JDriver1.8t
Regular Member
imported post
We had our biweekly SCCC meeting tonight at I Love NY Pizza on Hillsborough street, which is directly across from campus.
This all happened too fast for me to turn on my recording device, and I was unable to start it during the process. This is the gist of what happened.
I ordered my food, and realized that I had left my notebook in the car. I walked outside to go back to my car, just as two RPD were about to enter the establishment two doors down. I gave them a nod with a smile, as is customary for me when someone looks at me. One of them saw my(Me) firearm and approached me (O1), with "keep your hands up and where I can see them", and the other officer (O2)quickly followed.
O1: Keep your hands up. Keep them where I can see them. Do you have a badge to go with that gun?
Me: No
O1: federal credentials?
Me: NO
O1: Turn and place your hands on the wall.
O1: What do you think you are doing carrying a gun on H' street?
Me: Open carrying, which is legal in NC
O1: What are you thinking?
Me: Why am I being stopped?
O2: Have you heard of GATTTOP?
Me: Sir, I do not meet the qualifications for that charge.
Me: (to O1, as he is obviously in charge) Am I being detained?
O1: Yes, for GATTTOP
O1: (approaches me) Is your gun loaded?
Me: yes
O1: Is there one in the chamber?
Me: yes
O1: (removes firearm, takes it to the side and proceeds to drop mag and rack slide)
O2: Do you have any other weapons or anything we should know about on you?
Me: I have a knife clipped to my pocket.
--While O2 does the stuff below, I'm watching O1. He is trying to put the round from the chamber back in the mag, but can't. I tell him it is a full mag, but theholes don't quite line up with the rounds.--
O2: (removes knife, terry pat) Do you have any ID?
Me: yes, it's in my wallet
O1: You can get it out and give it to me.
--at this point I'm nervous and slightly concerned, but I feel I'm doing OK.--
Me:Under NC law and the NC supreme court I am doing nothing illegal. Can we go next door an you pull out a witness for this event?
O2: NO
Me: Can I start me recording device, so I have an account of this?
O2: No, you are being detained for GATTTOP
Me: Can I get a witness for this event?
O2: No, for all I know you have another gun in there, and you will get it and start blasting away.
Me: I just asked if I could have a witness.
O2: I just answered your question.
O1: (goes to run my ID, and call his Sergeant), he isn't sure how to proceed.
--At this point, I see SCCC members arriving for the meeting, and seeing me held up, were approaching, they kept a distance of 8' or so for the most part--
Me: Those are people in the group that I'm with. Just to warn you ahead of time, theymay carrying as well.
O2: (seeing one of the people(FF) OCing) Get your hands up and place them against the wall.
FF: ~I am required to tell you that I am CCing as well. Am I being detained?
O2: Yes, where are the other weapons
FF: what for? There is a gun in the backpack.
O2: GATTTOP, Is your gun loaded? Is there one in the chamber? (starts pulling on the gun)
Me: That is a Serpa holster, you need to depress the button to release it.
O2: (takes two tries to find the button and release the gun. Then proceeds to try and unload it, but fumbles with that for about 20 seconds till he figures it out) Where is the other firearm? (gets it out of backpack) Is there anything else I need to know about, any other weapons?
FF: No
Me: (to FF) Don't forget your pocket knife.
FF:There is a knife clipped in my pocket.
O2: (Removes knife and does a quick pat, very minimal) Do you have IDs, and a CC permit for this gun? (talking to FF and the person that was with him, who wasn't carrying.)
At this point we are relaxed a little, strength in numbers and all. There are 3 witnesses watching us now. FF and I are on opposite sides of a door into an establishment. Families are entering and exiting during this ordeal.
Me: (to O1)Im am the Director of NC for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, and I am fully aware of the laws. (something led to this comment, but I don't remember what)
O1: repeats this to his sergeant. Tells the Sg that he wants to verify what laws are being broken. Asks for Sg to text him any statute numbers. He asks me again what my title is. Talks to his Sg more, and says that I'm not bothering anyone, and he just wants to make sure I'm legal. O1 says he will get my info and they can charge me with something later if needed. This is where I stopped paying attention, and dealt with O2 again.
