Taclead
Regular Member
imported post
After work today, and with the recent Danbus, and Rev incidents fresh in my mind, I headed off to the range (Gun and Pawn on Mercury Blvd). While there I ran across one of Hampton's finest there ffor some range time.
I routinely open carry, but as I was at the range this probably didn't raise any of his alarms. There was a customer there purchasing a handgun and he asked me about my holster and the legality of carrying in that manner.
I informed him that open carry was perfectly legal in Virginia. The LEO and the owner immediately jumped in to say it is not advised. The LEO even went on to say (gist, not a word for word transcript)
LEO - "If I ever sawyou on the street open carryingI would stopyou for a chat."
TAC - "And I would have no problem chatting"
LEO - "And I would remove your firearm and run a check on you"
TAC - "That would be an illegal Terry stop"
Owner - "And a judge would support him stopping you"
LEO - "I would still run a check on you"
TAC - "Run what kind of check?"
LEO - "On your handgun and on your information"
TAC -"On what information"
LEO -"I would run your ID"
TAC - "In that case I would tell you I have no ID"
LEO - "If you're driving you have to carry ID"
TAC - "In the example you gave I was not driving"
LEO - "And if I ran a check on your plates or saw a gun, I would have you to exit the vehicle and I would disarm you"
TAC - "Again, I was addressing your first example of walking down the street"
LEO - "You have to carry ID"
TAC - "No I don't, all I have to do is identify myself, I have no requirement for ID, I suggest when you get back to the department you look it up"
LEO - "I would'nt open carry in the manner you are now if I were you."
TAC - I open carry all the time...Blockbuster, Home Depot, 7-11.
LEO - "It's illegal to carry in 7-11":what:
TAC - "No it isn't, I do it all the time"
LEO - "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" (funny how our ignorance can get us in trouble but not the po-po):banghead:
TAC - "It's only illegal if it is posted--No firearms"
By this time the officer no longer seemed inclined to talk with me and seemed in a hurry to be somewhere else.
Additionally, this whole time the owners of the range/gun shop/pawn shop seemed to be siding with the police officer at every point along the way.
I think a call to the Police Chief on Monday is in order.
And maybe I need to find a new range, any suggestions?
After work today, and with the recent Danbus, and Rev incidents fresh in my mind, I headed off to the range (Gun and Pawn on Mercury Blvd). While there I ran across one of Hampton's finest there ffor some range time.
I routinely open carry, but as I was at the range this probably didn't raise any of his alarms. There was a customer there purchasing a handgun and he asked me about my holster and the legality of carrying in that manner.
I informed him that open carry was perfectly legal in Virginia. The LEO and the owner immediately jumped in to say it is not advised. The LEO even went on to say (gist, not a word for word transcript)
LEO - "If I ever sawyou on the street open carryingI would stopyou for a chat."
TAC - "And I would have no problem chatting"
LEO - "And I would remove your firearm and run a check on you"
TAC - "That would be an illegal Terry stop"
Owner - "And a judge would support him stopping you"
LEO - "I would still run a check on you"
TAC - "Run what kind of check?"
LEO - "On your handgun and on your information"
TAC -"On what information"
LEO -"I would run your ID"
TAC - "In that case I would tell you I have no ID"
LEO - "If you're driving you have to carry ID"
TAC - "In the example you gave I was not driving"
LEO - "And if I ran a check on your plates or saw a gun, I would have you to exit the vehicle and I would disarm you"
TAC - "Again, I was addressing your first example of walking down the street"
LEO - "You have to carry ID"
TAC - "No I don't, all I have to do is identify myself, I have no requirement for ID, I suggest when you get back to the department you look it up"
LEO - "I would'nt open carry in the manner you are now if I were you."
TAC - I open carry all the time...Blockbuster, Home Depot, 7-11.
LEO - "It's illegal to carry in 7-11":what:
TAC - "No it isn't, I do it all the time"
LEO - "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" (funny how our ignorance can get us in trouble but not the po-po):banghead:
TAC - "It's only illegal if it is posted--No firearms"
By this time the officer no longer seemed inclined to talk with me and seemed in a hurry to be somewhere else.
Additionally, this whole time the owners of the range/gun shop/pawn shop seemed to be siding with the police officer at every point along the way.
I think a call to the Police Chief on Monday is in order.
And maybe I need to find a new range, any suggestions?