Police pull you over and ask if you have guns in the car, what can you answer?

VigilantesLiberi

VigilantesLiberi

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According to my basic safety class instructor, if a cop pulls you over, and you are still inside your car, then you can legally tell them "No", even if you have guns in the car or on your body.

If the cop then tells you to step outside, you will have to tell them you have a gun, keep your hands away from it and hope the officer is having a good day overall.

Thoughts?
 
"Do you have firearms in the car?"
"Are you asking if I have more than one firearm in the car? No, I don't."
"Do you have any guns in the car?"
"Do I look like the kind of guy who would carry just any old gun?"
"Are you some kind of wiseass?"
"I think we've established that."
"Step out of the car."
"Wait, am I being detained? Am I free to go?"
[tazer sounds]
 
OnTheRoad said:
What state is this happening in?

www.usacarry.com

A Rundown of "Duty To Inform" Laws in All 50 States

By James England – Republished with Permission from Concealed Nation. If you followed a previous article where we highlighted the plight of Brian
www.usacarry.com www.usacarry.com
(Note: Old link but you get the idea.)
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MA. So according to that link, it's a "Yes". If a cop asks you, whether you're inside or outside of your car in MA, then you have to tell them the truth. Am I reading this correctly?
 
I've been driving since 1976. In that time, I've been stopped in the following states:
  • IL three times
  • NY once
  • NJ once
  • WV once
  • MA five times
  • KS once
The number of times I've been asked if there are firearms in the car: zero.
 
VigilantesLiberi said:
MA. So according to that link, it's a "Yes". If a cop asks you, whether you're inside or outside of your car in MA, then you have to tell them the truth. Am I reading this correctly?
Click to expand...
Duty to inform is different from not being able to lie to a cop.

Mass is not duty to inform.
If you have an interaction with LEO, you have no legal duty to inform the officer that you are armed.
However, it an officer demands to see your LTC you must produce it, carrying or not.

If an officer asks you if you are armed, you have no duty to respond in Mass.
If you do respond it must be a truthful response. You give a misleading statement as long as the statement is objectively truthful.
 
pastera said:
Duty to inform is different from not being able to lie to a cop.

Mass is not duty to inform.
If you have an interaction with LEO, you have no legal duty to inform the officer that you are armed.
However, it an officer demands to see your LTC you must produce it, carrying or not.

If an officer asks you if you are armed, you have no duty to respond in Mass.
If you do respond it must be a truthful response. You give a misleading statement as long as the statement is objectively truthful.
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Thanks, this makes sense. So either tell the truth yes or no, or just try the "I cant answer that, sir"?
 
VigilantesLiberi said:
Thanks, this makes sense. So either tell the truth yes or no, or just try the "I cant answer that, sir"?
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When you say "I can't answer that" you are answering the question in the affirmative and showing forceful non-compliance.

Avoiding the question completely by just handing over your documents and saying "I believe everything you need is there, officer" or "here are my documents, there is nothing illegal in my car, sir" is noncommittal and if said properly is just you answering the question you assumed the officer asked and you weren't 100% paying attention to.
 
pastera said:
When you say "I can't answer that" you are answering the question in the affirmative and showing forceful non-compliance.

Avoiding the question completely by just handing over your documents and saying "I believe everything you need is there, officer" or "here are my documents, there is nothing illegal in my car, sir" is noncommittal and if said properly is just you answering the question you assumed the officer asked and you weren't 100% paying attention to.
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99% of the time the cop will repeat the question if you do that. He can ask me for all my papers, get them from me, then ask about guns multiple times.
 
Depends on the state. I was asked once in MA, I assume because it comes up when they run your plates, and I told the truth. I have a pistol in my appendix and I'm gonna keep my hands on the wheel. Want my license? It's in my wallet in my front pocket, I'm gonna pull it out slowly with 2 fingers. Cop wasn't even worried, I wasn't stressed so he was fine.

You must disclose in KY if asked during a traffic stop. Some states you're required to disclose immediately without being adked. Although that would be a dick move to enforce IMO, not everyone's gonna know that stupid law.
 
VigilantesLiberi said:
99% of the time the cop will repeat the question if you do that. He can ask me for all my papers, get them from me, then ask about guns multiple times.
Click to expand...
And?
You can hand the guy your LTC and tell him that if you are carrying, you are doing so legally and safely.
Or if your response was that you have nothing illegal in the car you can just ask the officer why he is insisting after you already answered that there is nothing illegal.
 
VigilantesLiberi said:
I'm going to go with this response 100% if I ever get pulled over and asked.
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When my youngest daughter was born the Doctor asked if I wanted to cut the chord. I quoted Bobcat Goldthwait and asked if they would knock something off of the bill.
 
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