Me: I give a grin and chuckle to FF for the " and charge him with something later" comment.
O2: Are any of you armed? (to our witnesses. They reply no)(He goes to run the previously mentioned IDs "to make sure they aren't felons")
Me: We have been having these meetings for almost a year, and have never had a problem. We have even had the Campus police here, and they don't have a problem with it either. We aren't on campus.
--We stand there for a few minutes while O1 is on the phone--
O1: Alright, it looks like you are not doing anything illegal. I have been doing this for 10 years and never seen anyone carry like that.You can understand why we need to check. You are so close to a school, and this isn't normal. (some more comments to us)
Me: We carry like this all the time. It is legal and we dont ever have problems with it. You are the first.
O1: I actually support what you are doing. I spent the last year in Iraq supporting your right to do this, and have only been back for three months. Like I said, I have never seen anyone carry like this, and I didn't know it was allowed. Iraq is very different than here. I really do like that you are carrying this way.
O2: I support your right to do this as well
Me: So, am I still being detained, even though you still have my gun.
O1: No, your not being detained. Thanks for being so patient and understanding. (hands me my gun back)
Me: (I slide the gun back into my serpa)
O1: (hands me my FULL mag)
Me: (I slide the mag into the gun, drop the slide (while holstered), pull the mag, insert my top round, and reinsert my mag.)
O2: (gives back FFs guns and he does the same as I)
O1: I now feel like and Idiot for not knowing that this was legal. I had not idea.
--We talk for a short bit about Kerner and JL and how they can't stop someone for OC only. We shake hands, say have a good evening, and then procede inside for our meeting--
Overall, it went well, even though it shouldn't have happened at all. My nerves were a little jumpy, and I had to 'calm down' but it wasn't a bad incident. He said I could call his sergeant if I had any comments or concerns. Of course, as soon as I got inside, I forgot the officers name. I still feel stupid for this.
The detainment and subsequent interaction took about 20 minutes. When I finally got back inside, the lady I ordered from gave me a very confused look as she handed me my now cold pizza.
FF may come on and comment and correct my story.
We had our biweekly SCCC meeting tonight at I Love NY Pizza on Hillsborough street, which is directly across from campus.
This all happened too fast for me to turn on my recording device, and I was unable to start it during the process. This is the gist of what happened.
I ordered my food, and realized that I had left my notebook in the car. I walked outside to go back to my car, just as two RPD were about to enter the establishment two doors down. I gave them a nod with a smile, as is customary for me when someone looks at me. One of them saw my(Me) firearm and approached me (O1), with "keep your hands up and where I can see them", and the other officer (O2)quickly followed.
O1: Keep your hands up. Keep them where I can see them. Do you have a badge to go with that gun?
Me: No
O1: federal credentials?
Me: NO
O1: Turn and place your hands on the wall.
O1: What do you think you are doing carrying a gun on H' street?
Me: Open carrying, which is legal in NC
O1: What are you thinking?
Me: Why am I being stopped?
O2: Have you heard of GATTTOP?
Me: Sir, I do not meet the qualifications for that charge.
Me: (to O1, as he is obviously in charge) Am I being detained?
O1: Yes, for GATTTOP
O1: (approaches me) Is your gun loaded?
Me: yes
O1: Is there one in the chamber?
Me: yes
O1: (removes firearm, takes it to the side and proceeds to drop mag and rack slide)
O2: Do you have any other weapons or anything we should know about on you?
Me: I have a knife clipped to my pocket.
--While O2 does the stuff below, I'm watching O1. He is trying to put the round from the chamber back in the mag, but can't. I tell him it is a full mag, but theholes don't quite line up with the rounds.--
O2: (removes knife, terry pat) Do you have any ID?
Me: yes, it's in my wallet
O1: You can get it out and give it to me.
--at this point I'm nervous and slightly concerned, but I feel I'm doing OK.--
Me:Under NC law and the NC supreme court I am doing nothing illegal. Can we go next door an you pull out a witness for this event?
O2: NO
Me: Can I start me recording device, so I have an account of this?
O2: No, you are being detained for GATTTOP
Me: Can I get a witness for this event?
