imported post
Hello all, I have been lurking on this open carry board for a while. Trying to learn to open carry correctly to ensure I don't violate the laws while exercising my 2nd amendment rights. I like to ask questions from people not actually associated with the OC boards.
I was at a local bar the other day and bumped into a my ex neighbor (CHP officer 15-20 years on force). He is usually a pretty nice guy and I like to chat with him when I see him. Somehow we got on the subject of the open carry and I was shocked by his response. He absolutely has never heard of this be legal and told me that he would arrest me if he came upon me in the field. I didn't argue because I could see that he even became a bit agitated about people thinking they can open carry.
I mentioned about the gun not being loaded and the amunition being on the belt, not attached to the gun. Wow! he insisted that was the same as being loaded. I mentioned it would be loaded if I was commiting a felony and he dissagreed. So I left it at that because it seemed to be a touchy subject for some reason.
I still consider this officer a friend of mine, but was confused as to why the CHP departments have not issued memos to their officers regarding Open Carry. Does the CHP open themselves up to lawsuits for false arrests.
I remember someone saying "ignorance of the law is no excuse" . Does that apply to officers arresting someone? If they are ignorant of the law and they arrest someone does the same saying apply.
I think I was just more shocked that the conversation went from friendly to kind of argumentative with my friend not even wanting to hear another point that challenges his understanding of the law.
I will send some of those bulletins to the local CHP chiefs in the next few days. Hopefully, they will advise their officers. Open carry will never be viewed as legal by regular people if the police agencies do not educate their officers.
I hope this is not seen as an attack on LEO's . It is just a conversation with a friend and a question to the open carry community. Do most law enforcement officers bother to stay up to date on the laws?
Hello all, I have been lurking on this open carry board for a while. Trying to learn to open carry correctly to ensure I don't violate the laws while exercising my 2nd amendment rights. I like to ask questions from people not actually associated with the OC boards.
I was at a local bar the other day and bumped into a my ex neighbor (CHP officer 15-20 years on force). He is usually a pretty nice guy and I like to chat with him when I see him. Somehow we got on the subject of the open carry and I was shocked by his response. He absolutely has never heard of this be legal and told me that he would arrest me if he came upon me in the field. I didn't argue because I could see that he even became a bit agitated about people thinking they can open carry.
I mentioned about the gun not being loaded and the amunition being on the belt, not attached to the gun. Wow! he insisted that was the same as being loaded. I mentioned it would be loaded if I was commiting a felony and he dissagreed. So I left it at that because it seemed to be a touchy subject for some reason.
I still consider this officer a friend of mine, but was confused as to why the CHP departments have not issued memos to their officers regarding Open Carry. Does the CHP open themselves up to lawsuits for false arrests.
I remember someone saying "ignorance of the law is no excuse" . Does that apply to officers arresting someone? If they are ignorant of the law and they arrest someone does the same saying apply.
I think I was just more shocked that the conversation went from friendly to kind of argumentative with my friend not even wanting to hear another point that challenges his understanding of the law.
I will send some of those bulletins to the local CHP chiefs in the next few days. Hopefully, they will advise their officers. Open carry will never be viewed as legal by regular people if the police agencies do not educate their officers.
I hope this is not seen as an attack on LEO's . It is just a conversation with a friend and a question to the open carry community. Do most law enforcement officers bother to stay up to date on the laws?