Hello,
I am a officer here in Utah, I support the right to keep and bear arms. I am attempting to educate myself and those I work with and also make contacting those who open carry a good experience for all involved. That said I will make a few statements so you understand where I am coming from and then ask several questions and would appreciate your insight.
Statements, These are my personal beliefs
1. When you open carry the police may be called. I work for the citizens of Utah both those who open carry and those who make the call reporting the activity. I have a duty to investigate even if that means driving by, smiling and waving, and then moving on. Please do not fault me for responding to a request from another citizen.
2. Guns make me nervous, some cops with guns make me nervous. I do not know you weapon handling skills, I do not know your intentions. Nothing personal you just get paranoid doing this job for too long. Why? because I have arrested individuals who were "open carrying" one had felony warrants, one had hidden red and blue lights in his car, one had handcuffs, pepper spray, police jackets, and other items, one had more heroin and syringes in the car then I could shake a stick at. These folks are the exception (I hope) not the rule. Yes I had violations of the law allowing me to identify and detain these individuals not just the fact they were open carrying. So, everyone makes me nervous its not just you.
3. Confrontational, if you are putting on a firearm then hoping the cops stop you so you can show how smart, right, or awesome you are you are stupid. You may be well within your rights but you are stupid. The purpose of carrying a firearms should be defense. Carry for the right reason.
4. Identification, I really just want to earn a paycheck so I can feed my kids and go home to my wife. I understand the reasons for not wanting to provide identification and if you refuse that's fine by me it's your right, assuming you have not violated any laws. But consider this, you know who else refuses to carry ID or identify themselves to police? Drug cartel members (they do it so they don't get deported again), individuals with warrants who have violated the law and refused to handle it correctly. So still not saying you have to ID yourself but it sends red flags to officers. Heck years ago I had an individual who refused to ID himself, long story short he murdered several people in AZ and was on the FBI's most wanted. If you were me would you be seeing warning signs?
Questions,
1. Do you mind being contacted in a casual manner? not detained. I seriously just want to talk to you, I love guns and assuming you are not carrying a gigantic piece of crap (hi-point comes to mind) I will ask you how you like it and how it shoots, and maybe if you are selling it (do not tell my wife). Unless you are super busy thats cool too.
2. Why not concealed? From a purely tactical standpoint I would rather have my weapon concealed. A concealed weapon lends to the surprise part of speed, surprise, and violence of action. I am looking for real reasons, not "cause I can". I will accept deterrence as a legitimate reason.
3. How do you want to be approached? Like I said before I cannot just ignore a call I get dispatched to. Man with a gun calls are not entirely uncommon, I must respond and make sure no laws are being violated, or are about to be. Is there anyway I can do that without stepping on your toes or making this a huge deal when it does not need to be? Keep in mind I just want to make sure that you are not going to kill or hurt anyone (that doesn't need killin'). I would have a hard time sleeping if I did not confront an armed individual who later killed someones child.
4. If you could tell a group of cops anything what would you tell us? I will pass it on to my co-workers and hopefully we can avoid stupidity on both ends.
Thanks for reading, thanks for replying.
May I open that I live in a county where OC is an accepted way to travel. In over 40 yeras I have never once been asked for my CPL, and only had one conversation with a Sheriff's deputy....it consisted of two words: Him "hunting" Me "Ya". Palo is correct (at least in the county I live in, and it is as big as the state of Connecticut, but also in Skagit Co, where I used to live (70-05)) The just do not dispatch because someone is OCing. It is a perfectly legal activity, just like wearing BDUs or a hat is.
Now, for your questions:
#1: If you wanted to chit-chat about my various CZ's or Colts, or Olympic Compitition at the local coffee shop, while you are off duty...no, love to. If you wanted to talk to me in an official capicity, It would totally depend on the circumstances. Most likely not. I have a family friend that is in the WSP on the wet side, and in an official capicity I would prefer he leave me alone, (and he does leave me be, officially, even though we go out shooting together, and he even dated my sister for awhile years ago)
#2: I conceal when it is cold enough to wear a coat, and then only because I have a coat on. Why? Training...back in the 50's I was told that "only those up to no-good conceal their weapons"...and comfort...It is much easier, and more comfortable, to carry my full sized Colts or my CZ 85 in an OWB holster which is what I do. I do have a shoulder holster, but I can't stand it.
#3: Nobody bothers you in my county when you OC. No-one notices, too many people do it.
#4: It has been my experience that OC is a great way to NOT be bothered by Bad Guys. I have been in only one situation in over 40 years (I became a US citizen and began OCing in July 1970) where my carry definately defused a very bad situation...a guy that was intent on beating me to a pulp,,,until he saw I was armed (my Colt never left the holster, just seeing I was armed and all of a sudden he had better things to do elsewhere, and left very quickly) I personally have never heard of a felon that was OCing. Felons do not want anyone to know they are armed, why would they display their carry? Now if you are talking about a guy displaying his weapon with the intent to intimidate, that is not open carry, that is an open display...much different.
What should you teach your students? The odds (Probability 99.9999%) are that a person carrying a pistol in a holster and doing nothing with it except carrying...shopping, walking down the street, in the bank, driving his car, whatever normal activity he is doing...is not a threat to anyone, and would probably be the first one to come to your aid if you needed it. This includes people with a $100 pistol in a $20 holster, as well as the guy with the $3000 custom Dan Wessen, in the $125 Alessi leather holster. Because some people are more fortunate financially than others, does not make them better (or worse) than the less fortunate. The best thing when observing someone that is OC, is to just drive on by, wave if you wish, thumbs up...or just ignore is just fine,,,unless you need help,,,then ask for it. We'll do our best for you.
Now I will ask you...Last winter my wife and I were driving down the hwy and caught a bunch of snow that almost ripped off the skid pan on our Audi A6. I was at the side of the road trying to resecure that side pan when the local WSP LT stopped to see if I could use some help (and very kindly offered some of those huge tye wraps to hold the pan up until we could get home and fix the problem perminantly) BTW: he never asked my name, asked for my CPL, only if he could help...
I had on a $1500+ Colt in a $125 custom Alessi holster and was driving a $60k car...now does that make me better than the guy that has a $100 Chevy Vega, wife and 5 kids and a $200 CZ82 in a Czech duty holster? (also me, years ago)? I happen to tan very easily also, BTW/
Edited to add: I am a retired business owner. everything we own is paid for, we have no consumer debt. Has our financial situation improve over the years? Yes, quite a bit. All 5 of our kids are out of school, married and on their own...with no student debt...yes, the Good Lord has belssed us abundantly/