Come on, Grapeshot.....
I'm surprised. For someone who is usually the calm voice of reason, I believe you've taken a temporarily time-out and landed a little harshly. The OP is obvious new and inexperienced with OC'ING, and for a first police encounter, anything that doesn't result in jail due to an inappropriate response is actually pretty good.
As the knowledge of OC'ings legality widens, we'll inevitably attract new members that, at least, have the courage to actually participate in expressing their rights instead of simply sitting on the sidelines cheering.
While I'll agree that several actions the OP took are 180 degrees away from what should have taken place, I'm not going to reply to him as If he's totally screwing things up. I'm also not going to reply as If he should have known exactly what to do. He's new. He probably isn't familiar with accepted practices. I'll choose to inform him so that If he ever has another police interaction, he'll be better prepared. Heck, MY first police encounter was simple, and didn't go very well. I got better at handling them. I learned. Not from folks disparaging my flaws, but at instructive information. I'll try to offer some:
Keith0143:
1) I noticed you replied that there wasn't any audio you knew of. I can guarantee the police are not going to record themselves denying you due process or your civil rights. On the remote chance they did, I can nearly guarantee that it wouldn't survive an "accident" for long. Therefore, the easiest way to remedy this lack of audio that "you know of" is simple: record it yourself. TA-DA! There is now audio you know of. Video is even better. It shows an actual account and dialogue from different participants is easily assigned. Video recorders are cheap. Audio recorders even cheaper.
2) FOIA (freedom of information act) requests are easy. If there was a call to 911, or even a report to the non-emergency number, there WILL necessarily be a record of it. (Otherwise, how did the police show up in force If nothing was communicated to them?) Filing a proper FOIA request will get you transcripts and police reports regarding this incident. They have to give them to you. (Unless deemed an "ongoing investigation" which they like to try). It's the law.
3) Unless you were knocked to the ground, cuffed, and stuffed into the back of a squad car, which the police will almost certainly do If you were obviously breaking the law, there must necessarily be an investigation in order to determine of a law has been broken. Therefore, until you are detained.......ALL POLICE INTERACTION IS CONSENSUAL. Meaning, until the officer tells you you are not free to go.......you are. Anything you tell them until you are detained is VOLUNTARY. The best way to determine whether or not you are being detained is simple: simply ASK THEM. " Am I being detained, officer?" .........two possible answers:
#1 The officer informs you that you are NOT being detained...walk away. I find it polite to inform the officer of this while reaffirming that I am not being detained by telling him, "Since I am not detained, officer, I'm choosing to end this consensual contact by leaving."...or words thereabouts. If you haven't been arrested, you are obviously not breaking the law. (Remember: If you were, you'd be in handcuffs by now.) ANY INTERACTION IS VOLUNTARY.
#2 If, at any point, the officer informs you that you ARE detained...guess what? YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT. DO NOT SPEAK, THEREFORE, OFFER THE OFFICER A REASON TO ARREST YOU! Remember: If you were breaking the law, you'd be in cuffs and on a ride to the station by now. Since you have been detained, the officer must...MUST....have reasonable articulable suspicion for doing so. (Carrying a gun doesn't cut it. He can't detain you for lawful activity without articulating what crime he suspects you of.) If he can't tell you what crime he suspects you of, HE is breaking the law. Since openly carrying a firearm is lawful......he's now "on the hook". It is mandatory that you are suspected of a crime in order for him to lawfully detain you. He has detained you. Therefore, If HE can't tell you why.....IT'S HIS ASS. He MUST cook up a crime. The only way for this to happen is for you to GIVE HIM A REASON. The only way for this to happen is If you, somehow, TALK YOUR WAY INTO IT. This can't happen If you EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.
BTW: Did I mention that an audio recording of this would come in handy? Now......where might a person get one of those? I know where mine would come from.
When you were approached by these officers, they began dancing all over your civil rights. Several wise actions from you could have really put them in a legal "pickle". I believe the "nice" officer might have suddenly realized this. Hence: he tried to "undance" his way out of the situation.
You are still in the driver's seat. What do you wish to do? I'm sure there is documentation surrounding this incident. At the bare minimum, I would at least file a FOIA request with the department. Not only would this gain you the necessary information and documents If you do, indeed, wish to follow up. Even if you choose to do nothing further, it might still "put the fear of Jesus" into them, possibly leading to more sensitive handling of future encounters. (Such as dispatchers asking callers, "What is the armed person doing that is illegal?".)
I'd ramble on further about how to file a FOIA request, but you can easily research this by Googling "How do I file a FOIA request.".
Oh, and by the way: IANAL. Which you will see often here at OCDO meaning: I am not a lawyer. I am not giving legal advice, simply offering information that I feel is helpful, and in no way is guaranteed to actually be so.
Good luck carrying. Welcome to the forum!