O2: No, for all I know you have another gun in there, and you will get it and start blasting away.
Me: I just asked if I could have a witness.
O2: I just answered your question.
O1: (goes to run my ID, and call his Sergeant), he isn't sure how to proceed.
--At this point, I see SCCC members arriving for the meeting, and seeing me held up, were approaching, they kept a distance of 8' or so for the most part--
Me: Those are people in the group that I'm with. Just to warn you ahead of time, theymay carrying as well.
O2: (seeing one of the people(FF) OCing) Get your hands up and place them against the wall.
FF: ~I am required to tell you that I am CCing as well. Am I being detained?
O2: Yes, where are the other weapons
FF: what for? There is a gun in the backpack.
O2: GATTTOP, Is your gun loaded? Is there one in the chamber? (starts pulling on the gun)
Me: That is a Serpa holster, you need to depress the button to release it.
O2: (takes two tries to find the button and release the gun. Then proceeds to try and unload it, but fumbles with that for about 20 seconds till he figures it out) Where is the other firearm? (gets it out of backpack) Is there anything else I need to know about, any other weapons?
FF: No
Me: (to FF) Don't forget your pocket knife.
FF:There is a knife clipped in my pocket.
O2: (Removes knife and does a quick pat, very minimal) Do you have IDs, and a CC permit for this gun? (talking to FF and the person that was with him, who wasn't carrying.)
At this point we are relaxed a little, strength in numbers and all. There are 3 witnesses watching us now. FF and I are on opposite sides of a door into an establishment. Families are entering and exiting during this ordeal.
Me: (to O1)Im am the Director of NC for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, and I am fully aware of the laws. (something led to this comment, but I don't remember what)
O1: repeats this to his sergeant. Tells the Sg that he wants to verify what laws are being broken. Asks for Sg to text him any statute numbers. He asks me again what my title is. Talks to his Sg more, and says that I'm not bothering anyone, and he just wants to make sure I'm legal. O1 says he will get my info and they can charge me with something later if needed. This is where I stopped paying attention, and dealt with O2 again.
Me: I give a grin and chuckle to FF for the " and charge him with something later" comment.
O2: Are any of you armed? (to our witnesses. They reply no)(He goes to run the previously mentioned IDs "to make sure they aren't felons")
Me: We have been having these meetings for almost a year, and have never had a problem. We have even had the Campus police here, and they don't have a problem with it either. We aren't on campus.
--We stand there for a few minutes while O1 is on the phone--
O1: Alright, it looks like you are not doing anything illegal. I have been doing this for 10 years and never seen anyone carry like that.You can understand why we need to check. You are so close to a school, and this isn't normal. (some more comments to us)
Me: We carry like this all the time. It is legal and we dont ever have problems with it. You are the first.
O1: I actually support what you are doing. I spent the last year in Iraq supporting your right to do this, and have only been back for three months. Like I said, I have never seen anyone carry like this, and I didn't know it was allowed. Iraq is very different than here. I really do like that you are carrying this way.
O2: I support your right to do this as well
Me: So, am I still being detained, even though you still have my gun.
O1: No, your not being detained. Thanks for being so patient and understanding. (hands me my gun back)
Me: (I slide the gun back into my serpa)
O1: (hands me my FULL mag)
Me: (I slide the mag into the gun, drop the slide (while holstered), pull the mag, insert my top round, and reinsert my mag.)
O2: (gives back FFs guns and he does the same as I)
O1: I now feel like and Idiot for not knowing that this was legal. I had not idea.
--We talk for a short bit about Kerner and JL and how they can't stop someone for OC only. We shake hands, say have a good evening, and then procede inside for our meeting--
Overall, it went well, even though it shouldn't have happened at all. My nerves were a little jumpy, and I had to 'calm down' but it wasn't a bad incident. He said I could call his sergeant if I had any comments or concerns. Of course, as soon as I got inside, I forgot the officers name. I still feel stupid for this.
The detainment and subsequent interaction took about 20 minutes. When I finally got back inside, the lady I ordered from gave me a very confused look as she handed me my now cold pizza.
FF may come on and comment and correct my story.