I pulled up to help my elderly father in law with a minor parking lot accident yesterday. A state trooper was already on scene doing the paperwork. Dad indicated that he had a flat tire also. I wanted to introduce myself to the trooper and not surprise him with my presence.
I walked around the front of Dad's car and stopped a few feet from the troopers open window - the conversation went like this:
Me: Excuse me officer.
Trooper: Hi, what can I do for you?
Me: My name is ___, I am a CHP holder and I am armed.
Trooper: Oh, thanks for telling me that, I really appreciate it. (genuinely pleasant about it all)
Me: Ok with you if I get to work on this flat tire?
Trooper: Sure, I'll be done here in a minute.
After the paperwork was done, the trooper stepped out to speak with my father in law and me about the report. After that, the conversation continued.
Trooper: So, both of you guys carry, may I ask why?
Me: Did you notice where he lives when you looked up his DL?
Trooper: Yeah, I did. That's all the reason I would need to get a permit.
(We both live on a street that is a couple of blocks from a housing project where there is a lot of drug activity and associated violence.)
Trooper: We'll don't get me wrong, we troopers are all for it. Not all permit holders are good guys, but for the most part, you guys make our job easier. The only troopers who get itchy about concealed carry are rookies. They just don't have enough experience yet.
Me: Well, Dad is a 38 snubbie sort of guy, and I'm a 1911.
Trooper: Me too, I have to carry this Sig for work, but my off duty weapon is a Kimber Ultra Carry II.
Trooper: So, you are a lefty?
Me: How did you know?
Trooper: Well, you are protecting your strong side the way you are standing, your left hand never went in your pocket, but your right did.
Me: well, you got me.
Trooper: Well, you guys be careful. You strap on a lot of responsibility when you put on that weapon.
Me: Thanks for your perspective, it was fun to talk to you about it.
I walked around the front of Dad's car and stopped a few feet from the troopers open window - the conversation went like this:
Me: Excuse me officer.
Trooper: Hi, what can I do for you?
Me: My name is ___, I am a CHP holder and I am armed.
Trooper: Oh, thanks for telling me that, I really appreciate it. (genuinely pleasant about it all)
Me: Ok with you if I get to work on this flat tire?
Trooper: Sure, I'll be done here in a minute.
After the paperwork was done, the trooper stepped out to speak with my father in law and me about the report. After that, the conversation continued.
Trooper: So, both of you guys carry, may I ask why?
Me: Did you notice where he lives when you looked up his DL?
Trooper: Yeah, I did. That's all the reason I would need to get a permit.
(We both live on a street that is a couple of blocks from a housing project where there is a lot of drug activity and associated violence.)
Trooper: We'll don't get me wrong, we troopers are all for it. Not all permit holders are good guys, but for the most part, you guys make our job easier. The only troopers who get itchy about concealed carry are rookies. They just don't have enough experience yet.
Me: Well, Dad is a 38 snubbie sort of guy, and I'm a 1911.
Trooper: Me too, I have to carry this Sig for work, but my off duty weapon is a Kimber Ultra Carry II.
Trooper: So, you are a lefty?
Me: How did you know?
Trooper: Well, you are protecting your strong side the way you are standing, your left hand never went in your pocket, but your right did.
Me: well, you got me.
Trooper: Well, you guys be careful. You strap on a lot of responsibility when you put on that weapon.
Me: Thanks for your perspective, it was fun to talk to you about it.