Gun Law Q&A With Off Duty LEO - Page 4

Bm7b5 · October 24th, 2009, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puncho

You're right, law abiding citizens should incur significant legal cost and inconvenience because the cops aren't educated on the gun laws of Florida. They took the job as a Cop, they should be passionate about knowing the laws, it's their job!

If you witnessed LEOs actually arresting people for a false law, then you may have a point worth discussing. As it is, you had a casual conversation. An loose exchange of sound waves. For as much as I know, they were pulling your leg. Or maybe just tweaking your nose because you appeared to be a gun nut to them. There are enough real problems in the world to solve...

Deanimator · October 24th, 2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chad2000

Remember, with all the laws on the books it's unrealistic to expect LEO to know all of them.

I have an ABSOLUTE expectation that any LEO will know the law that he's purporting to ENFORCE, RIGHT NOW.

The law isn't a joke. My rights aren't a joke. A civil suit against the cop as an individual because he's pierced his own qualified immunity isn't a joke.

I have a DUTY to know and obey the laws regarding concealed carry in the State of Ohio, and in any other place I carry a firearm. I DEMAND that the cops do likewise. If they don't, I'm going to make sure there are dire consequences, just as they would if I failed to notify them "promptly" if carrying, or if I carried into a liquor serving establishment.

The idea that somebody PAID to ENFORCE the law has LESS of a duty to know that law than I do is simply despicable.

Deanimator · October 24th, 2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bm7b5

If you witnessed LEOs actually arresting people for a false law, then you may have a point worth discussing. As it is, you had a casual conversation. An loose exchange of sound waves. For as much as I know, they were pulling your leg. Or maybe just tweaking your nose because you appeared to be a gun nut to them. There are enough real problems in the world to solve...

Ignorance (or contempt for) the law by cops is a VERY real problem. And there are the ongoing lawsuits across this country to prove it. In fact, it's such a problem, that in places where it's lawful to do so, MANY concealed and open carriers of firearms also carry voice recorders for just the possibility of a lazy cop who doesn't know (or care to know) the law. Every time I leave the house with a firearm, I also leave with a voice recorder.

cmdrdredd · October 24th, 2009, 11:19 AM

Let me mention something that nobody else here has and you probably forgot. A lot of LEOs in FL are not actually from FL. It is a tourist destination, Florida. As such it stands to reason that many LEOs from all over the country might move here and take a job as an LEO down here. I've known many LEOs from NY, NJ, CA, and IL who remember how restrictive their old state was and forget for a moment that in FL, we are pretty open when it comes to gun laws, carrying, having it in your car etc. So don't be too hard on every LEO you meet in FL when it comes to that. It could simply be a matter of someone being taught from day one that you shouldn't have a gun if you're not LEO and they might really believe that.

Many LEOs, when they learn that in FL a citizen is allowed privelages they didn't have, are surprised but welcome the idea because it's less restrictive and not only the BGs will have weapons so in a way it may make their job a bit easier if a citizen is allowed to defend against an attacker and does not have to be a victim.

F350 · October 24th, 2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdrdredd

Let me mention something that nobody else here has and you probably forgot. A lot of LEOs in FL are not actually from FL. It is a tourist destination, Florida. As such it stands to reason that many LEOs from all over the country might move here and take a job as an LEO down here. I've known many LEOs from NY, NJ, CA, and IL who remember how restrictive their old state was and forget for a moment that in FL, we are pretty open when it comes to gun laws, carrying, having it in your car etc. So don't be too hard on every LEO you meet in FL when it comes to that. It could simply be a matter of someone being taught from day one that you shouldn't have a gun if you're not LEO and they might really believe that.

Sorry; I damned well expect an emigrant from LEO New York Chitty to know the laws of the area he is enforcing the laws; or he can damned well go back to the cesspool he crawled out of. As a tourist he would expect me to know the laws there; would he accept :"Gee willikers ossifer I can drive, drink booze, speed with a naked lady on my lap and carry a hand granade back home; I thought it would be legal here too!"

I am expected to know the laws where I am-I expect the same of them!

64zebra · October 24th, 2009, 02:43 PM

yes LEOs should know that laws that they are going to enforce

that being said, do we know ALL of them....and I mean ALL of them....no....I'm personal friends with the DA here and even he and his investigators have to look stuff up....there are a LOT!
I carry my copy of the penal code, traffic code, gov't code, code of criminal procedure, family code, education code, and health & safety code in my trunk on-duty (yes, its a heavy bag)
in fact we had a call yesterday that was a gray area of enforcing, me and my partner looked it up sitting in our car and decided it wasn't worth pursuing since it was such a gray area and would be difficult to prove

shouldn't give tickets for doing 57 in a 55, this is very similar,
reminds me of a saying we use in basketball officiating......if you don't know-you don't blow (the whistle)

