40s-and-wfan
Regular Member
My wife and I spent the better part of the day driving around to all the car lots in the tri-city area looking for one we wanted but didn't have any luck. We got done at about 14:45-14:50 and decided to sit down around the Old Steel Bridge area to wait for school to get out so we could go pick up the kids.
As we got to the west side of the bridge a FCSO Deputy pulled up, hopped out of his vehicle to use the can and left. I was standing outside the car on the phone with my jacket off, pistol in view. The deputy took off and we followed suit, going to the east side of the bridge to enjoy the scenery. Unbeknown to us, Deputy Dawg was in that same area. He pulled out and we decided we'd better head to the school. On the way there the Deputy pulled us over. He walked up to the driver's side of the car, hand on his gun with the retention strap undone. He leaned into the car and addressed my wife: "Ma'am, the reason I pulled you over is your passenger." Then looking at me, said: "Sir, is there any reason why you're packing?" I told him I was doing it "Because I can."
At this point he instructed me to give my ID to the deputy who was standing on my side of the car. I didn't even know one was there. I turned to see a deputy I've known for years. I gave him my ID and he gave it to the primary deputy. My ID was returned and we were allowed to go on our way. It was a fairly decent encounter, but I still don't see the reasoning behind it. In the state of Montana, automobiles kill far more people than firearms do, but you don't see a Deputy Sheriff, Highway Patrolman or City Police Officer pulling someone over to check the validity or general status of a driver's license. Why do they do this for a firearm?
No probable cause, carrying a gun is completely legal here in this state. He saw my firearm and decided to stop us to check my ID. Who cares?! Ownership of and carrying of a firearm is a right in this state and this country. Driving is a privilege, why don't they check the drivers the same way they check those of us who carry a gun?!
I know this will start some controversy and there are those of you who will argue my mindset, but that's why I'm posting this here. I want to know what others think. I'm not looking for someone to complain about the Deputies, who handled things in a fairly positive manner. I just want opinion on the legality and validity of the stop in itself.
As we got to the west side of the bridge a FCSO Deputy pulled up, hopped out of his vehicle to use the can and left. I was standing outside the car on the phone with my jacket off, pistol in view. The deputy took off and we followed suit, going to the east side of the bridge to enjoy the scenery. Unbeknown to us, Deputy Dawg was in that same area. He pulled out and we decided we'd better head to the school. On the way there the Deputy pulled us over. He walked up to the driver's side of the car, hand on his gun with the retention strap undone. He leaned into the car and addressed my wife: "Ma'am, the reason I pulled you over is your passenger." Then looking at me, said: "Sir, is there any reason why you're packing?" I told him I was doing it "Because I can."
At this point he instructed me to give my ID to the deputy who was standing on my side of the car. I didn't even know one was there. I turned to see a deputy I've known for years. I gave him my ID and he gave it to the primary deputy. My ID was returned and we were allowed to go on our way. It was a fairly decent encounter, but I still don't see the reasoning behind it. In the state of Montana, automobiles kill far more people than firearms do, but you don't see a Deputy Sheriff, Highway Patrolman or City Police Officer pulling someone over to check the validity or general status of a driver's license. Why do they do this for a firearm?
No probable cause, carrying a gun is completely legal here in this state. He saw my firearm and decided to stop us to check my ID. Who cares?! Ownership of and carrying of a firearm is a right in this state and this country. Driving is a privilege, why don't they check the drivers the same way they check those of us who carry a gun?!
I know this will start some controversy and there are those of you who will argue my mindset, but that's why I'm posting this here. I want to know what others think. I'm not looking for someone to complain about the Deputies, who handled things in a fairly positive manner. I just want opinion on the legality and validity of the stop in itself.