OCinCT
Regular Member
At approximately 0900 today I stopped in at a Starbucks on upper High Ridge Road. I did observe several Stamford Police cruisers in the lot on my arrival. I entered the store and observed two Stamford Police officers (sergeants) at a table near the service counter. I went directly to the service counter and ordered my coffee. I completed the transaction and proceeded to the coffee fixing counter. I was then approached by one of the officers that I identified as Sergeant Michele (correct spelling unknown). He advised me that I need to cover my firearm. He said that it is illegal to openly carry a firearm in the state of Connecticut. I advised him that I disagree. He informed me that if I did not cover the firearm with my shirt that there will be trouble and we will go downtown. I did cover the firearm. After fixing my drink, I went to my vehicle. I retrieved a copy of the CCDL pamphlet and engaged the officers back at the table they occupied. Sergeant Michele was the only officer of the two to communicate with me. He very briefly looked at the pamphet and then pronounced that he did not know anything about what the pamphlet says, but he knows that there is a statute that prohibits open carry in Connecticut, but he could not provide me with it at this time. I implored the officer to check with his departments training division so that he and his department do not get jammed up by this type of situation. I bid them good day and went to an outdoor table to enjoy my coffee. When the officers exited the store Sergeant Michele stopped and told me that he did just communicate with his training division. They advised him that about a year ago they got a letter telling them not to enforce the open carry law. He did also advise me that while it may be OK to open carry, the prudent thing for a citizen to do is not open carry. The encounter was civil and the officers were professional in as far as handling the situation with the poor information that they had and were providing.