Police Vs. Open Carry Citizen encounter video - Comments requested

[tombogan03884]

I think that he (the film maker) had an agenda and technically, he was doing nothing illegal.  Would I do it as a non-resident with a Maine CC permit?  Not a chance!

If you're convinced you're doing nothing illegal, do you hide behind the Miranda right?  Do you take the chance that you may be arrested by an under educated constable?  I can't answer any of these questions as a non-resident with a CC permit but if I'm stopped here in my home state with a valid license to carry a firearm, I'd most definitely wonder why my rights were being violated.

As the guy said, as misguided as it appears he was, he wasn't committing a crime! It's as if he were stopped for a speeding infraction when he wasn't speeding!  What other agenda was on their mind?

That isn't correct, the cop said they had a complaint about a guy with a gun, Camera guy was in fact a "guy with a gun".
Like I posted earlier to not send a cop to check it out the 911 dispatcher would need to be a psychic.
I wonder how long the guy wandered around Portland before some liberal called it in.

[Paraguy]

In PA you can open carry with a CCW license.  I have seen it at the range and at Cabelas.

IMHO, if the guy in this video wanted to make a point, he should have complied with all of the officers requests and then took the matter to court to "fight for his rights" there.  He was conducting a trial with the officer and treating him as if he was a judge which was not his role in this incident.  As was pointed out, he was responding to a call regarding a man with a gun and was asking reasonable questions and doing so in a professional and cordial manner.

[k12cop]

In PA, you don't need LTCF to open carry, unless you're in Philadelphia.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

[graywolf]

First of all I do not agree with open carry. I have a CPL and open carry is legal in Michigan.  I believe that it is best that people not know that I am carrying.  Secondly, my opinion of the person in question is that he is very well versed in the legality of his actions. He was never disrespectful to the LEO.  However, I do have some concerns over those who feel that it is the citizen who is carrying openly some how should back down and give up his right to move around freely without interference. In States where open carry is allowed by statute I believe the 911 operators and LEO should be educated as to the law.  For example, when the call came in "Man with a gun"  the 911 operator should ask "What is he doing?"  If he's pushing a shopping cart around the Walmart and acting in a normal manner than the caller should be told that that type of activity is allowed since open carrry of firearm is legal in the state.  If the open carry person is brandishing a firearm or actiing in a threatening manner than a different response is required. Law Enforcement Officers should be familiar with the open carry laws.  I am not a trouble maker and I am supporter of our police.  But everytime we get stopped without out a valid reason we give up a little more of our rights. Our LEOs and support people have bigger fish to fry rather than chasing down these kind of things.   

[tombogan03884]

First of all I do not agree with open carry. I have a CPL and open carry is legal in Michigan.  I believe that it is best that people not know that I am carrying.  Secondly, my opinion of the person in question is that he is very well versed in the legality of his actions. He was never disrespectful to the LEO.  However, I do have some concerns over those who feel that it is the citizen who is carrying openly some how should back down and give up his right to move around freely without interference. In States where open carry is allowed by statute I believe the 911 operators and LEO should be educated as to the law.  For example, when the call came in "Man with a gun"  the 911 operator should ask "What is he doing?"  If he's pushing a shopping cart around the Walmart and acting in a normal manner than the caller should be told that that type of activity is allowed since open carrry of firearm is legal in the state.  If the open carry person is brandishing a firearm or actiing in a threatening manner than a different response is required. Law Enforcement Officers should be familiar with the open carry laws.  I am not a trouble maker and I am supporter of our police.  But everytime we get stopped without out a valid reason we give up a little more of our rights. Our LEOs and support people have bigger fish to fry rather than chasing down these kind of things.   

+10

[Sponsor]

[robheath]

First of all I do not agree with open carry. I have a CPL and open carry is legal in Michigan.  I believe that it is best that people not know that I am carrying.  Secondly, my opinion of the person in question is that he is very well versed in the legality of his actions. He was never disrespectful to the LEO.  However, I do have some concerns over those who feel that it is the citizen who is carrying openly some how should back down and give up his right to move around freely without interference. In States where open carry is allowed by statute I believe the 911 operators and LEO should be educated as to the law.  For example, when the call came in "Man with a gun"  the 911 operator should ask "What is he doing?"  If he's pushing a shopping cart around the Walmart and acting in a normal manner than the caller should be told that that type of activity is allowed since open carrry of firearm is legal in the state.  If the open carry person is brandishing a firearm or actiing in a threatening manner than a different response is required. Law Enforcement Officers should be familiar with the open carry laws.  I am not a trouble maker and I am supporter of our police.  But everytime we get stopped without out a valid reason we give up a little more of our rights. Our LEOs and support people have bigger fish to fry rather than chasing down these kind of things.   

Point taken...I have to agree.

[tombogan03884]

None of us has a problem with open carry in itself, ( I'm assuming that Greywolf simply prefers not to because he has other options. I don't think he would quit carrying if the law said every one must carry openly, or if it were a common fashion )
The thing that makes this guy a jerk is his reason for doing so, which was to attract attention and create an issue where none existed.
The same holds true with carrying a gun at all.
If your reason is some form of "I'm in a better position to protect me than any Cop in the world" fine, but if you reason is "so I can kill dirt bags" then not only should you not carry , you probably shouldn't be allowed to own a gun at all.

[PegLeg45]

First of all I do not agree with open carry. I have a CPL and open carry is legal in Michigan.  I believe that it is best that people not know that I am carrying.  Secondly, my opinion of the person in question is that he is very well versed in the legality of his actions. He was never disrespectful to the LEO.  However, I do have some concerns over those who feel that it is the citizen who is carrying openly some how should back down and give up his right to move around freely without interference. In States where open carry is allowed by statute I believe the 911 operators and LEO should be educated as to the law.  For example, when the call came in "Man with a gun"  the 911 operator should ask "What is he doing?"  If he's pushing a shopping cart around the Walmart and acting in a normal manner than the caller should be told that that type of activity is allowed since open carrry of firearm is legal in the state.  If the open carry person is brandishing a firearm or actiing in a threatening manner than a different response is required. Law Enforcement Officers should be familiar with the open carry laws.  I am not a trouble maker and I am supporter of our police.  But everytime we get stopped without out a valid reason we give up a little more of our rights. Our LEOs and support people have bigger fish to fry rather than chasing down these kind of things.  

Heck yeah.... +100......

But wait....that would require the involved participants, other than the open-carrier, to actually think, use logic and input, and make calculated deductions....and, egads, decisions........ all on their own, no less.........perish the thought.    

[tombogan03884]

Heck yeah.... +100......

But wait....that would require the involved participants, other than the open-carrier, to actually think, use logic and input, and make calculated deductions....and, egads, decisions........ all on their own, no less.........perish the thought.

We've been letting them do that in politics for ages and look how well that's worked out.

[Solus]

We used to have a "Situation" in Ohio.

When our CCW law was passed, one of the "poison pills" that was included was that you had to have your weapon in plain sight when in a vehicle.  Which meant that you had to expose your weapon while you had one foot in and one foot out of your car (I guess)....and cover it with one foot in and one foot out when leaving your car.  

Leaving aside the headaches and safety concerns this caused, the law also applied to motorcycles.

Now, many folks tend to think anyone on a bike is belongs to Hell's Angels to start with so add an exposed side arm and you've got all kinds of bad situations likely to occur...the least of which would be a rash of "Mad Biker" 911 calls.

That part of the law, along with many other onerous provisions, have been written out since the initial passage.