imported post
The first time I had any contact with a Hammond Police officer on the street it went pretty well.
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum22/28894.html
This time not so much.
I'm standing outside Walgreens trying to return some RedBox DVDs. I've done this many times before without issue while open carrying. There were people ahead of me and then a girl on a bike who I helped figure out how to return her DVDs. Then I was getting ready to return mine and I think I got one in when it happened.
I have an officer came up to me and ask what I'm doing, if I'm a police officer etc. I explain that I have a license to carry and it's in my pocket. At some point he asks if he can take my gun but moves in really before I can answer. I just raise my hands as I'm not sure if I could say no without this guy throwing me to the ground especially in hindhsight, based on the rest of this. So he pulls my gun and I ask if he knows how to handle it and he says he does. He drops the mag and empties the chamber. He didn't drop the hammer on the empty chamber though, left that cocked. (Para Ordnance Warthog)
So now he begins to tell me the license is only for concealed carry.
I inform him the Indiana State Police websiite says we can open carry. He looks at my license and at one point claimed it used to say concealed on there and he wasnt sure when that changed but he would find out.
I get berrated for carrying like a police officer by this guy. In his 22 years he's never seen a cop carry openly when off duty. There were three other officers there as well. A younger one said hey, it's your right to do that but just keep in mind if people call you're going to have to see us. I said - that's ok, I don't mind talking to police officers and at some point I explained how my first interaction went.
I get the litany from him that people will freak out. I explained I've been to this place and this one and this one multiple times without a problem. He then jumps to because of the shorts I'm wearing I'll be mistaken for a cop and that will bring a load of trouble on me. Ok, I'm wearing shorts with an extra set of pockets further down. His view is that looks military and cops wear that type. Uh ok.
So, I'm free to go but I can't load my gun in his presence. I explain that will look even worse if I don't. He says do it in your car. I said I walked. He refuses and says it could impounded if I want...
So I say ok, and put my now unloaded gun in the holster and return the other DVD and consider for a bit renting another one. I decide not to and begin my walk home.
I forgot his name (he was bald or nearly so, 22 years on the force) but he was the only one really talking except for the younger guy.
Apparently someone called this time and Hammond Police still don't know the law and when informed, decide to make up the law as they see fit.
This guy besides reducing my self-defense ability, set me up for a charge of brandishing if I tried to reload outside his "presence" even though I had broken no laws whatsoever.
Oh and neat trick, you don't have to detain a person when you take their property with hardly a chance for them to say no.
Advice?
At the very least I'm calling the Hammond Police tomorrow to file a complaint.
I also posted this at INGunOwners
The first time I had any contact with a Hammond Police officer on the street it went pretty well.
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum22/28894.html
This time not so much.
I'm standing outside Walgreens trying to return some RedBox DVDs. I've done this many times before without issue while open carrying. There were people ahead of me and then a girl on a bike who I helped figure out how to return her DVDs. Then I was getting ready to return mine and I think I got one in when it happened.
I have an officer came up to me and ask what I'm doing, if I'm a police officer etc. I explain that I have a license to carry and it's in my pocket. At some point he asks if he can take my gun but moves in really before I can answer. I just raise my hands as I'm not sure if I could say no without this guy throwing me to the ground especially in hindhsight, based on the rest of this. So he pulls my gun and I ask if he knows how to handle it and he says he does. He drops the mag and empties the chamber. He didn't drop the hammer on the empty chamber though, left that cocked. (Para Ordnance Warthog)
So now he begins to tell me the license is only for concealed carry.
I inform him the Indiana State Police websiite says we can open carry. He looks at my license and at one point claimed it used to say concealed on there and he wasnt sure when that changed but he would find out.
I get berrated for carrying like a police officer by this guy. In his 22 years he's never seen a cop carry openly when off duty. There were three other officers there as well. A younger one said hey, it's your right to do that but just keep in mind if people call you're going to have to see us. I said - that's ok, I don't mind talking to police officers and at some point I explained how my first interaction went.
I get the litany from him that people will freak out. I explained I've been to this place and this one and this one multiple times without a problem. He then jumps to because of the shorts I'm wearing I'll be mistaken for a cop and that will bring a load of trouble on me. Ok, I'm wearing shorts with an extra set of pockets further down. His view is that looks military and cops wear that type. Uh ok.
So, I'm free to go but I can't load my gun in his presence. I explain that will look even worse if I don't. He says do it in your car. I said I walked. He refuses and says it could impounded if I want...
So I say ok, and put my now unloaded gun in the holster and return the other DVD and consider for a bit renting another one. I decide not to and begin my walk home.
I forgot his name (he was bald or nearly so, 22 years on the force) but he was the only one really talking except for the younger guy.
Apparently someone called this time and Hammond Police still don't know the law and when informed, decide to make up the law as they see fit.
This guy besides reducing my self-defense ability, set me up for a charge of brandishing if I tried to reload outside his "presence" even though I had broken no laws whatsoever.
Oh and neat trick, you don't have to detain a person when you take their property with hardly a chance for them to say no.
Advice?
At the very least I'm calling the Hammond Police tomorrow to file a complaint.
I also posted this at INGunOwners