(Photo courtesy of Down Range TV)
July 15, 2016
By Michael Bane
A concern we’ve addressed on The Best Defense over several seasons is what happens when law enforcement officers interface with armed civilians. As I have stated many times on Down Range Radio , America is arming, and the number of concealed carry holders is skyrocketing.
That means the number of times concealed carry holders are going have to deal with the police is increasing exponentially. Each one of those contacts represents the potential for a potentially tragic mistake!!
I know law enforcement agencies dealing with armed civilians is part of their routine training. I also know of agencies that have never even considered such a contingency. We’ll continue addressing this issue on TBD, as I will on the podcast. For now, though, let me take you through a best case encounter.
Not a completely best case, because I got a speeding ticket, but I think the contact between myself and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Deputy motorcycle officer went perfectly. I’m not saying this is the only way to handle such a contact, but it is the way that I chose to handle it.
When I was pulled over, I immediately lowered all four windows of my Mini, shut the car off and placed my hands on the steering wheel at 10 and 2. The Deputy stopped the car and said, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” I said no, my standard response, then continued, “Deputy, before we go any further I want to inform you that I have a current concealed weapons license and that I am presently wearing a loaded and holstered firearm at 3 o’clock on my belt. How to you want me to proceed?”
Read the rest of “Best Case Encounter: How We as Armed Civilians Interface with Law Enforcement” at DownRange.tv .
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