TBalls
NES Member
I got pulled over while carrying late this afternoon (amazingly this is the first time) and I had a sort of interesting experience.
The officer approached the window and did the usual license/registration request, at which point I inquired as to the reason for the stop. Apparently my inspection was expired (stupid MA). After I handed over my registration he asked me if there were any guns/weapons in the vehicle. I calmly responded that I have my ltc and was in fact carrying. The following is a partially abridged (& paraphrased) transcript of what followed.
Officer: What are you carrying? Do you usually carry?
Me: Ruger LCR under my left arm. Yes, I almost always carry.
Officer: I'd like you to slowly and carefully hand me the firearm.
Me: Is there a specific reason?
Officer: I was trained in situations like this to take the gun so that while I'm writing a ticket I don't get a bullet in the head.
Me: I'm sorry but I don't feel comfortable given the circumstances to reach for my firearm. I'm also a certified instructor if that makes you feel any better. (it shouldn't, and I'm not sure that it did)
Officer: Please stay in the car.
After a long wait...
Officer: I'm giving you a warning for the expired inspection. It would have been a lot faster if you had given me the firearm. That way I could simply do my paperwork instead of having to write a line and look up, write a line and look up, etc. I saw the top of your LTC when you were getting your license, which is why I asked. I'm not trying to infringe on any rights; I carry every day.
Me: I understand and appreciate how you feel, but I just didn't feel that there was any safe way for me to hand the gun over.
And that was pretty much it. The overall tone was short of friendly but mutually courteous, and I appreciate that he stated his desire not to infringe. That being said, I find it generally disheartening that he says he was trained to disarm a law abiding citizen in order to avoid "getting a bullet in the head". I have nothing but respect for the job that police officers do, but that made me sad.
Oh yeah, and my kids were in the back seat. I had to explain why the nice officer felt the need to say that he didn't want a bullet to the head.
Not a bad experience overall I suppose (hey, only a warning!). It was just a strange mix for me; he was very non-confrontational with his tone but at the same time managed to make me feel like he sees a licensed carrier as an inherent unknown/threat.
Just thought I'd share. That is all.
The officer approached the window and did the usual license/registration request, at which point I inquired as to the reason for the stop. Apparently my inspection was expired (stupid MA). After I handed over my registration he asked me if there were any guns/weapons in the vehicle. I calmly responded that I have my ltc and was in fact carrying. The following is a partially abridged (& paraphrased) transcript of what followed.
Officer: What are you carrying? Do you usually carry?
Me: Ruger LCR under my left arm. Yes, I almost always carry.
Officer: I'd like you to slowly and carefully hand me the firearm.
Me: Is there a specific reason?
Officer: I was trained in situations like this to take the gun so that while I'm writing a ticket I don't get a bullet in the head.
Me: I'm sorry but I don't feel comfortable given the circumstances to reach for my firearm. I'm also a certified instructor if that makes you feel any better. (it shouldn't, and I'm not sure that it did)
Officer: Please stay in the car.
After a long wait...
Officer: I'm giving you a warning for the expired inspection. It would have been a lot faster if you had given me the firearm. That way I could simply do my paperwork instead of having to write a line and look up, write a line and look up, etc. I saw the top of your LTC when you were getting your license, which is why I asked. I'm not trying to infringe on any rights; I carry every day.
Me: I understand and appreciate how you feel, but I just didn't feel that there was any safe way for me to hand the gun over.
And that was pretty much it. The overall tone was short of friendly but mutually courteous, and I appreciate that he stated his desire not to infringe. That being said, I find it generally disheartening that he says he was trained to disarm a law abiding citizen in order to avoid "getting a bullet in the head". I have nothing but respect for the job that police officers do, but that made me sad.
Oh yeah, and my kids were in the back seat. I had to explain why the nice officer felt the need to say that he didn't want a bullet to the head.
Not a bad experience overall I suppose (hey, only a warning!). It was just a strange mix for me; he was very non-confrontational with his tone but at the same time managed to make me feel like he sees a licensed carrier as an inherent unknown/threat.
Just thought I'd share. That is all.
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