These simple mistakes are why you do not talk to the police. Some officers will engage you to make you misspeak, then off to jail you go.
Don't be rude, but after the initial contact one must execute their game plan to handle the police. In other words, be prepared for the officer that does not want you to carry.
With the help of the this forum, I am formulating my personal game plan. Until I have my plan solid, I won't UOC. I have committed relevant penal codes to memory, so I will be knowledgeable, calm and comfortable when engaging police officers.
Asserting OC rights is not easy. You are putting yourself in jeopardy every time you carry. We owe it to ourselves and our fellow citizens to be well versed in the pertinent laws and handle ourselves well in all situations.
Practice articulating what you are going to say. Know what you are going to say to fellow citizens as well as the police. We are the open carry movement, so please be professional and competent.
mb
This is a very important point, everything you read on this and other sites is peoples opinions, most of which are not experienced case lawyers or district attorneys. YOU absolutley must do all of your own research and KNOW all of the relevant case laws and penal codes, you must be absolutley be prepared for the worst cop in the world on their worst day of their life dealing with you while your OC'ing. You have to be suprememly confident by yourself before you venture out and OC. Its great to hope for the best encounters, but if your not planning for the worst you will learn a hard and terrible lesson very fast.
Some of my advice, and once again its my advice others may disagree.
-primary recording device AND a backup recorder, with new or fresh batteries each time you carry
-always have pamphlets, cards, handouts, paper to give to citizens and LEO.
- ABSOLUTLEY carry sterile, NO I.D. EVER!!!! and do not give your personal information verbally. be polite be courteous but always refuse.
-carry with you the penal code condensed sheets from the opencarry.org main page AND the police departments training bulletins for the area your carrying in.
-Be proactive, ask for a meeting with as many high ranking PD officers(lieutenants, captains, chiefs) to discuss OC, department policies, personal feelings and/or biases of LEO, AND most important get their business cards and have them sign the back with "Discussed Open Carry" on it and the date. Carry those cards with you when you OC. If you are going to be detained cuffed and searched, finding all of the senior PD staff business cards in your wallet signed may help change a bad officers attitude.