Pulled Over, And Armed
By Ron Mullins and Thom Bolsch
Constitutional Carry is now the law of Texas and goes into effect September 1st. That’s only a month away.
As a result, we thought we’d review some common sense actions for those carrying a firearm; permitted or not.
The most important issue for those that carry under Constitutional Carry is your conduct with law enforcement.
Regardless of your encounter with law enforcement; they deserve your respect and courtesy. In today’s environment, their risk of conflict is elevated and they are prepared for the worst. So when approached, either in your car or on foot, let them know you are armed and follow their instructions.
If you have a License to Carry, let them know; but don’t reach for it until they ask.
For Constitutional Carry; again let the Officer or Deputy know that you are armed and you are exercising your constitutional right to carry.
The direction of the encounter at that point will take a different path depending on your permit status. Expect the conversation to be lengthy without a permit. And know that you will be delayed until it can be confirmed that you are not prohibited from owning a firearm.
As a point of concern. Law Enforcement is NOT trying to make your life uncomfortable. They have a job to do to ensure the safety of the public; and they want to rule you out as a potential threat to that safety. Certain individuals are prohibited from carrying a firearm; they are going to verify that you are not one of them.
It is not in your best interest to mouth off, disrespect the uniform or ignore their instructions. They do not want to escalate their encounter with your; honestly, they don’t want to have to deal with the paperwork. Their only objective is to keep the public safe from harm.
To confirm you are not a threat to them or the public, they have to request some information; and until that information is provided, you are likely to be detained.
Not interested in that type of inconvenience; take a six hour License to Carry class. You’ll learn about the laws you must know to carry responsibly and you’ll have a document to share with law enforcement to prevent being detained as reference above.
Carrying a firearm comes with an obligation and a responsibility. Stop in at Saddle River Range, take the LTC class; learn how to carry responsibly.
Stay Aware, Stay Safe,
www.saddleriverspring.com
© Copyright 2021 Ron Mullins and Thom Bolsch
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