As a gun owner, you have a number of important responsibilities to keep yourself and others safe. If you plan on transporting or carrying a firearm in your vehicle at any time, it is imperative that you know how to react in the event that you’re pulled over by a police officer. After all, while there’s nothing wrong with carrying or transporting a firearm in your vehicle legally, there are some things you need to know for your own safety and the safety of the officer you encounter.
Know Your State’s Laws
Start with an understanding of your state’s “duty to inform” laws. In some states, you are legally required to tell a police officer if you have a weapon anywhere on your person or in your vehicle. In other states, you aren’t required to do this, but it’s generally a good idea to do so. Before you even think about getting into your vehicle with a firearm, make sure you’re aware of your state’s specific laws regarding this.
Don’t Make Any Sudden Moves
If you are pulled over, the best course of action is to pull over immediately, roll down your window, and keep your hands on your steering wheel until approached by an officer. By having your hands in plain sight, you’re showing respect for the officer’s safety.
Disclose the Firearm
Once the officer explains why you were pulled over, he or she will likely ask for your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. Before you reach for anything, this is a good time to verbally disclose to the officer that you’re either carrying a firearm or that there’s one in the car. If you have a concealed weapons permit, let the officer know that you are licensed, and also tell him or her where on your person the firearm is located without making any sudden movements or reaching for it.
Officers will appreciate your disclosure of the weapon and may proceed to have you reach slowly for your license, registration, and proof of insurance to continue with the traffic stop. This will vary from one officer to the next.
Offer Your Permit, if Required
There is a chance that the officer will also ask to see proof of your concealed weapons permit or firearm permit during the stop, so make sure to have this on you if you plan to carry a firearm in your car. Keep in mind that in most states, if you don’t have a concealed weapons permit, you will need to transport permitted firearms in the trunk of your vehicle. The weapon should be kept in a locked box during transport and should not be loaded.
Overall, being stopped by an officer and having a firearm in your car isn’t a huge deal so long as you’re legally carrying/transporting the firearm and properly disclose it to the officer. The most important thing is to know your responsibilities as a gun owner.
~ American Gun News
Isn’t this bull hockey!!! It was in the news recently that a man told the policeman that he had a firearm and the officer pumped several rounds in him. The best course is to simply answer questions and comply. Don’t say anything that is not an answer to a question. If you say you are armed without being asked, the officer will be much more unnecessarily nervous and preconditioned to shoot if you make a movement that he misinterprets. You are NOT safer with the officer knowing you are armed. You have put yourself at great4r risk. When you pull over, put your license and registration on the dash then put your hand on the wheel at 11 and 1 o’clock positions. Be courteous and serious. Don’t ask ANY questions like why did you pull me over or what did I do. The officer will provide you with that information. Only ANSWER questions. Volunteering information leads to complications in the stop.
Ray G.
You sound a bit like a liberal. “It was in the news recently that… pumped several rounds in him.” Seriously? I’m guessing you’re talking about the guy in the passenger seat who, while fumbling around in his pockets, announced he had a gun. While tragic, this should serve to illustrate the WRONG way to approach this situation. While some states require you to make an announcement, and others don’t… regardless, it’s how you address the situation. You should, if this applies, begin by saying you have a permit to carry. If the officer wants to know if you are in fact carrying, he’ll ask. If he wants to know where it is, he’ll ask. If you say it’s on your person, in a holster, in a pocket, in a purse, whatever, and he wants you to get out of the vehicle, he’ll ask. If he wants to see the weapon, he’ll ask. If he says he wants to take it from wherever you have it, for the sake of safety, as much as I dislike the idea of a cop handling, or unloading, my weapon, let him. It is better to be safe than to have him misconstrue your actions, and “pump several rounds” in you. Reaching into a pocket, or holster, or glove box, or console, WHILE announcing you have a gun, sounds like a sure fire way to trigger a shooting event. And no cop really wants to shoot ANYONE.
All you have to do is go online and do a web search for videos of cops getting killed in shootout, or cops getting shot during traffic stops, etc. Then, realize, and I can not stress this enough… these are the kinds of videos that cops are shown during training. I know. My son is a cop. They are trained to be ready to respond to a threat, in the blink of an eye. So, don’t be a threat.
I’m an Air Force retiree, as is my father. I can’t always carry, because my job forbids having a weapon at the location where I work. But, whenever I’m out and about, and not going to or from work, I’m carrying. I’m a patriot, and I’m an avid supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and I let it be known. I also have undying respect for law enforcement, and I will never put US in harms way. It just takes common sense. Have a nice day, and keep on carrying.
Having. Had several occasions to deal with hand guns in possession of persons during a traffic stop, as a now retired New York State Trooper,it is in everyone’s best interests to calmly advise the law enforcement officer of the presence of a licensed handgun and owner’s valid carry license immediately. Everything being legal subsequent events should be fine,
As a retired chief LEO I would advise you tell the officer if you have a weapon in the vehicle or on person. Some states have this linked to drivers license and if you are in one of those the officer will know it anyway. I am sure most officers will appreciate your volunteering this information. To think an officer is going to come at you with guns blazing is just ridiculous.
I’ve have asked the Sheriff and local police officer and they tell me even with the concealed carry permit but not carrying a weapon you need to inform the officer you have the concealed carry permit when you show your driving license. It makes it much easier on you.
Be aware that if there are other occupants in the car your firearm CANNOT be in the glovebox,the console,nor under the seat.It must be holstered and on your body.
That is not the case in Texas. The Deputy/Officer needs to be informed verbally first, then you must provide your CCL.
Ray G<< That's the most ignorant biggest load of malarkey I have seen spewed in quite a while.
MOST STATES require you to inform the officer that you have a firearm carried concealed if you are pulled over in a traffic stop and in MOST STATES the FACT that you have a concealed carry permit is LINKED to not only your automobile license but also to your drivers license. The LAW requires you to let the officer know and failure to do so COULD result in a felony on your part.
GO read the state laws where you reside.
I HAVE been stopped and followed state law and common sense as recommended in the article; Window Down, Hands on the Wheel and before the officer could even speak, I informed him that I was armed and had a Concealed carry permit. When Asked, told him it was in a IWB holster on the right hand side. When permitted to reach into my purse for my wallet to get my drivers license, I ALSO pulled my CCW permit and handed BOTH to him.
All went well, he smiled, I got a warning about speed limit and was permitted to go on my way.
Having been stopped on several occasions once for driving a vehicle that looked much like one suspected in a crime I found to be in my best interest to inform. However the way I was taught was to 1) pull over come to a complete stop put you’re vehicle in park and turn off the vehicle. 2) Roll you’re window and place both hands where the officer can see them at all tines. 3) Announce the fact that you are a concealed permit holder and that you have a fire arme and it’s location. 4) Comply with all requests from the officer.
Not only has this kept me from being shot on several occasions, it has also gotten me out of a ticket or two.
AMEN!