For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

Most CHL/LEO contacts are positive, how about yours? Bloopers are fun, but no names please, if it will cause a LEO problems!

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treadlightly
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For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#1

Post by treadlightly »

I had a situation with a homeless fellow camping out in a shed at a business we have an interest in. I had a good idea who it was, an affable, intellectual fellow who happens to have no home at the moment. If I had known he was the one behind the closed shed door I would have had no reluctance to just walk in and talk to him.

My inner Sherlock told me from the particular condition of the padlock on the door's sliding latch there was someone inside. My inner Sherlock could only tell me it was probably a friendly homeless guy. No guarantees. It was after dark.

I called the police. Two officers met me outside our fence. I explained the likelihood of this being a friendly person, and I said that for full disclosure, even though they probably wouldn't have known, I had a CHL and a weapon.

One of the officers grunted, and said, "Doesn't bother me. I wish more law abiding citizens would carry."

Then he turned to his partner and asked, "You got a problem with it?"

The other officer cocked his head, one eye squinted a little, and said, "Maybe I do."

Ok, I was thinking, maybe don't ask don't tell has its merits. "I will gladly defer to your judgement. I just didn't want to hide anything from you."

He leaned toward me and asked, "It's not a Hi-Point, is it?"

No sir, it's a Kahr PM9.

The homeless guy, the friendly offbeat intellectual, got a few more minutes of lodging. First things first - we chatted about guns and triggers and all sorts of stuff like the officer's own Kahr PM40.

And best of all, the whole encounter was friendly, no belligerence on anyone's part, and I had an opportunity to evangelize the power of the American Dream to a homeless guy who isn't on drugs and really could turn his life around.

RHenriksen
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#2

Post by RHenriksen »

LOL! Great story, thanks :biggrinjester:
I'll quit carrying a gun when they make murder and armed robbery illegal

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doncb
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#3

Post by doncb »

treadlightly wrote:---- Snip -----
He leaned toward me and asked, "It's not a Hi-Point, is it?"
I resent the implication of that. I have a Hi-Point. I figure it is heavy enough to split a skull open if I hit someone with it. :anamatedbanana :anamatedbanana
If you're standing still, you're loosing.

vjallen75
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#4

Post by vjallen75 »

we need a like button
Vence
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I have contact my state rep., Jonathan Stickland, about supporting HB 560. Fine out who represents you, here.
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goose
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#5

Post by goose »

vjallen75 wrote:we need a like button
^^this^^ :-)
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OldCurlyWolf
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#6

Post by OldCurlyWolf »

vjallen75 wrote:we need a like button
We do have this:

:thumbs2:
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I don't do those things to other people and I require the same of them.

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ELB
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#7

Post by ELB »

He leaned toward me and asked, "It's not a Hi-Point, is it?"
That's pretty funny. :mrgreen:
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TxRVer
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#8

Post by TxRVer »

:thumbs2:
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bblhd672
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#9

Post by bblhd672 »

treadlightly wrote:I had a situation with a homeless fellow camping out in a shed at a business we have an interest in. I had a good idea who it was, an affable, intellectual fellow who happens to have no home at the moment. If I had known he was the one behind the closed shed door I would have had no reluctance to just walk in and talk to him.

My inner Sherlock told me from the particular condition of the padlock on the door's sliding latch there was someone inside. My inner Sherlock could only tell me it was probably a friendly homeless guy. No guarantees. It was after dark.

I called the police. Two officers met me outside our fence. I explained the likelihood of this being a friendly person, and I said that for full disclosure, even though they probably wouldn't have known, I had a CHL and a weapon.

One of the officers grunted, and said, "Doesn't bother me. I wish more law abiding citizens would carry."

Then he turned to his partner and asked, "You got a problem with it?"

The other officer cocked his head, one eye squinted a little, and said, "Maybe I do."

Ok, I was thinking, maybe don't ask don't tell has its merits. "I will gladly defer to your judgement. I just didn't want to hide anything from you."

He leaned toward me and asked, "It's not a Hi-Point, is it?"

No sir, it's a Kahr PM9.

The homeless guy, the friendly offbeat intellectual, got a few more minutes of lodging. First things first - we chatted about guns and triggers and all sorts of stuff like the officer's own Kahr PM40.

And best of all, the whole encounter was friendly, no belligerence on anyone's part, and I had an opportunity to evangelize the power of the American Dream to a homeless guy who isn't on drugs and really could turn his life around.
:lol:: :thumbs2:
The left lies about everything. Truth is a liberal value, and truth is a conservative value, but it has never been a left-wing value. People on the left say whatever advances their immediate agenda. Power is their moral lodestar; therefore, truth is always subservient to it. - Dennis Prager

Abraham
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#10

Post by Abraham »

treadlightly,

Why did you feel the need to tell the officers about being lawfully armed?

I don't understand.

I'm not being ugly, I just don't understand why you felt compelled to tell them about being armed.

What am I missing?

Thanks!

Topic author
treadlightly
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#11

Post by treadlightly »

Abraham wrote:treadlightly,

Why did you feel the need to tell the officers about being lawfully armed?

I don't understand.

I'm not being ugly, I just don't understand why you felt compelled to tell them about being armed.

What am I missing?

Thanks!
A good thought, and good advice to be discreet. This was different from a traffic stop. I called them to ask for an escort into a possible confrontation. In fact, during their first few minutes with the homeless guy, their guns were holstered but they had their hands on them. Very safe, both for them and the homeless guy. I stood back, out of the way, until the conversation proved cordial.

Also, this was a department known to be respectful and friendly.

I would do the same for any law enforcement officer, known quantity or not, in this sort of situation. I asked them to help me check the shed. I believe in a situation where a citizen asks for a team effort with the police, cards on the table is probably best. That, and don't give any "stupid" vibes.

In a traffic stop, I would show the nice officer three things - my DL, my CHL, and a sunny disposition. If asked about guns, I would be completely truthful but I would let the officer lead the verbal part of the dialog.

wil
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#12

Post by wil »

Did they ask you for ID when they arrived to confirm you're the individual who called them? If so, I might offer my CHL at that time along with my drivers license but not verbally say I'm armed, just let the officers speak or continue things as they see fit at that point.

My own thinking is when dealing with LE and I'm legally armed at the time, perhaps offer the CHL if it seems appropriate but do not verbally say "I have a gun" until you know what type of LE you're dealing with.
It seems offering a CHL to most LE nowadays lets them know what they need to know about yourself and even if you're armed, the CHL puts their mind at ease.


There are bonafide LE on this forum, their thoughts on the most constructive 'how-to' in a situation such as this?

Soccerdad1995
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#13

Post by Soccerdad1995 »

I see this as different than something like a random encounter with a LEO, where I would be inclined to not tell the officer whether I was armed. In this case, the OP is facing a potentially dangerous situation and there is a (small) possibility that he might actually need to use his weapon. Given that possibility, if it was me, I would definitely want to make sure the officer was not shocked by the sight of my gun.
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The Annoyed Man
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#14

Post by The Annoyed Man »

goose wrote:
vjallen75 wrote:we need a like button
^^this^^ :-)
How about this?
Image
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"

#TINVOWOOT

vjallen75
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Re: For full disclosure, officer, I've got a gun

#15

Post by vjallen75 »

The Annoyed Man wrote:How about this?
Image
"rlol" THAT will work!!
Vence
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I have contact my state rep., Jonathan Stickland, about supporting HB 560. Fine out who represents you, here.
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