• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Did this police officer act correctly?

Did this officer act appropriately?

  • Yes

    Votes: 2 13.3%
  • No

    Votes: 13 86.7%

  • Total voters
    15
Total overreaction by the officer. He needs some retraining about his state's firearm laws.
 
Perhaps in your state there is an legal obligation to inform the officer? There is none in Florida.

No, it's not a legal obligation. I've also been taught to never get out of the car unless the officer asks you to do so -- there are ways to interact with cops to put them at ease, sort of, and ways to put them on high alert. That guy apparently wasn't taught the same things I was. (Having nothing to do with carrying, btw. I was taught that, probably, in high school.

You know, if it's night time, Dome light on. Don't rummage. Both hands on the steering wheel. Stay in the car...
 
I don't blame the cop. The guy had an opportunity to tell the cop he was carrying and didn't do so. THE COP SAW THE GUN. "Oh, by the way, sir, do you have a license to carry that firearm?" Really? You expect a cop to do that?
I don't. He did just fine.
Either we have the right to carry or we do not.

If we do have the right to carry then the officer has to expect that some citizens will exercise their right.

Additionally if we do have the right to carry then what the officer did is contrary to that right.
 
I will just leave this. This is in Florida, where concealed carry is legal. Also, per Florida law, he does not have to advise the officer that he is armed unless asked.



No. And that is a given. This officer reacted stupidly. I understand being on edge when a firearm is found and you weren't notified it was there. That is why I make a point to notify. Just to keep minds at ease.

But obviously he acted incorrectly.
 
"I don't care if you have a permit or not"

"Now what happened to your driver's license?" "I don't know, I gave it to you."


Sounds to me like this cop needs to make a visit to the Police Academy...to learn how to be a cop again.
 
The officer was absolutely within his rights to respond once the gun was flashed (yes...carrying concealed means carrying CONCEALED...when the weapon became exposed the officer was just dealing with a man with a gun). There was absolutely no cause to threaten to shoot him in the back and his language was certainly unprofessional. His RESPONSE was unprofessional. He SHOULD have had the man stand with his hands on the vehicle, cuffed him, removed the weapon, asked the man to produce his CCW, and then uncuffed him, returned his firearm, discussed with him his reasons for responding, issued the citation for expired plates, and sent him on his way. Could have been a pretty quick process.

If you are going to carry concealed you HAVE to ensure the weapon is concealed. And even if the law doesnt require it...its a good courtesy to hand the officer your drivers license and CCW IMO.
 
Aside from the f-bombs, I have no problem with the officer's actions.

I would agree though I'd add the "Or I'll shoot you in the effin back" was also waaaaay over the top.
 
In this case the charges against the driver were dismissed. The driver sued the deputy and those charges were also dismissed.

I don't have any problem with the charges against the cop being dismissed as he didn't actually do anything wrong but he should have received a whole lot of additional training because he also didn't do much of anything right.

Threatening to shoot someone in the "****ing back" because they are legally carrying a weapon certainly is something wrong, then fabricating charges against the man also seems wrong to me. I would think not only training would be needed here but a re-evaluation of this officers ability to work with the public, and a possible permanent desk job if he planned to stay with the police.
 
I hope this cop never comes to Colorado. He'll be a basket-case after running into all the people who are legally carrying an unconcealed weapon.
 
The officer was absolutely within his rights to respond once the gun was flashed (yes...carrying concealed means carrying CONCEALED...when the weapon became exposed the officer was just dealing with a man with a gun). There was absolutely no cause to threaten to shoot him in the back and his language was certainly unprofessional. His RESPONSE was unprofessional. He SHOULD have had the man stand with his hands on the vehicle, cuffed him, removed the weapon, asked the man to produce his CCW, and then uncuffed him, returned his firearm, discussed with him his reasons for responding, issued the citation for expired plates, and sent him on his way. Could have been a pretty quick process.

If you are going to carry concealed you HAVE to ensure the weapon is concealed. And even if the law doesnt require it...its a good courtesy to hand the officer your drivers license and CCW IMO.

