AWA over at GunFreeZone shows us once again why you shouldn’t talk to cops, beyond what the law requires. In his post, he refers to a case where a cop initiates a traffic stop without any clear evidence that the target of the stop was breaking any laws. The target then hands over his license and his CCW, even though CT doesn’t require that you inform* a police officer that you are carrying a weapon. The cop then uses the fact that the target has presented a permit that the cop hasn’t bothered to verify to say that the target is likely committing the crime of carrying a weapon without a permit.

Ever since my incident in Orange County, Florida in 2001 where a Deputy Sergeant threatened to kill me when I presented him with my permit during a traffic stop, I don’t inform cops of shit. This is how it should go:

Cop: “Do you know why I stopped you?”

Driver: “No, I have no idea.” (Truthful. How do I know what he was thinking?)

Cop: “Where are you headed?”

Driver: “East on Highway 23.” (Again, be factual)

Etc. Don’t say shit.


* Title 29: Chpt. 529 Sec. 29-35 only requires that you present your permit if the officer is investigating a crime AND has observed you are are carrying a pistol or revolver. The law reads:


(b) The holder of a permit issued pursuant to section 29-28, as amended by this act, shall carry such permit upon one’s person while carrying such pistol or revolver. Such holder shall present his or her permit upon the request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable suspicion of a crime for purposes of verification of the validity of the permit or identification of the holder, provided such holder is carrying a pistol or revolver that is observed by such law enforcement officer

Categories: Police State

5 Comments

EN2 SS · March 20, 2023 at 1:24 pm

Please clarify that this advice is ONLY for your state.
In Texas and other states, we are REQUIRED to show our CCW license when asked for our identification.
https://mylegalheat.com/blog/concealed-carry-police-encounters-a-state-by-state-legal-guide/

    Divemedic · March 20, 2023 at 7:20 pm

    Unless you are carrying without a permit, then Texas doesn’t require that you inform. Also, even though TX law requires a CCW hilder to inform, there is no legal penalty if you do not.
    Now IANAL, but if there is no penalty AND the requirements of the law only apply to CCW holders, I probably still wouldn’t.
    What do you gain by doing so?

      SmileyFtW · March 21, 2023 at 5:24 am

      FWIW, in Texas the permit is no longer a CCW… it’s a License To Carry. I have found that informing an officer is good practice, mainly because when they run your driver’s license the fact that you have an LTC will immediately show up. Now that cop is likely going to wonder why you didn’t say so. I’ve been treated with respect every time I have been stopped and have informed… have had my permit since 1999.

        Divemedic · March 21, 2023 at 5:58 am

        It only takes one asshole with a badge to ruin your day or your life. See the link above about the Sergeant who threatened to kill me.

TRX · March 23, 2023 at 3:26 pm

My state, alas, *does* require that you inform an officer if you’re armed during an “encounter.” Which is defined as when they ask for your name or ID. Further, it requires that this be a verbal announcement; apparently you’re hosed if you’re one if the unfortunates who survived throat cancer or something/

Note this only applies if you have a concealed carry permit. Now that we have Constitutional carry, you don’t need no steenkeeng papers, and you don’t have to tell them shit… but the old law still applies to people with a CHCL.

I figure screaming “I’VE GOT A GUN!” over traffic noise might be counterproductive, so I just pass both cards over to the cop and stay quiet. I’d let the CHCL expire, except it’s handy when traveling to less-enlightened states.

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