Informing Officer of Concealed Carry

[THEBrick]

I know the law states that you are not required, unless asked by the officer to inform them that you are carrying a concealed firearm.

In the instance of a traffic stop, should I advise the police officer that I have a concealed handgun permit?
Virginia law does not require you to notify the officer that you have a permit. However, Section 18.2-308.01, of the Code of Virginia, requires you to be in possession of the permit whenever you are carrying a concealed handgun and to display the permit and a government-issued photo-identification upon demand by a law-enforcement officer.
http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms.shtm

But what are your thoughts on this? Do you guys/gals inform the officer immediately? or do you reserve your right to keep quiet until asked explicitly?

[ShotgunBlast]

When I got pulled over a few months back I provided my CHP with my driver's license. The trooper glanced at my CHP and handed it back to me and didn't go beyond that regarding me carrying. This was a daytime stop so he probably didn't think anything of it, but I would imagine they'd like that kind of heads up during a night stop.

I think it's a discrete FYI without saying words like "gun" that could get rookie cops jumpy. It's an easy way to indicate that you're one of the good guys.

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[ShotgunBlast]

This video from Mas helped me during my experience.

http://youtu.be/dT-nePQuT-s

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[Palladin]

...rummaging around in the back room of VGOF...

http://vagunforum.net/post52491.html?hi ... ing#p52491

http://vagunforum.net/general-discussio ... 0concealed

[MarcSpaz]

Even though it.s not mandatory, I provide my permit.

Here is a thread discussing an encounter in May.

http://vagunforum.net/post195082.html

It went well.

[THEBrick]

Good info here, I have never seen this Massad video. He provides very clear and concise information on the topic.

I always thought it would be best to inform the officer as well. It seems like the most popular way of doing so is handing them the CHP with your drivers license. Seems that the police are more willing to let you go in a warning if you inform them that you are carrying.

[MarcSpaz]

As far as the warning goes... I think it might be that if you have a CHP, you have been vetted by the state as not being a bad guy. Especially if you are a tad older. You obviously don't make it a habit to break the law or you wouldn't be able to get a CHP. Throw in the mix that the LEO may not have ever seen you before, they may just give you a verbal.

Just an "I think"... but it makes sense.

Now, same LEO pulls you over a few weeks later... now you are a habitual offender. You can expect a ticket.

[M1A4ME]

A couple of years back I was stopped in Chesterfield County. The officer that stopped me was looking over my license/registration at the rear of the Jeep when another officer drove up. After a couple of minutes there was a pretty animated discussion going on that I couldn't hear very well.

I did hear the officer that stopped me tell the second one that he wasn't going to do anything about it and then the second officer stopped his side of the discussion and waited.

When the officer that stopped me came back to the front of my Jeep he told me that the next time I got stopped I should tell the officer I have a concealed weapon. I didn't bother to tell him I didn't, as I was going to work and we aren't allowed to carry them at work. I assumed that's what the loud discussion was about between the two of them. The second officer wanted to bust my chops, or worse, for not admitting I had a concealed weapon when I was stopped.

I could have been wrong, but that's just the impression I got at the time.

[WRW]

That doesn't make sense. If he knows you have a permit and assumes you are carrying, why inform that you are, or are not, carrying? Especially in a State that does not require it?

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[SHMIV]

My brother in law has permit. Last time he was pulled, the officer approached the window, greeted him by name, and asked him if he was carrying today.

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[MarcSpaz]

I've heard about instances like that. Makes sense. They run your plates, do a quick court record review to check for warrants... CHP adjudication pops up and dispatch says "vehicle registered to a one John Doe, no criminal record, no warrants, CHP holder".

[THEBrick]

My brother in law has permit. Last time he was pulled, the officer approached the window, greeted him by name, and asked him if he was carrying today.

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Seriously? without knowing the officer? hmm. Interesting. so if they are going to find out anyway when or if they have already looked it up. Really makes sense just to tell them...