InsuredByGlock
Regular Member
imported post
I purchased my first handgun 3 weeks ago, and have since applied for a concealed carry permit, but have not yet received it. In the meantime I open carry, and am very careful not to cross the fine line between open and concealed.
On Saturday, August 25, I was traveling on I-64 West between Indian River Road and Greenbrier Parkway in Virginia Beach. I was pulled over by a State Trooper for having an illegal radar detector. I was open-carrying a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, sitting in open view on the passenger seat. When the officer approached my vehicle, I already had my window down and my hands on the window area of my vehicle (where the officer could clearly see them). I politely informed him I was keeping my hands in plain view because I had a loaded firearm. He (very politely) asked if the passenger's door was unlocked, and that he was going to remove it from my vehicle for his safety and mine. The trooper removed the gun and unloaded it, taking it back to his car. I had absolutely no problem with this, and I fully understand why this was done.
Several other VSP vehicles arrived on the scene, and I am not sure why, but this also is not a problem and did not bother me.
I received the summons for the radar detector (I had the detector on, won't deny that).
As the officer went to return my handgun, he started with, "I'm not going to pop you for the weapon violation....". At this point, I politely informed the officer that open carry of a loaded firearm in VA is perfectly legal. He responded (still very polite), "you can open carry it all you want, but that all changes when you put the magazine in it."
At the end of the traffic stop, the Trooper informed me that he was going to place my unloaded gun and magazinein the trunk of my vehicle, which I politely informed him was perfectly fine by me. After the gun was placed in the trunk, the officer requested permission to search my vehicle, which was granted. Nothing was found, and this is where the traffic stop ended and I departed.
I would like to reiterate that at no time was any trooper disrespectful or discourteous in any way, and I did the same.
Any thoughts?
I purchased my first handgun 3 weeks ago, and have since applied for a concealed carry permit, but have not yet received it. In the meantime I open carry, and am very careful not to cross the fine line between open and concealed.
On Saturday, August 25, I was traveling on I-64 West between Indian River Road and Greenbrier Parkway in Virginia Beach. I was pulled over by a State Trooper for having an illegal radar detector. I was open-carrying a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, sitting in open view on the passenger seat. When the officer approached my vehicle, I already had my window down and my hands on the window area of my vehicle (where the officer could clearly see them). I politely informed him I was keeping my hands in plain view because I had a loaded firearm. He (very politely) asked if the passenger's door was unlocked, and that he was going to remove it from my vehicle for his safety and mine. The trooper removed the gun and unloaded it, taking it back to his car. I had absolutely no problem with this, and I fully understand why this was done.
Several other VSP vehicles arrived on the scene, and I am not sure why, but this also is not a problem and did not bother me.
I received the summons for the radar detector (I had the detector on, won't deny that).
As the officer went to return my handgun, he started with, "I'm not going to pop you for the weapon violation....". At this point, I politely informed the officer that open carry of a loaded firearm in VA is perfectly legal. He responded (still very polite), "you can open carry it all you want, but that all changes when you put the magazine in it."
At the end of the traffic stop, the Trooper informed me that he was going to place my unloaded gun and magazinein the trunk of my vehicle, which I politely informed him was perfectly fine by me. After the gun was placed in the trunk, the officer requested permission to search my vehicle, which was granted. Nothing was found, and this is where the traffic stop ended and I departed.
I would like to reiterate that at no time was any trooper disrespectful or discourteous in any way, and I did the same.
Any thoughts?