Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Last weekend I was pulled over for speeding somewhere around Newport News. Officer approached the car, I handed over my gun and my license. The officer was pretty cool, didn't give me a ticket, just told me to slow down. But for some reason he insisted on putting my gun in my trunk instead of giving it back to me. I had no problem with that since he told me that I could drive down the road and take it back out. I did ask him though "what's the problem with just giving it to me?" He then stated "well I dont know you so I rather put it in your trunk." Now I would think that if I was going to do something to this officer that I would've done it before I gave him my gun and license and he cleared me to go on with my day. Is this typical when pulling someone over? Anyone else been pulled over and this happened to you?

Yep, you got treated pretty much like everyone else does who chooses to carry...sometime they will even drop your weapon on the road as they attempt to unload the mag...sometimes they never ask...you realize that here in VA you are not required to inform an LEO that you are carrying a pistol?

zephyp wrote:Yep, you got treated pretty much like everyone else does who chooses to carry...sometime they will even drop your weapon on the road as they attempt to unload the mag...sometimes they never ask...you realize that here in VA you are not required to inform an LEO that you are carrying a pistol?

No I actually didn't know I didn't have to inform them. Thanks for the heads up.

MJB927 wrote:

zephyp wrote:Yep, you got treated pretty much like everyone else does who chooses to carry...sometime they will even drop your weapon on the road as they attempt to unload the mag...sometimes they never ask...you realize that here in VA you are not required to inform an LEO that you are carrying a pistol?

No I actually didn't know I didn't have to inform them. Thanks for the heads up.

No prob...that law is different depending on what state you are in...some like NC have a must inform immediately law...here's a quick reference guide...click on the state to get a summary of the laws...

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Why did you give your weapon to the officer, You could have just informed the officer that you were armed, if you wanted to. I would not have surrendered the weapon if not asked to.

Not trying to beat the dead horse, but it's important for every gun owner to understand both the pro and con of this topic.

http://www.examiner.com/x-2782-DC-Gun-R ... ffic-stops

Handing him the gun without being asked seems like a quick way to a "misunderstanding", possibly the sort involving bloodshed. Second only to yelling out "I HAVE A GUN!".

It is my understanding that with a VA CCW permit, it automatically shows up to an officer when he/she runs your name through their system that you have a permit and could possibly be carrying.

40shooter wrote:Why did you give your weapon to the officer, You could have just informed the officer that you were armed, if you wanted to. I would not have surrendered the weapon if not asked to.

The gun was actually on my arm rest and he saw it when he came to the car. Asked me to hand it over along with my license. So I had no choice in the matter at that point. Now I know though what I have to do and what I dont have to do in the situation. I've owned a gun for only 2 years now and I've been ccing for only 4 months.

The simplest answer is...don't speed, but you already know that.

When the officer approaches, simply inform him that you are armed and ask how he would like to proceed. What happened in your case is not unusual and everyone leaves happy. Every officer will handle things differently. He'll appreciate your honestly though, which for you translated into a warning rather than a ticket.

I make it a point not to get stopped and havent been for a long while...if/when it happens I aint saying or giving anything unless asked to do so. Case in point...a few months ago I stopped on the road side off of an I-95 exit near Doswell to take care of business and pour myself a cup of coffee...it was probably 2:30 am and a deputy pulled up behind me and hit his lights...I had my parking lights on and turned my interior light on and rolled down the window...he simply walked up and asked if everything was ok...told him I just stopped to pour a cup of coffee and that everything was fine...he said ok and walked back to his cruiser and away he went...I'm certain he never called in my plates...absolutely no need for me to inform him I was carrying or anything else.

IMHO he was doing a great job simply because he saw me pulled over and stopped to see if I needed assistance - to protect and serve. We certainly need more LEOs like him. The only problem is trusting souls like that deputy will run into bad trouble sooner or later because of the 10% club we affectionately call scumbags...i certainly hope he doesnt.

Yep, you got treated pretty much like everyone else does who chooses to carry...sometime they will even drop your weapon on the road as they attempt to unload the mag...sometimes they never ask...you realize that here in VA you are not required to inform an LEO that you are carrying a pistol?

