To inform or not to inform

[fyroc]

I recently go into a debate about whether you should inform an LEO that you have a firearm or not. This debate started due to this article.

http://speedsociety.com/how-to-info...-are-carrying-a-handgun-and-live/?source=dave

I use to be a firearms instructor when I was in Savannah. Nothing too big.. I worked part time at a range while I was trying to advance my dev career. One of our biggest questions was how to handle a traffic stop. My advice was this...

It's case by case. 90% of the time, if you are in a state where you do not have to inform, don't. By informing an officer you have a firearm in your vehicle you are creating a more stressful environment for both you and the police officer. The best thing to do, is to give him the information needed only for that traffic stop, take your ticket, and leave. If they ask if you have any weapons, I would respond, "I do not have any illegal weapons".

The other 10% of the time, you may want to inform. That 10% is when you are being asked out of the vehicle and the gun is on your person. Or when the vehicle is being searched.

What are your guys feelings?

 

[Laufen]

I recently go into a debate about whether you should inform an LEO that you have a firearm or not. This debate started due to this article.

http://speedsociety.com/how-to-info...-are-carrying-a-handgun-and-live/?source=dave

I use to be a firearms instructor when I was in Savannah. Nothing too big.. I worked part time at a range while I was trying to advance my dev career. One of our biggest questions was how to handle a traffic stop. My advice was this...

It's case by case. 90% of the time, if you are in a state where you do not have to inform, don't. By informing an officer you have a firearm in your vehicle you are creating a more stressful environment for both you and the police officer. The best thing to do, is to give him the information needed only for that traffic stop, take your ticket, and leave. If they ask if you have any weapons, I would respond, "I do not have any illegal weapons".

The other 10% of the time, you may want to inform. That 10% is when you are being asked out of the vehicle and the gun is on your person. Or when the vehicle is being searched.

What are your guys feelings?

In GA you don't have the obligation to inform. It's one of the only states in the union like that though. I would never bring it up unless asked explicitly.


Oh, and.........."am I being detained?"

 

[AtlMedic]

I recently go into a debate about whether you should inform an LEO that you have a firearm or not. This debate started due to this article.

http://speedsociety.com/how-to-info...-are-carrying-a-handgun-and-live/?source=dave

I use to be a firearms instructor when I was in Savannah. Nothing too big.. I worked part time at a range while I was trying to advance my dev career. One of our biggest questions was how to handle a traffic stop. My advice was this...

It's case by case. 90% of the time, if you are in a state where you do not have to inform, don't. By informing an officer you have a firearm in your vehicle you are creating a more stressful environment for both you and the police officer. The best thing to do, is to give him the information needed only for that traffic stop, take your ticket, and leave. If they ask if you have any weapons, I would respond, "I do not have any illegal weapons".

The other 10% of the time, you may want to inform. That 10% is when you are being asked out of the vehicle and the gun is on your person. Or when the vehicle is being searched.

What are your guys feelings?

I agree with your statement. No need to bring it up if not asked.

 

[shootin4fun]

Only if asked is what my LEO friends say.

 

[AirOpsMgr]

I recently go into a debate about whether you should inform an LEO that you have a firearm or not. This debate started due to this article.

http://speedsociety.com/how-to-info...-are-carrying-a-handgun-and-live/?source=dave

I use to be a firearms instructor when I was in Savannah. Nothing too big.. I worked part time at a range while I was trying to advance my dev career. One of our biggest questions was how to handle a traffic stop. My advice was this...

It's case by case. 90% of the time, if you are in a state where you do not have to inform, don't. By informing an officer you have a firearm in your vehicle you are creating a more stressful environment for both you and the police officer. The best thing to do, is to give him the information needed only for that traffic stop, take your ticket, and leave. If they ask if you have any weapons, I would respond, "I do not have any illegal weapons".

The other 10% of the time, you may want to inform. That 10% is when you are being asked out of the vehicle and the gun is on your person. Or when the vehicle is being searched.

What are your guys feelings?

Even though GA does not require notification, I still do it (a lot of my family, back in another state that requires it, are LEO and we've discussed this many times).

In the 3 encounters I've had here in GA, I've put my hands on the door sill, LEO approaches and I advise that I have a firearm at my 3 O'clock and have my GA permit; they then ask me what department I work for, I advise I'm not LEO and they then say okay, just need your license real quick.

That said, I have had the "what if" conversation with my LEO family as to what to do if you run across a newbie, fresh-out of POST, their response; yeah, good luck.....

 

[karlvv]

I would take it case by case, but if it becomes such an issue, you might want to take a driving class.

 

[AirOpsMgr]

I would take it case by case, but if it becomes such an issue, you might want to take a driving class.

Unless you live in a area like I do where they throw up road-side safety checks every July 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day...

 

[karlvv]

Unless you live in a area like I do where they throw up road-side safety checks every July 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day...

That dont bother me. I'm too drunk to drive on those days.

 

[fyroc]

These days I never even see a cop. I dont leave the house because I dont want to lose parking.

 

[AirOpsMgr]

These days I never even see a cop. I dont leave the house because I dont want to lose parking.

Well, then you don't have anything to worry about!

 

[Jake]

I'm not giving any more info than necessary.

 

[Mac11FA]

Don't ask don't tell. If they do not specifically asked, then I don't say anything.

 

[Huddy]

Knock on wood, it's been a long time since I've been pulled over so I have no experience with the situation. However, a cousin in Ohio has told me both times he was pulled over he was first asked if he was carrying a weapon that day. Sounds like they pull carry license info when they run plates there. Anyone ever heard of that down here?

 

[Red Dawn]

I don't think it's a problem here for law abiding citizens. I've never offered up any info and have never been asked either. Now if your asked to exit the vehicle then you might want to offer up some info as to not cause panic when it's seen by the officer.

 

[Huddy]

I don't think it's a problem here for law abiding citizens. I've never offered up any info and have never been asked either. Now if your asked to exit the vehicle then you might want to offer up some info as to not cause panic when it's seen by the officer.

I switched my wallet carry pocket so that it's not on my weapon side for this reason. I guess, if asked to exit the vehicle, I would inform the officer of the location of my firearm and my wallet so there would be no confusion as to which I was reaching for. Are officers allowed to remove your firearm from your possession during a stop? I've always wondered that as I would have serious apprehension about allowing them to take possession of my weapon.

 

[Red Dawn]

I switched my wallet carry pocket so that it's not on my weapon side for this reason. I guess, if asked to exit the vehicle, I would inform the officer of the location of my firearm and my wallet so there would be no confusion as to which I was reaching for. Are officers allowed to remove your firearm from your possession during a stop? I've always wondered that as I would have serious apprehension about allowing them to take possession of my weapon.

Once notified they can in fact run a check to see if it's stolen is all I think since we don't register in GA