You will recieve a lot of replies regarding your choice to inform the leo of your weapon. Under WI law you do not have to but IMHO it is common courtesy to inform the officer you infact have a loaded weapon on your person. IMHO if it was sitting in a car, encased, unloaded, who gives a crap if the officer knows. It isn't something he will worry about if he can see a encased weapon.
I don't make it a point of common courtesy to routinely inform strangers of my private possessions. Do you?
How would you like to walk up to the window of someone's vehicle not knowing their intentions or views towards law enforcement?
1. I wouldn't be out hunting on the public highways, searching for citizens who, though they have harmed no person or property, can have revenue extracted from them for violating arbitrary rules.
2. There is no draft for law enforcement in this country. If they find themselves too afraid to do their jobs while respecting the rights of citizens, they should find more suitable employment, preferably in the productive sector.
Keeping in mind that LOTS of officers are killed during "routine" traffic stops.
1. Law enforcement isn't even in the top-10 list of occupational mortality. The local pizza delivery boy is statistically far more likely to give his life in the line of duty, i.e. providing a valuable product/service that people desire to voluntarily purchase, as opposed to demanding payment at gunpoint.
2. Most who are killed at traffic stops die as a result of being hit by other automobiles.
Then you happen to catch a glimpse of a conceal weapon on the person you stopped. First thing that comes to mind isn't "oh he must be a legal citizen with no intentions of harming me". Althought it may be the second or third thing that comes to mind after confirming you have a permit.
The first thing that would come to my mind is, "Hmm, here is a citizen exercising a natural right. I have no idea what his intentions are, but until and unless I have reason to believe there is criminal activity afoot, there is not a damn thing I can do about the gun." Many peace officers I have encountered have had the same opinion, apparently, because they said not one word about my firearm. As it should be.
Basically what it comes down to is don't volunteer for anything the police ask if you haven't done anything wrong. or for that matter even if you did. It can lead you to be in more trouble.
Carry On!
^Totally agree with this.