Posted: 11/7/2005 3:54:04 PM EDT
| Question for Cops. I live in area where Open Carry is legal. How does LEO react if he sees someone carrying openly out and about in town? Ive never seen it once here but I hear its acceptable in other states. |
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You will find that the answer will vary greatly depending on what part of the country you are in. MA Laws do not expressly prohibit open carry (although you need a permit to possess ANYTHING - guns, ammo, mags, components, etc.), doing so in any part of the state will usually result in a police inquiry, loss of your license and perhaps being charged with some bullshit violation. Lots of hassle at best, not worth it unless you have a LE badge right beside the gun on your belt. NH is legal, but trying it in some of the Southern cities will get you hassled. etc. |
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I don't stop anybody for carrying openly, I just give them extra attention if I am near them. If I make contact with a victim who is carrying I don't do anything. If I make contact with someone other than a victim I take the gun away from them for my safety and theirs (I also explain that to them). i write a ticket or do whatever and give it back to them fully disassembled in an evidence bag. I like living in a state that is so gun friendly. Arizona is the last of Free America. |
+1 |
Agreed. I've never understood open carry. Concealed doesn't scream shoot me first. Being in uniform instantly makes you a target. I wish every state had CCW laws. The good guys would have a class and Police and good guys would have SOPs for interacting. |
Yes I'd watch you and might even ask a few questions. The reason is not what many people think. I'm not looking to harass you or to take away your rights. The real reason that I'll take a second look is because I don't see open carry very often. Anything that I don't normally see on a day to day basis I'll take a second look at. Has nothing against you though. For example, if I see you walking down the street in the middle of the night wearing dark clothing, I'm probably going to stop and talk to you not because you are doing anything illegal but because I don't normally see people out at that hour and because I'm wondering what you are up to. That's part of LE's job.....to take a second look at things that just aren't normal. Also, if you carry openly, people around you are going to get nervous and call the police and once we get called about you, we are going to be obligated to stop and "harass " you because that's what the caller expects. (I mean "harass" in a sarcastic way!)I'd recommend concealed carry because you don't want the bad person who is about to see your gun to have advance warning that you actually have one. I work plain clothes 3 days a week and I usually carry concealed because I have found that I get a lot less attention and I can go about my business without people looking at me. |
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Well, here in Virginia it depends on where you are. In my area, you would probably be ignored until someone called in a complaint (usually a N. Virginia transplant). Then we would have to make contact with you and "resolve" the call. It would be resolved as "10-8, no violation" as long as everything was legal. When dealing with armed citizens, I tell them to keep their hands away from their weapon while we are conducting business. Some officers are more comfortable if they take posession of the weapon and clear it. On the other hand, I prefer that the weapon stay in it's holster because I think it's safer to leave it alone. |
Not really an option for me as i am not 21 yet. I dont think Ill ever carry openly in town but it wont be a bad idea for when Im camping or hiking,etc. |
Why do you disassemble their firearm? If you pulled me over we would be buddies until you handed me a bag of parts. Not trying to dog you but that seems a little excessive. |
Not making a judgement (this is their forum), just an observation. I have to point out that the person is now more or less permanently disarmed (at least until they can reassemble that pistol). Sounds like a great way to seriously piss off one of the "good guys". I wonder if there is a law or statue that it is unlawful to lawfully carry a weapon within "X" feet of a LEO?  Disarming a minor violation under color of law doesn't sound like "Free America" to me..... |
+1 They get the firearm back at LEAST unloaded. I figure if they are a gun person, they can reload/put it back together. I’m not talking breaking it all the way down to "soup and nuts". At the most, slide off, etc. That way, if they ARE nuts, and want to "put a cap" in my ass, I have a few seconds to pull away. BTW, I have only ONCE had a criminal have a CDW card. Art in KY |
I do it because I can and thats what I feel safe doing. If you don't know how to put it back together you shouldn't be carrying it anyways. Lastly I'm not out looking to make buddies while I'm on the job. If I hand you a bag of parts it's because you did something wrong that brought you to my attention not because you were out minding your own business. |
If that were their intention then wouldn't they do that before they hand you their liscense? Unloaded I can kinda see, but field stripped? |