I never write tickets/make arrests unless I'm 100% sure of what I saw or what I'm doing

cops don't know every law and can't be expected to no matter how emotional someone may be about this topic
pick up a copy of your state's law and get to reading, you'll see just how quickly the idea of knowing ALL of them is ridiculous
however, if a LEO is going to take action against someone for an infraction of the law they better dang sure know that the infraction is legit

to the OP....contact the agency in question and let them know what was said to you and ask them to double check this and communicate it to their officers what was said and what the correct law states.
you get your point across and don't look/sound like someone that is just complaining to the PD for the sake of complaining, that will get you further than ranting to them (not saying you would, just a suggestion)

FLSquirrelHunter · October 24th, 2009, 03:04 PM

How many people were ever stopped just for having a holstered gun under the seat? LEOs with X-ray vision should be granted a special dispensation.

How many people on this forum put a holstered weapon under the seat while driving in FL? What good would that be?

How many of our forum members are ever armed in a vehicle in FL without a CWL,CHL, or CWP?

How many people here have been approached by an officer while calmly drinking and carrying concealed at a restaurant? The police here have better things to be concerned with than hassling those who like wine with dinner or beer with wings.

Ideally, every officer would have the wisdom of an appellate court; that ain't gonna happen! I need LEOs to know enough law and exercise enough good sense to stop people who act dangerously on the road or while drinking. After the stop, if they find probable cause to search a vehicle and find a loaded gun under the seat, and no one in that vehicle has a CWL, then I'm okay with them erring on the side of caution. [and, oh by the way, that's probably illegal in FL if there are school-aged children in the back seat because they can access the unsecured firearm] After learning an obnoxious drinker is armed in a restaurant, I'm okay with having them exercise some less-than-ideal legal judgment.

Officers have to deal with a lot more than laws. Almost everyone on this board would keep sober while having a glass with dinner, wear their weapon and carry the CWL when driving, and leave no reason for an officer to know, much less be concerned with, our weapons of last resort.

If you choose to raise the question in their minds during a conversation, most officers will spend a minute or two later looking it up. Then if surprised, they'll share notes. I wouldn't make a stink about ignorance of some laws which will never be applied to those of us who carry responsibly. Just my nickel's worth. YMMV.

I'd rather the officers in North FL focus on finding people who kidnap and kill kids than worry about an accidental arrest of a good citizen under circumstances very unlikely to occur.

We carry, we need to know what to do or not do. If we do the right things well, we'll spend most of our time talking with police in casual conversations like the one the OP had.

RMS · October 24th, 2009, 10:47 PM

Not to hijack this thread, but a year ago my son flipped his car near Gainsville on I-75. He was not seriously hurt but was transported by ambulance to the hospital. As the Florida trooper searched his car(the car is upside down)his gun fell out of the console and almost hit the trooper. At the hospital the trooper gave the gun back to my son's frined and said lock it in the trunk. He was very professional and seem to know the gun laws.

Also someone at the hospital told the trooper that my son was only 20 years old and could not have a gun. The trooper knew the law, he said he could posses a gun, he just could not purchase a handgun. I have nothing but good things to say about this particular officer.

jughead2 · October 25th, 2009, 08:19 AM

four officers. 4 different times. all 4 were wrong. 3 were tn. state troopers. best advice i have seen or can give is keep copies of gun law in ones vehicle at all times. cocked and locked and open carry was the problem with all 4. open carry was in my vehicle. trooper unloaded my weapon and made me put it under the seat and i have had a permit for over 12 years. told him i would prove him wrong but he would never return my call.

Deanimator · October 25th, 2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jughead2

told him i would prove him wrong but he would never return my call.

That's when you WRITE his boss.

Some of them have to be "right" no matter how WRONG they are. That gets to be very expensive after a while.

October 24th, 2009, 11:19 AM	#34
cmdrdredd Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 698	Let me mention something that nobody else here has and you probably forgot. A lot of LEOs in FL are not actually from FL. It is a tourist destination, Florida. As such it stands to reason that many LEOs from all over the country might move here and take a job as an LEO down here. I've known many LEOs from NY, NJ, CA, and IL who remember how restrictive their old state was and forget for a moment that in FL, we are pretty open when it comes to gun laws, carrying, having it in your car etc. So don't be too hard on every LEO you meet in FL when it comes to that. It could simply be a matter of someone being taught from day one that you shouldn't have a gun if you're not LEO and they might really believe that. Many LEOs, when they learn that in FL a citizen is allowed privelages they didn't have, are surprised but welcome the idea because it's less restrictive and not only the BGs will have weapons so in a way it may make their job a bit easier if a citizen is allowed to defend against an attacker and does not have to be a victim. __________________ No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. -Thomas Jefferson You can trust to luck or fate if you want but as for me, I carry a Glock.

