M/SGT Williams from DPS on the JT Show

Did anyone listen to the JT Show today on Supertalk? Can you give us a run down of what M/SGT Williams from the DPS discussed? I missed it, but read about it here:

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?97623-M-Sgt-Eugene-Williams-Jr-on-Supertalk-MS-today-%2812-5-2011%29

Thanks.

Caught the end of it he was saying you could not carry in a CDL type vehicle saying it is against federal law (incorrect I believe) you have to unload your weapon to travel the trace even with a permitt, and your weapon must be concealed if you are carrying with a permitt saying we are not an open carry state.

Did not hear the interview so I can't comment but let me just say -

I was not impressed at all with the way DPS handled things after HB 506 passed.

I'll leave it at that

I'm looking forward to the Legislature doing some more tweaking of the bill

Ironworker wrote:Caught the end of it he was saying you could not carry in a CDL type vehicle saying it is against federal law (incorrect I believe) you have to unload your weapon to travel the trace even with a permitt, and your weapon must be concealed if you are carrying with a permitt saying we are not an open carry state.

You are correct. My dad retired from MDOT LE and I have a MDOT LE in my chruch. Me and the guy from my church talked about this very thing not long ago. It is legal depending on what you are hauling and what state you are in.

msredneck wrote:Did not hear the interview so I can't comment but let me just say -

I was not impressed at all with the way DPS handled things after HB 506 passed.

I'll leave it at that

I'm looking forward to the Legislature doing some more tweaking of the bill

Im with you there neck. I did listen to the interview however. The officer struck me as not very pro 2A. And he didnt seem to know the laws concerning carrying a firearm. I understand LEOs cant know every law on the books, but he is with the firearms permit unit. That being said...I dont mean to bash him. I thank him for his service to the State.

Yeah. I listened to some of it.

I was not impressed.

It amazes me how law enforcement officials seem to think they are lawyers---able to interpret the laws. I know one at work who is no longer in LEO work, and he frequently tells me things that he "knows for a fact" are laws---until I show him the actual statue.

And, no. I'm not a lawyer either.

tis a shame what DPS did to HB 506...

I was fairly excited about till DPS got into...It does not really resemble what our Legislators gave us...

But we talked about this before.

for that reason - I've chosen not to play their silly game...

The legislature really screwed this one up when they gave DPS the opportunity to make up the rules. Commissioner Santa Cruz and his bunch decided not to recognize any training or qualifications other than what they dictate. I am a retired Law enforcement officer and was certified as a Police firearms instructor, patrol rifle instructor and long range rifle instructor, but according to the commissioner and Msgt Williams that does not qualify me for an enhanced permit and I would have to pay some civilian instructor $100 to certify me.I have talked with my state senator and represenative about this and they both agree that it is beyond ridiculous and say that it will be fixed in the upcoming session. After 30 years on the street and many years training police officers in the use of firearms, I don't believe that I need additional training to qualify for an enhanced permit. Hopefully the legislature will fix it in the 2012 session.

charlie2t wrote:The legislature really screwed this one up when they gave DPS the opportunity to make up the rules. Commissioner Santa Cruz and his bunch decided not to recognize any training or qualifications other than what they dictate. I am a retired Law enforcement officer and was certified as a Police firearms instructor, patrol rifle instructor and long range rifle instructor, but according to the commissioner and Msgt Williams that does not qualify me for an enhanced permit and I would have to pay some civilian instructor $100 to certify me.I have talked with my state senator and represenative about this and they both agree that it is beyond ridiculous and say that it will be fixed in the upcoming session. After 30 years on the street and many years training police officers in the use of firearms, I don't believe that I need additional training to qualify for an enhanced permit. Hopefully the legislature will fix it in the 2012 session.

I felt the same way, having both Military and police firearms training and experience..I took the course, found it interesting, but way below my prior training and experience.

Ironworker wrote:.... you have to unload your weapon to travel the trace even with a permitt...

Also not true since July 1, 2010 even according to Natchez Trace website

And of course, open carry is indeed legal with a permit, and arguably without one.

Yeah I think prior week long training sessions at renowned places like Thunder Ranch, Gunsite and Rangemaster in Memphis should have counted.

I understand the skills are somewhat perishable but golly ge whiz...and you have to re-certify every time your permit expires every 4 years...

what a "gravey train" for the insructors...

Sorry Cliff - Not meant at you personally...I'm not opposed to training...far from it...but I'm still mad at the way HB 506 implemented

Since I don't frequent schools, bars or courthouses - I'll stick my gun in my pocket and go to church and pretty much anywhere else I damn near please....cept work Gotta eat...

What confuses me is even though our state constitution says we can openly bear arms with no permitt, we are told carrying an exposed handgun on our side is concealed in part and requires a permitt. Then we are told if we carry with our permitt we have to carry concealed. I According to the law is there a way for it not to be concealed?

The problem is that the "legal opinion" on the matter is a comment in an opinion from a MS Supreme Court justice that really was not addressing open carry. I believe that if it went to trial the prosecution would be hard pressed to say that a clearly visible weapon was concealed. But honestly, I dont want to be a test case

Ironworker wrote:Caught the end of it he was saying you could not carry in a CDL type vehicle saying it is against federal law (incorrect I believe) you have to unload your weapon to travel the trace even with a permitt, and your weapon must be concealed if you are carrying with a permitt saying we are not an open carry state.

There is NO LAW prohibiting the carry of a firearm in a commercial vehicle.
This is an outright misinformation by people who don't know spit about CMV or the FMCSA rules.

I carry in ALL States in my truck.

In States where my permit is not honored, and in ILLINOIS, I just use the Firearm Owners Protection Act law and unload it/lock in box/ out of driver compartment.

Too many companies also spread this LIE about carying firearms to drivers as well.

The ONLY thing in FMCSR about firearms is in the HAZMAT section.
It ststes that LOADED firearms cannot be carried AS CARGO.