imported post
Good Day,
I was visiting the range yesterday and struck up a conversation with a guy after I noticed him with a shield on his belt. I didn't see any PD information on it and looking closer found that it was a "Concealed Carry Permit" shield...interesting I thought...next I thought, damn that guy is going to get in trouble...
So I struck up a conversation with him in regards to why he chose to carry a shield (knockoff) he told me it was his defense in making old ladies and the like perceive him as a threat....I guess this could work out alright...ish.
I told him that I had been talked to three times in a matter of a couple days OC'ing but that I decided to get a mag holder with a cuff holder as well and even though I saw his point of view thought it would be a safer way of 'signifying' I had a legitimate reason to be carrying to someone across the room then an actual badge look-alike.
Forgive me, I may be wrong but the perception most people have to a badge and a set of cuffs is the same in my mind, but a look-alike badge might come of as attempting to impersonate, whereas a set of cuffs has multiple uses....you can ask my girlfriend what their real use is, at the same time I have not had another OC conversation since I started including this in my normal OC get up.
So, to the opinions and LAWS - - - -
The guy and a couple others working the counter told me that in Washington State it is illegal for me to carry handcuffs...but they told me it was not illegal to carry a CCW badge on you belt...to me that is an oxymoron...
First off, I didn't think it was illegal to carry handcuffs, but I understand that during citizens arrest there could be a considerable amount of liability put on my shoulders if I chose to detain someone via cuffing them. I have been weighing my options on that as well I come across several scenarios in my head and these are the things I have considered:
So what I am asking because I have failed ot find the resources I need for a proper judgement is a clear understanding of any laws involving the carry of handcuffs. I don't want to put myself into a position of getting hauled in, but I cant find any RCW's strictly about this subject. I will say this however, since I have been carrying the handcuffs with me the number of steady looks has gone down to almost nothing, I have not been approached by anyone and have been OC'ing solid for three days. I have also been asked though by people what I do for a living, whether I am bail enforcement, or if I am secret agent even by a nice lady at the smoke shop I could attribute this to the fact that I am somewhat offsetting to be carrying around a pistol and cuffs...I have full arm sleeve tattoos and a shaved head, I guess they are just wondering why I am not LAPD <burn>
Anyhow, thank you for all that take the time to read through my run-on sentence and offer something up for me !!
~Rook
Good Day,
I was visiting the range yesterday and struck up a conversation with a guy after I noticed him with a shield on his belt. I didn't see any PD information on it and looking closer found that it was a "Concealed Carry Permit" shield...interesting I thought...next I thought, damn that guy is going to get in trouble...
So I struck up a conversation with him in regards to why he chose to carry a shield (knockoff) he told me it was his defense in making old ladies and the like perceive him as a threat....I guess this could work out alright...ish.
I told him that I had been talked to three times in a matter of a couple days OC'ing but that I decided to get a mag holder with a cuff holder as well and even though I saw his point of view thought it would be a safer way of 'signifying' I had a legitimate reason to be carrying to someone across the room then an actual badge look-alike.
Forgive me, I may be wrong but the perception most people have to a badge and a set of cuffs is the same in my mind, but a look-alike badge might come of as attempting to impersonate, whereas a set of cuffs has multiple uses....you can ask my girlfriend what their real use is, at the same time I have not had another OC conversation since I started including this in my normal OC get up.
So, to the opinions and LAWS - - - -
The guy and a couple others working the counter told me that in Washington State it is illegal for me to carry handcuffs...but they told me it was not illegal to carry a CCW badge on you belt...to me that is an oxymoron...
First off, I didn't think it was illegal to carry handcuffs, but I understand that during citizens arrest there could be a considerable amount of liability put on my shoulders if I chose to detain someone via cuffing them. I have been weighing my options on that as well I come across several scenarios in my head and these are the things I have considered:
- If I have to draw my weapon on a BG it is going to be for a VERY good reason
- If I have said weapon drawn when the cops finally show up ( I have waited up to two hours before when calling about a burglary in progress in Gig Harbor.) I do not want to be the one holding a gun on a guy that long, nor do I want to be the primary focus of incoming uniforms when they do show, I want the BG to be their focus.
- If I have to draw my weapon on a BG do I really want to have to break my safe distance to cuff them so as to relinquish myself of the position stated above.
- If when the cops do show up and I have detained and cuffed a BG instead of having a gun pointed at them will the officers fail to see the original cause of my detention.
- What are my liabilities in detaining someone? I mean if the guy/gal ends up having radial nerve damage forever what is my liability to that, I hear about criminals continually winning disability cases against police after a heated arrest and detainment...
So what I am asking because I have failed ot find the resources I need for a proper judgement is a clear understanding of any laws involving the carry of handcuffs. I don't want to put myself into a position of getting hauled in, but I cant find any RCW's strictly about this subject. I will say this however, since I have been carrying the handcuffs with me the number of steady looks has gone down to almost nothing, I have not been approached by anyone and have been OC'ing solid for three days. I have also been asked though by people what I do for a living, whether I am bail enforcement, or if I am secret agent even by a nice lady at the smoke shop I could attribute this to the fact that I am somewhat offsetting to be carrying around a pistol and cuffs...I have full arm sleeve tattoos and a shaved head, I guess they are just wondering why I am not LAPD <burn>
Anyhow, thank you for all that take the time to read through my run-on sentence and offer something up for me !!
~Rook