If you carry on a regular basis you will, at some point, end up exposing your weapon. The only way to reduce the chance of exposure is to conceal in such a way that the weapon becomes inaccessible and then there's no point in carrying. You can use a holster bag but doing so generally looks out of place and it's nowhere near as convenient or as comfortable as it might look. If the law in your state is something to the effect of "concealed means not showing any part of the firearm under any circumstances" that's simply an unrealistic expectation and it should be treated as nothing less than a method for the state to circumvent concealed carry rules.
 
The officer was absolutely within his rights to respond once the gun was flashed (yes...carrying concealed means carrying CONCEALED...when the weapon became exposed the officer was just dealing with a man with a gun). There was absolutely no cause to threaten to shoot him in the back and his language was certainly unprofessional. His RESPONSE was unprofessional. He SHOULD have had the man stand with his hands on the vehicle, cuffed him, removed the weapon, asked the man to produce his CCW, and then uncuffed him, returned his firearm, discussed with him his reasons for responding, issued the citation for expired plates, and sent him on his way. Could have been a pretty quick process.

If you are going to carry concealed you HAVE to ensure the weapon is concealed. And even if the law doesnt require it...its a good courtesy to hand the officer your drivers license and CCW IMO.

It is not a crime to have an accidental exposure here. This is part of that reason I bet.
 
If you carry on a regular basis you will, at some point, end up exposing your weapon. The only way to reduce the chance of exposure is to conceal in such a way that the weapon becomes inaccessible and then there's no point in carrying. You can use a holster bag but doing so generally looks out of place and it's nowhere near as convenient or as comfortable as it might look. If the law in your state is something to the effect of "concealed means not showing any part of the firearm under any circumstances" that's simply an unrealistic expectation and it should be treated as nothing less than a method for the state to circumvent concealed carry rules.

Ive carried for 33 years. I can honestly say Ive never flashed a weapon in 33 years. But lets be honest...if you raise your arms above shoulder level and your gun becomes exposed, you are not carrying concealed effectively.
 
Ive carried for 33 years. I can honestly say Ive never flashed a weapon in 33 years. But lets be honest...if you raise your arms above shoulder level and your gun becomes exposed, you are not carrying concealed effectively.

The object of carrying, concealed or open, is to have ready access to a firearm should the need to use one come about. It is not to merely be as sneaky as possible while lugging a chunk of steel around. If you prioritize "hidden" over "accessible" you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. If the state mandates that you prioritize hidden over accessible then the state is putting you at a disadvantage.
 
It is not a crime to have an accidental exposure here. This is part of that reason I bet.
I didnt say he should be arrested for flashing his weapon...I said the cop should determine if he actually had a CCW and then send him on his way.
 
The object of carrying, concealed or open, is to have ready access to a firearm should the need to use one come about. It is not to merely be as sneaky as possible while lugging a chunk of steel around. If you prioritize "hidden" over "accessible" you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. If the state mandates that you prioritize hidden over accessible then the state is putting you at a disadvantage.
Not really trying to argue with you. Conceal-ability and accessibility is not that difficult. Its just not.
 
Ive carried for 33 years. I can honestly say Ive never flashed a weapon in 33 years. But lets be honest...if you raise your arms above shoulder level and your gun becomes exposed, you are not carrying concealed effectively.

I disagree. It REALLY depends on environment. I live in Florida. It was 98 degrees excluding humidity the other day. You can't dress well enough to cover all the time. Especially if you enter and exit vehicles. That kind of thing. My shirt got pulled up as I was dealing with my dog the other day. Someone at the gas station next to me saw my piece. He was a fellow NRA member though and told me. It happens. Rarely. But it does.
 
I disagree. It REALLY depends on environment. I live in Florida. It was 98 degrees excluding humidity the other day. You can't dress well enough to cover all the time. Especially if you enter and exit vehicles. That kind of thing. My shirt got pulled up as I was dealing with my dog the other day. Someone at the gas station next to me saw my piece. He was a fellow NRA member though and told me. It happens. Rarely. But it does.
I also disagree but this will be my last comment on it. Im REALLY not trying to argue.

I adjust my carry weapon and style to clothing, weather, environment, even locale. If I'm wearing nothing more than a t-shirt and shorts, my Ruger LCP in a pocket holster does just fine. Sometimes hip carry is just fine. Sometimes a shoulder rig or a belly band are in order.
 
Back
Top Bottom