Airgun, Car, Police

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I was stopped once here in Arizona for expired plates while driving into a somewhat "seedy" apartment complex to do some work. (my old truck fit right in)

The first thing he asked me was if I had a gun in the truck. I said "yes I have a hand gun under the front seat; it's in a holster as required". He put his hand on his gun and asked me to take it out, I showed him the gun then put it back. If I had had a pellet gun in the truck I would not have hesitated to tell him that too.

He checked my license, registration, and insurance, then went to rear of my truck and looked at my plate, he had misread the date, it was not expired after all. I was polite and answered honestly, which is always the best policy. He apologized for the stop and we both went on our way.
 
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Well, I truly envy you folks who live in gun friendly/accepting states. 

I do not. 

Wish I could leave, but I can't. 

Deranged media-programmed snowflakes as far as the eye can see here. They even see anything resembling a gun... you'll be perp-walked by the Swat Team on the evening news. Kid you not. 

Let me tell you just how deranged these folks have become: Some local kids have a pellet gun of some sort on my block and shot a few "for sale" yard signs (on empty lots). Next thing you know I have local PD knocking on my front door asking if I have "any rifles or airguns". I am very polite, but hell if I am going to tell them what I own without a warrant. So I play the "What's this all about anyway?". Cop is kind of a dick (surprise!) but eventually realizes I am not a neighborhood terrorist and leaves.

I'm sure one of my crazy neighbors knows I shoot air rifles in my backyard, saw the yard signs, flipped out and alerted the PD. (closest neighbor is over 100 yards away). 

So I think, well, glad that's over. NOT OVER. The PD sets up a IR illuminated camera on one of the properties a few lots over, strapped to a tree. Got the permission from the developer, apparently. It's pointing in the direction of my house and yard. WTF. Talk about a violation of privacy. Neighbors all talking about what the camera is there for... You can't make this stuff up. Now I can't even shoot in my own backyard.

A few days later a cop pulls up on my wife as she's pulling out of our driveway. Same crap. She's already anti-gun and barely tolerates my hobby, so I'm sure you can see what kind of schitt that stirred up for me. 

End result: I don't shoot my airguns for months on my property...ranges all closed for Covid, so I have to go out to the boonies to just shoot paper. ALL because some kids shot 2 "for sale" signs on empty lots on my block. 

Can you imagine LE putting that much effort and time into a yard sign with a couple of holes??? The hysteria is OUT OF CONTROL.
 
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an you imagine LE putting that much effort and time into a yard sign with a couple of holes??? The hysteria is OUT OF CONTROL.
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I remember in the L.A. riots they were nowhere to be found. They like to take it easy, at least in L.A. And easy tickets and convictions are the backbone of that. If you want them to solve a crime, good luck. If you want them to issue a ticket that could help fill the City coffers in its ongoing war against its citizens' pocketbooks, your dreams will come true in spectacular fashion. Whole towns are built on doing the easy and sleazy; not many careers are built on the usual dead ends of criminal investigation.
 
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Attitude and posture are the most important, I think. Window down, hands at 10 and 2, and a cheerful greeting. I have an extended cab pickup, and the rifle(s) are always in the back seat, usually in a hard case. I've only had two stops in the last ten years, and both went as smoothly as if I didn't even have them in the truck. In my opinion, most officers are going to be as relaxed and calm as you are. If not, keep smiling, and stay calm. If you've got to have a disagreement with a lawman, do it in court. Then again, things are different here in North Carolina than they are in some of our more liberal states.

James
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Exactly. Ten and Two and on the wheel until the officer decides he is comfortable. I have not carried concealed for probably 20 years but in Virginia they know if you ever did when they call in your tag. Those hands at 10 and 2 tell the officer that you are doing all you can to make him comfortable.

As for the officer who disarmed the driver and locked his weapon in the trunk. I don't believe that is legal. I don't believe the officer has a right to disarm you without your permission unless there is some probable cause existing. I would obey as you did, but I would also check it out to make sure he had that right for later reference. Some states may allow that others may not. When I did carry concealed I never was asked to even show the officer the weapon.

But how quickly can things go sideways? True story time again:

I am a HAM operator. I volunteer with my local health department for emergency communications service. We have been having a problem with one of our antennas. Last May I went to the health department to work on the antenna system. I was working outside the building. I checked in but apparently someone inside the building did not get the word and saw me back there and called the police. It was a sunny day and I was using a network analyzer to check some of the cables. I could not read the display and needed some shade but had nothing to cover myself so I could read it. Then I remembered I had my Ghillie suit in the back of the truck. I got it and threw it over my back and hunkered down over the wires with my analyzer. All is good. A couple of minutes go by and I hear, "Hey!". I figured it was one of the other HAMs and didn't even look up. I just said, "Hey!" back. A few seconds passes and I hear, "HEY!, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?". I thought, "Hmmm, better have a look." So I look up from the work and here is a deputy with his hand on his weapon ready to pull it... Training and experience kick in immediately... "Ok, lets get this guy talked down right now." Both hands in the air while I am laughing and saying, "Oh my. I see you need me to help you feel more relaxed. I am going to take this off my back and show you what I am working on, ok." Oh yeah, he would have shot me if I had screwed that one up. He was about as tight as the spring in a fifty dollar spring gun. Turns out he is a vet and had some bad experience with bomb makers in the middle east. Sometimes a little rough conditioning is all it takes to light the fuze. By the time we got done talking I had made a friend but imagine what might have happened if I had just jumped up and started reaching towards him?
 