October 24th, 2009, 02:43 PM	#36
64zebra VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Panhandle of Texas Posts: 4,571	yes LEOs should know that laws that they are going to enforce that being said, do we know ALL of them....and I mean ALL of them....no....I'm personal friends with the DA here and even he and his investigators have to look stuff up....there are a LOT! I carry my copy of the penal code, traffic code, gov't code, code of criminal procedure, family code, education code, and health & safety code in my trunk on-duty (yes, its a heavy bag) in fact we had a call yesterday that was a gray area of enforcing, me and my partner looked it up sitting in our car and decided it wasn't worth pursuing since it was such a gray area and would be difficult to prove shouldn't give tickets for doing 57 in a 55, this is very similar, reminds me of a saying we use in basketball officiating......if you don't know-you don't blow (the whistle) I never write tickets/make arrests unless I'm 100% sure of what I saw or what I'm doing cops don't know every law and can't be expected to no matter how emotional someone may be about this topic pick up a copy of your state's law and get to reading, you'll see just how quickly the idea of knowing ALL of them is ridiculous however, if a LEO is going to take action against someone for an infraction of the law they better dang sure know that the infraction is legit to the OP....contact the agency in question and let them know what was said to you and ask them to double check this and communicate it to their officers what was said and what the correct law states. you get your point across and don't look/sound like someone that is just complaining to the PD for the sake of complaining, that will get you further than ranting to them (not saying you would, just a suggestion) __________________ LEO & CHL Independence is declared; it must be maintained. Sam Houston-3/2/1836 HK45 G30\|21\|26\|17 KT P11 Moss500 Ithaca37 Savage20ga\|15A .22\|'99 25-35 AK47 AR15 Win3030 MN44 Rem 66\|870 GMBH67.22 If loose gun laws are good for criminals, why do criminals support gun control?

October 24th, 2009, 03:04 PM	#37
FLSquirrelHunter Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL, The "Stand Your Ground' State Posts: 277	Theory vs Practice How many people were ever stopped just for having a holstered gun under the seat? LEOs with X-ray vision should be granted a special dispensation. How many people on this forum put a holstered weapon under the seat while driving in FL? What good would that be? How many of our forum members are ever armed in a vehicle in FL without a CWL,CHL, or CWP? How many people here have been approached by an officer while calmly drinking and carrying concealed at a restaurant? The police here have better things to be concerned with than hassling those who like wine with dinner or beer with wings. Ideally, every officer would have the wisdom of an appellate court; that ain't gonna happen! I need LEOs to know enough law and exercise enough good sense to stop people who act dangerously on the road or while drinking. After the stop, if they find probable cause to search a vehicle and find a loaded gun under the seat, and no one in that vehicle has a CWL, then I'm okay with them erring on the side of caution. [and, oh by the way, that's probably illegal in FL if there are school-aged children in the back seat because they can access the unsecured firearm] After learning an obnoxious drinker is armed in a restaurant, I'm okay with having them exercise some less-than-ideal legal judgment. Officers have to deal with a lot more than laws. Almost everyone on this board would keep sober while having a glass with dinner, wear their weapon and carry the CWL when driving, and leave no reason for an officer to know, much less be concerned with, our weapons of last resort. If you choose to raise the question in their minds during a conversation, most officers will spend a minute or two later looking it up. Then if surprised, they'll share notes. I wouldn't make a stink about ignorance of some laws which will never be applied to those of us who carry responsibly. Just my nickel's worth. YMMV. I'd rather the officers in North FL focus on finding people who kidnap and kill kids than worry about an accidental arrest of a good citizen under circumstances very unlikely to occur. We carry, we need to know what to do or not do. If we do the right things well, we'll spend most of our time talking with police in casual conversations like the one the OP had.

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October 24th, 2009, 10:47 PM	#38
RMS Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: West KY Posts: 358	Not to hijack this thread, but a year ago my son flipped his car near Gainsville on I-75. He was not seriously hurt but was transported by ambulance to the hospital. As the Florida trooper searched his car(the car is upside down)his gun fell out of the console and almost hit the trooper. At the hospital the trooper gave the gun back to my son's frined and said lock it in the trunk. He was very professional and seem to know the gun laws. Also someone at the hospital told the trooper that my son was only 20 years old and could not have a gun. The trooper knew the law, he said he could posses a gun, he just could not purchase a handgun. I have nothing but good things to say about this particular officer.

October 25th, 2009, 08:19 AM	#39
jughead2 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: tenn. Posts: 59	four officers. 4 different times. all 4 were wrong. 3 were tn. state troopers. best advice i have seen or can give is keep copies of gun law in ones vehicle at all times. cocked and locked and open carry was the problem with all 4. open carry was in my vehicle. trooper unloaded my weapon and made me put it under the seat and i have had a permit for over 12 years. told him i would prove him wrong but he would never return my call.