ready. The officer on the driver's side said " It's only Joe ". All gathered around and removed my brother's gun, the officer repeated " It's only Joe ". They ran the serial # for stolen and next time he went through a roadblock it was yelled "It's only Joe " and every one had a big laugh. He was told to drive on without being asked for his DL.

As an M.P. In the Marine Corps I have conducted three traffic stops where a handgun was visible. Although in all three instances the firearms presence was a violation of base orders and led to apprehensions, I never did more than take a step back and unsnapped my holster. Then in a calm command voice tell them to place their hands on the steering wheel. My brother M.P.s from other places would conduct a full blown felony stop similar to the story in the other thread but without the unprofessional threatening coments.

jakeg823 wrote:

gunluvinatty wrote:I was stopped a few years ago by MHP. I did not initially volunteer that I had a weapon but when he asked for proof of insurance I responded, "Sir, I am going to get my insurance card. However, it is located in the center console, directly beneath my loaded pistol." He replied that this wasn't a problem and it was my right to have the weapon. I thanked him for his response and explained I was advising him only to keep him from being alarmed. That was the end of that discussion.

and thats the way it should go...respectfully giving him the info when necessary, him respecting your rights, and no one got shot

+1

94LEVERFAN wrote:Got stopped about 2 hours ago in Jackson. Test driving a vehicle owned by a local used car dealer. It was a repo with an expired tag. Got a ticket for that and no proof of insurance. Had a .45 between seat and console, concealed from view by my leg. Did not offer permit, he didn't ask. SOB was too busy writing to worry bout it. He didn't seem to care that the vehicle belonged to a CAR DEALER. Said I was driving it, I should have a tag on it. Never asked about weapon though.

that's good stuff right there, LOL.

seriously, however, i wouldn't worry about it. subpoena the salesman and there is a 99.9% chance the judge will dismiss it altogether if you haven't got it taken care of before the court date.

94LEVERFAN wrote:Got stopped about 2 hours ago in Jackson. Test driving a vehicle owned by a local used car dealer. It was a repo with an expired tag. Got a ticket for that and no proof of insurance. Had a .45 between seat and console, concealed from view by my leg. Did not offer permit, he didn't ask. SOB was too busy writing to worry bout it. He didn't seem to care that the vehicle belonged to a CAR DEALER. Said I was driving it, I should have a tag on it. Never asked about weapon though.

SOB? Please don't go there.

Thanks

308th_sps

94LEVERFAN wrote:Got stopped about 2 hours ago in Jackson.

I grew up in south Jackson but now I wish they'd build a bypass around Jackson! I have family in Byram and hate for my wife even pass through Jackson when I'm not with her.

EDIT: YES, while she's not yet a permit holder, she is, of course, armed.