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The PD sets up a IR illuminated camera on one of the properties a few lots over, strapped to a tree. Got the permission from the developer, apparently. It's pointing in the direction of my house and yard. WTF. Talk about a violation of privacy. Neighbors all talking about what the camera is there for... You can't make this stuff up. Now I can't even shoot in my own backyard.
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/8ft-Ornamental-Decorative-Garden-Windmill-Weather-Wind-Vane-Galvanized-w-Tips/132932714265?hash=item1ef3683f19:g:1cgAAOSwbQVepoBl

That should put a stop to that problem about the second time it fills up their memory stick.
 
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The PD sets up a IR illuminated camera on one of the properties a few lots over, strapped to a tree. Got the permission from the developer, apparently. It's pointing in the direction of my house and yard. WTF. Talk about a violation of privacy. Neighbors all talking about what the camera is there for... You can't make this stuff up. Now I can't even shoot in my own backyard.
Click to expand...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/8ft-Ornamental-Decorative-Garden-Windmill-Weather-Wind-Vane-Galvanized-w-Tips/132932714265?hash=item1ef3683f19:g:1cgAAOSwbQVepoBl

That should put a stop to that problem about the second time it fills up their memory stick.
Click to expand...

Haha! I love the occasional spoiler like this.
 
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Not saying anything is the worst advice, 

As an less than lethal dealer and Taser dealer And a after dark hog hunter have had multiple interactions with Local PD and Game Warden 

In Texas, Tasers are not considered firearms and can be carried without permits Texas also has an open carry law. My civilian Taser looks like a small 9 or 380 when holstered and can easily be taken for one. 
when someone purchases one from us we instruct them to always notify the officer right off that they have it and it’s location if they are going to carry the device in the glovebox we instruct them to carry the vehicles paperwork in another location and likewise if it’s on the hip to carry the billfold or paperwork Drivers licenses etc on the other side to insure your hands are not reaching on the same side or location as the device/weapon 

I hunt with big bore air and these things can look like a canon since most night time stops will have more than one officer with one one left and another on right side of truck I always insure to let them know my backseat has an Air Rifle and if I have my Taser on me tell them that also. I have a sun Visor pocket with all my paperwork in it so my hands never fall below the dash level 
Officers HATE surprises and expect anyone who chooses to carry to do so responsibly. This includes knowing how to properly “announce” the presence of the device 

As to an officer asking me to hand them a weapon never had that happen nor would I do so I would be glad to step out and allow them to remove it but I ain’t going to touch it, far to easy for another officer misunderstanding the situation to shoot me 

CYA and CCC 

Cover Your Ass

Calm Cool Collected 
and as another smart cookie added settle any disagreement in a courtroom not on the side of the road 
 
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There may be no problem with having a gun in the vehicle, though in that instance he probably would have been UCW if it had been a firearm as this was prior to Texas carry statutes. Even today though as the poster said above, "Don't show me yours and I won't show you mine." That did make me laugh.

The issue is in the way it went down. He didn't announce anything, he opened the glove compartment, reached for it, and picked it up on a dark highway while being stopped. Note that we didn't shoot him, nor did the K-9 enter the vehicle. He complied and all was well. That said, understand that once the red and blues go on behind you, by definition you are under arrest at that moment. Your freedom to do as you please has been suspended until you are released. As I said, I don't think we even cited him for the original offense. I felt he'd been through enough.

I can tell you that when I personally get pulled over, I turn on the lights, hands at 12 on the wheel, and when approached I announce where the gun is, and it has been with my insurance before so you can be I make sure they see everything.

Willie, I'm also a Taser instructor. Nice to meet you. Agreed. If you become obstinate you're not going to win. I get that there are some real jerks out there, but there is an old saying that you might beat the rap, but you're not going to beat the ride. It's just not worth being hauled in over something. Also, in some states, air guns are classified as firearms as are crossbows. Also in many city ordinances as well. Even here in Texas.
 
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It's clearly something you're very passionate about, that's fine. We all make our own choices. Also, by the way, I feel like I may have misled you. If I had a stockpile in the back, then no, I doubt I would bother mentioning it. What I was really referencing is if it's anywhere that is going to be near my hands. For example, in one vehicle I drove I would normally place my 45 and my wallet in the passenger seat under my hat. If I got pulled over I need to get my wallet, so I would explain. Aside from that, information is on a need to know basis. I just try to do it in a respectful manner. All too often your attitude is what can determine if you're given a citation or given a warning.
 
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I live in one of the remaining country bastions in Oregon. The cop would not care in the least and there’s a damn good chance I could have guns all over the car from target shooting and not have a single question asked about them except “where’d you head out shootin’ sir”. That’s one thing I love about it here. Common sense and the crazies are very easy to identify by looks in contrast to normal people. 
 
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I'm in Oregon too and there is a sort of "mind your own business" attitude here that I like a lot. Not hostile, just that most people don't think it's appropriate to bother strangers or tell them how to live or how much they suck. When I lived in California, unpleasant encounters on the street were routine. I don't even want to go back to visit LOL.
 
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I'm looking to move to the mountains, and Alaska, Wyoming, and Idaho are the logical choices for those considerations, though Idaho does have a state income tax. New Hampshire believe it or not is very favorable in many areas, but due to it's small geographic footprint, I'm afraid that it may not be good when kids have grand kids. Heck in Idaho, patriot groups line the streets with automatic weapons when trouble is threatened. Gun control there means using both hands.
 
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