Jets running back Chris Johnson was arrested after a Florida cop saw the handle of a gun between the running back’s feet during a traffic stop, police said Saturday.

Johnson, 29, was pulled over around 8:55 p.m. Friday by Orlando police after the athlete failed to come to a halt at a stop sign, cops said.

That’s when the cop saw the weapon.

Johnson has a license to carry a weapon in Florida, but was arrested because he was doing so openly, according to ProFootballTalk.

He was charged with open carrying of a firearm, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Quoted:
overzealous cops....Another example of cops not knowing the laws they are enforcing...Pretty sure the charge will be dismissed.

Quoted:
I've always been of the understanding that a gun can not be transported in a car in plain view.  As an example you can't place your handgun on the seat next to you when driving.  You guys stating that this is legal please reference the law that allows this!!  Who here thinks it's a good idea to have a handgun in plain view when a cop walks up to your car for a traffic stop?

Quoted:
I've always been of the understanding that a gun can not be transported in a car in plain view.  As an example you can't place your handgun on the seat next to you when driving.  You guys stating that this is legal please reference the law that allows this!!  Who here thinks it's a good idea to have a handgun in plain view when a cop walks up to your car for a traffic stop?

Quoted:
overzealous cops....Another example of cops not knowing the laws they are enforcing...Pretty sure the charge will be dismissed.

Quoted:
I thought the new law that was enacted in lieu of unlimited open carry offered legal protections for individuals whose gun was briefly exposed so long as it wasn't done in a threatening manner?

The grips of a handgun exposed due to its sliding forward from under the driver's seat of a vehicle being driven by a Concealed Firearms and Weapons Licencee should fall under that description.

This is one example of why we need true and proper open carry in this state, the new law intended to prevent such arrests for accidental and even intentional "brief" exposure of your gun notwithstanding, you can still be arrested for no damned good reason.

To simply jump to conclusions (as one reply insinuates) as to whether or not the cops on scene know the law or not is laughable as the article simply does not provide enough detail other than a guy ran a stop sign and a cop saw a pistol butt... if that were all there was to it, not only would I not have made an arrest I would not have allowed any of my deputies to make the arrest... that, I've also done before...

Quoted:
You just don't like someone, anyone saying some cops are bad, even though it's true, I have read enough of your posts to get it....I don't hate LE, I hate the LE that can't take the time to learn what they are supposed to be doing. You might in this instance I highly doubt they did.  Until YOU are on that other side your POV will always benefit LE.
As I said we will see....

790.001 Definitions.
(2) “Concealed firearm” means any firearm, as defined in subsection (6), which is carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person.

(16) “Readily accessible for immediate use” means that a firearm or other weapon is carried on the person or within such close proximity and in such a manner that it can be retrieved and used as easily and quickly as if carried on the person.

(17) “Securely encased” means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access.

790.01 Carrying concealed weapons.
(3) This section does not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm pursuant to the provisions of s. 790.06.

790.053 Open carrying of weapons.
(1) Except as otherwise provided by law and in subsection (2), it is unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his or her person any firearm or electric weapon or device. It is not a violation of this section for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm as provided in s. 790.06(1), and who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, to briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.

790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.
(12)(b) A person licensed under this section shall not be prohibited from carrying or storing a firearm in a vehicle for lawful purposes.

790.25 Lawful ownership, possession, and use of firearms and other weapons.
(3) LAWFUL USES.—The provisions of ss. 790.053 and 790.06 do not apply in the following instances, and, despite such sections, it is lawful for the following persons to own, possess, and lawfully use firearms and other weapons, ammunition, and supplies for lawful purposes:

(l) A person traveling by private conveyance when the weapon is securely encased or in a public conveyance when the weapon is securely encased and not in the person’s manual possession;

(4) CONSTRUCTION.—This act shall be liberally construed to carry out the declaration of policy herein and in favor of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes. This act is supplemental and additional to existing rights to bear arms now guaranteed by law and decisions of the courts of Florida, and nothing herein shall impair or diminish any of such rights. This act shall supersede any law, ordinance, or regulation in conflict herewith.

(5) POSSESSION IN PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.—Notwithstanding subsection (2), it is lawful and is not a violation of s. 790.01 for a person 18 years of age or older to possess a concealed firearm or other weapon for self-defense or other lawful purpose within the interior of a private conveyance, without a license, if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Nothing herein contained prohibits the carrying of a legal firearm other than a handgun anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the carrying of a concealed firearm or other weapon on the person. This subsection shall be liberally construed in favor of the lawful use, ownership, and possession of firearms and other weapons, including lawful self-defense as provided in s. 776.012.

Quoted:
I went through Chapter 790, Weapons and Firearms, and these were the statutes that I found would need reviewing to discuss this situation. But, as mentioned already, being he was carrying for lawful self-defense based off of being a holder of a concealed carry permit, but "may" have had the weapon where it was and how it was due to not understanding the statutes completely; an education would have been more warranted instead of an arrest.

This is only going off the limited information presented in the article.

Quoted:
The cop who arrested Chris Johnson should be fired as their story doesn't even make any sense. Interesting... did you get a copy of the report? Do you have more facts to share?  Cop asked for Johnson's consent to search the vehicle, but stated the "handle of the gun could be seen" underneath the seat (bullshit) Really?  I've seen plenty of items partially under seats, guns, knives, bongs, dope, pipes, etc..  Why would a cop need consent to search a vehicle if the gun could be seen? Because SECURELY ENCASED is a requirement of the law. Just because you can see the butt does  not mean you can see if the pistol is in a snapped holster, something actually mentioned in the law as it relates to what is "securely encased". Most importantly here Johnson HAS HIS CWFL, therefore the gun can be anywhere in the car so long as it's covered, which it was. The word "covered" is not used in FSS 790.25(3)(l) or (5)... "securely encased" however is. Big difference. Covered means nothing.  If the gun was inadvertently exposed it would also be covered by law. Yes, if securely encased".  AS SOMEONE WHO WOULD NEVER OPEN CARRY, THIS IS WHY I SUPPORT OPEN CARRY.  This is total horse shit! Interesting position you're taking considering you were not there.  I'm generally supportive of law enforcement but this kind of thing leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/01/dean-weingarten/self-defense-tip-do-not-consent-to-a-police-search-of-your-car/

Quoted:
The cop who arrested Chris Johnson should be fired as their story doesn't even make any sense.  Cop asked for Johnson's consent to search the vehicle, but stated the "handle of the gun could be seen" underneath the seat (bullshit).  Why would a cop need consent to search a vehicle if the gun could be seen?  Most importantly here Johnson HAS HIS CWFL, therefore the gun can be anywhere in the car so long as it's covered, which it was.  If the gun was inadvertently exposed it would also be covered by law.  AS SOMEONE WHO WOULD NEVER OPEN CARRY, THIS IS WHY I SUPPORT OPEN CARRY.  This is total horse shit!  I'm generally supportive of law enforcement but this kind of thing leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/01/dean-weingarten/self-defense-tip-do-not-consent-to-a-police-search-of-your-car/