KenpoTex
Senior Master
This is one of two threads that I'm starting to discuss the topic of the interaction between armed citizens and law-enforcement officers. The other thread is located here: LINK
This is a topic that has come up in several threads recently and I think a general discussion of the topic (isolated from any specific incident) will prove to be interesting.
For the purposes of this thread, "armed citizen" means a citizen who has a valid concealed-carry permit and is armed (legally) at the time of the contact
The topic of this thread is from the citizen's perspective. In other words, how should the citizen act in the following general situations.
1. When the citizen is the "target" of the contact. This could be a traffic stop, a "stop" because the citizen meets the description of someone the officer is looking for, whatever. Basically any situation where you have done something or it is suspected that you might have done something. It should be noted that I'm only asking about situations in which whatever you did (traffic violation, etc.) does not make it illegal to be in possession of a firearm.
2. When the citizen is not the "target" of the contact but is involved in some capacity. Possible reasons for involvement could be that you are a witness to a crime, the victim of a crime, the person who initially called the police to file a complain, etc. Basically, you are involved but not accused/suspected of any wrongdoing.
Discuss your thoughts on how you feel one should proceed in the above situations. Obviously, some states have laws that mandate certain procedures. However, I'm looking for what you think is the "correct" way to handle the situation independent of what the law may or may not say. In other words if the law says you have to do "X" and you don't agree, explain why you feel the way you do.
LEOs, feel free to share your thoughts on how you would like/expect a citizen to conduct himself/herself for both general types of situations. DO NOT get into how YOU handle such situations as that is the topic in the other thread.
Discuss...
This is a topic that has come up in several threads recently and I think a general discussion of the topic (isolated from any specific incident) will prove to be interesting.
For the purposes of this thread, "armed citizen" means a citizen who has a valid concealed-carry permit and is armed (legally) at the time of the contact
The topic of this thread is from the citizen's perspective. In other words, how should the citizen act in the following general situations.
1. When the citizen is the "target" of the contact. This could be a traffic stop, a "stop" because the citizen meets the description of someone the officer is looking for, whatever. Basically any situation where you have done something or it is suspected that you might have done something. It should be noted that I'm only asking about situations in which whatever you did (traffic violation, etc.) does not make it illegal to be in possession of a firearm.
2. When the citizen is not the "target" of the contact but is involved in some capacity. Possible reasons for involvement could be that you are a witness to a crime, the victim of a crime, the person who initially called the police to file a complain, etc. Basically, you are involved but not accused/suspected of any wrongdoing.
Discuss your thoughts on how you feel one should proceed in the above situations. Obviously, some states have laws that mandate certain procedures. However, I'm looking for what you think is the "correct" way to handle the situation independent of what the law may or may not say. In other words if the law says you have to do "X" and you don't agree, explain why you feel the way you do.
LEOs, feel free to share your thoughts on how you would like/expect a citizen to conduct himself/herself for both general types of situations. DO NOT get into how YOU handle such situations as that is the topic in the other thread.
Discuss...