The PoliceOne Firearms Corner: 8 tips on contacts with 'open carry' citizens

[RamboLiberal]

So, what can you do as a law enforcement officer or, as a citizen who will read this article on various forums nationwide? Here are some thoughts to ponder as well as tips to go by.

1.) Open carry is a legal right. Regardless of where personal beliefs may lie, it carries the weight of law and cannot be ignored, pushed aside, or worked around.

2.) Understand that — as with any belief that people feel strongly about — open carry is a form of political protest. While the majority will do what is asked of them without a lot of fuss, there will be extremists who are willing to be political martyrs by doing whatever it takes to push their agenda and raise awareness to their cause.

3.) Targeting open carry by finding ways to charge people with other violations and then ticketing or arresting them may backfire and could be very expensive in the long run. One of the universities in Utah apparently tried this approach and it was leaked to the press. Now we run into civil liberties violations, etc.

Rest at: http://www.policeone.com/off-duty/articles/3502436-8-tips-on-contacts-with-open-carry-citizens/

Has some good tips as well to those who choose to OC.

Dealing with citizens legally carrying a concealed weapon

-----

Philosophically, I support the right to carry for anyone who can exercise the responsibility for proper care and awareness. I have found, by and large, that citizens who do carry concealed are very pro-law enforcement and would be very willing to come to your aid if you were in the middle of a fire fight. This can be good and bad but I try never to forget that they are supporters of law enforcement, not felons. This is a BIG difference.

Here are some thoughts to share with your personnel when they have to contact citizens who may be carrying concealed.

• People who have gone through the process of getting a concealed carry permit are, in general, law abiding citizens, not felons.

• Do not expect them to know the letter of the law or the interpretations of the law in various districts—they will have a general idea what the law states

• IF THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE to treat someone who may be carrying a concealed weapon as an armed criminal, by all means do so — however, when you make a contact with a CCW, proning them out wouldn’t be my first option without digging a little deeper.

http://www.policeone.com/police-products/firearms/articles/2144601-Dealing-with-citizens-legally-carrying-a-concealed-weapon/

[Bold Lib]

1. Thanks for the post.

[msongs]

2. police should treat all people showing a weapon as a threat until that person proves otherwise nt

[RamboLiberal]

3. Police should treat all protesters as a threat until that person proves otherwise

That's how some would like.

If both are lawful police should butt out. Amazing how some here want to strip some freedoms that they don't like.

[Oneka]

5. Police

should treat all people showing a weapon(open carry) just as they would any other citizen who is not breaking the law.

[PavePusher]

8. "Innocent until proven guilty" not your cup o' tea eh?

Advocation of violence towards Civil Rights excercisers also noted.

Your bigotry is appalling.

[onehandle]

4. 9.) Roll your eyes, point and laugh.

[Logical]

7. Intelligent post. Thanks! n-t

[YllwFvr]

13. I didnt know homer was a gun owner

Protect your family big guy

[ileus]

6. Good post thanks for sharing.

[oneshooter]

9. They should make this required reading for the Philly PA police. n/t

[Euromutt]

10. Bumping to place this higher than dupe thread (n/t)

[oneshooter]

11. Bump. n/t

[friendly_iconoclast]

12. Bumping n/t