Really? The law must have changed. When i got my training back in '93, I was told that if you were CCW, you must inform the officer that you were armed and show him a copy of the CCW.

Has the law changed?

MJB927 wrote:
The gun was actually on my arm rest and he saw it when he came to the car. Asked me to hand it over along with my license. So I had no choice in the matter at that point. Now I know though what I have to do and what I dont have to do in the situation. I've owned a gun for only 2 years now and I've been ccing for only 4 months.

...wait...you had it on your armrest? please tell me it was at least holstered.

Why on your armrest. I would have also asked for the weapon with my hand on my weapon or had my service weapon out.
Bill

SgtBill wrote:Why on your armrest. I would have also asked for the weapon with my hand on my weapon or had my service weapon out.
Bill

I agree. There is one thing you never want to do at any roadside stop......surprise the approaching officer with a handgun that close to your free hand.... truth be told, thats exactly why he asked you to hand it over in the first place.

MJB927 wrote:Last weekend I was pulled over for speeding somewhere around Newport News..."well I dont know you so I rather put it in your trunk."

I guess i see his reasoning for putting it in the trunk. After seeing videos online about cops getting shot in the most crazy situations... Well, why take any chance. Let him drive down the road.

Not saying I would do this, but I suppose I somewhat understand.

baz wrote:

MJB927 wrote:Last weekend I was pulled over for speeding somewhere around Newport News..."well I dont know you so I rather put it in your trunk."

I guess i see his reasoning for putting it in the trunk. After seeing videos online about cops getting shot in the most crazy situations... Well, why take any chance. Let him drive down the road.

Not saying I would do this, but I suppose I somewhat understand.

Can I put the cop's gun in their trunk? I don't know them either. Just saying

This is called stupidity on her part and I am sure she has paid for it over and over along with a decent suspension. But again you can't condem all Police Officers for one stupid mistake the same as you can't condem one private citizen for one stupid mistake.
Bill

SgtBill wrote:This is called stupidity on her part and I am sure she has paid for it over and over along with a decent suspension. But again you can't condem all Police Officers for one stupid mistake the same as you can't condem one private citizen for one stupid mistake.
Bill

And yet Bill they have condemned the rest of us citizens by the acts of the bad few. On the basis of "Officer Safety" they deprive us of our Guns. This does not even speak to the issue of running the gun's serial number when there is NO suspicion that it is stolen/used in a crime. The officer by the simple fact of removing the weapon from the citizen's possession in my opinion has deprived the individual of his/her 2nd amendment right without due process. (No trial, No Jury) I have known many police officers, some even friends. However some officers I have met are just straight up idiots and how they manged to get through basic training is beyond me. I still contend that the safest spot for a firearm is in its holster. How many cases have you heard of a gun going off when it is properly holstered?

I've not been stopped while carrying and I'm sure I will sooner or later. I do not like the idea of handing my weapon (probably loaded as I'm sure they wont let you clear it) to anyone, even an LEO. What if he/she is not familiar with my particular pistol. What if I'm carrying a 1911 cocked and locked. What recourse do I have if they drop my weapon.

Here's the bottom line for me: I'm a CHP holder and law abiding citizen. I bristle even when I get pulled out for a random check at the Pentagon. I've gone through all the wickets for a CHP so why should I have to be treated like a criminal and surrender my weapon? If the officer has done their job they know who and what I am before they walk up to my vehicle.

Case in point. A buddy and I while in AZ went on a fishing trip. He lived on base. When returning we got stopped at the gate for a random search. I forgot about the loaded .357 under my seat, When asked if I had any weapons I said yep, a loaded .357 under the seat. They took my ID and the pistol. The MP made a phone call and a couple of minutes later handed me my pistol back..."sorry sir...we know who you are and you're free to go, however, we cannot allow you to proceed on base with the weapon..." end of story...I checked out and was treated with respect. They could have just as easily put me face down on the pavement with drawn weapons. Why cant it be that way with regular LEO here in VA? Otherwise, why even go through any checks for a CHP.

I realize I'm rambling, but I do believe these are legitimate questions deserving an answer better than "its for the safety of the LEO."