Every concealed-carry permit holder has more than likely wondered how the law enforcement community feels about the “average Joe” carrying a concealed weapon. So did I. Fortunately, I have friends who are police officers in my area—some who trained me in the police academy, some who were a classmates—and could ask the questions that many of us have pondered.
How does a SWAT officer feel about concealed carry permits?
I asked this of one of my friends (name withheld for his safety, but we’ll call him Billy) who currently works as a SWAT officer, in the narcotics unit, and as a police academy instructor. I asked him how he feels about the “average Joe” carrying a concealed firearm in public. Billy stated, “Honestly, I love the idea of what the concealed weapons permit offers to the public. In the 10 years I have been a police officer, I have learned that crime finds you, no matter if you are ready or not. It does not make me nervous knowing that the person behind me at the store may be armed, it actually relaxes me to know that there is someone ready if crime knocks on his door.”
Do you get nervous when pulling someone over who reveals they have a permit and are armed?
Billy calmly said, “A traffic stop is the main cause to be nervous, as they are very dangerous. But when I am informed that the occupants are armed and they have an active permit, it tells me that they aren’t trying to hide anything.”
What are your thoughts when you get a “shots fired” call involving an armed citizen?
He replied, “I would rather process a shooting scene where the suspect got shot than an innocent person. I just get nervous when being the first on scene, as many people aren’t trained or mentally ready to shoot someone. As far as active shooters…..well, I pray that someone is carrying, so they can engage the threat and possibly save lives. I just wish the training was more in-depth, and that people realized the permit was for defense, and not for being a superhero.”
Conclusion: A concealed carry permit isn’t a badge.
Every so often we hear of a permit holder getting arrested because they either tried to be a superhero and had a bad shooting (one not justified), or anger kicks in and they use the gun offensively. All officers I spoke to said that they hate seeing a permit holder have the weight of responsibility that a permit brings keep them from making a logical choice. The only thing that the officers do not like about the concealed carry permit is the lack of training that often accompanies it, and that the majority of those who carry aren’t ready for the mental aspect of being involved in a shooting. Other than that, every officer I spoke with highly supports concealed carry.
JohnSteele1 AlessioBaldi from my experience, the CWP class in florida is 2 hours, to cover laws and handling of firearm. my police academy training was 14 hours of use of force then another 80 in firearms alone. it is the officers individual responsibility to keep up on the laws, and we are taught that there are people legally carrying, the making it up on the spot is when an officer cannot admit he is wrong, and man up.
JimmyOgletree EricKmiecik You’re welcome Jimmy!
I keep hearing about cops who support the 2nd Amendment/citizens carrying firearms.
I have yet to meet such a cop.
The ones around hear seem to equate guns to cops and criminals only. You are treated as the criminal until, back at the station, you can prove you aren’t. Why the proof isn’t proof on scene is beyond me.
Well I haven’t meet them being pulled over yet so I am lucky. I meet plenty of those types when I was younger, they always had something to prove and like to mess with teenagers I guess.
gunslinger6 I had a similar experience here in AZ. I was pulled over for speeding (which I was). The officer came up to the right side of the vehicle. I leaned over and handed my license and carry permit to the officer together with my right hand; left hand on the top of the wheel, then placed my right hand there too. He looked at the cary permit and said, “Where is the Weapon?” I told him where it was on my body and he calmly and in a friendly tone said, “OK, we can just leave it there. Don’t touch or reach for it.” The rest of the stop was uneventful and he was very cordial. He also reduced the ticket to “wasting finite resources” which carries no points.
When I lived in New Hampshire, I was approached by three guys, one coming straight on asking for a cigarette and the other two circling around to either side of me. I exposed my gun (still in the holster) to the guy on my right as I said, “Don’t smoke.” The guy motioned to his friends and and they all quickly left. I called the police just to be the first in case they did also. When the officer got there I handed him my carry permit and said, “I’m licensed and carrying; It’s behind my right hip. How would you like to proceed?” He smiled and said, “I’d like you to tell me what happened”
It has been my experience that if you are respectful and defer to their valid concern for their personal safety by showing you are not a threat, things go very well.
TimU the encounter with a police officer is much controlled by your attitude. if pulled over and you have a bad attitude then the officer will have a bad attitude, in ten years of being a volunteer with a local PD, I have seen this come true time and time again. Do not be closed minded with it comes to police, some are bad, many are good, a simple search will prove that many police support the 2nd amendment,
hartcreek well did you know that your attitude often controls the encounter with an officer, if you have a crap attitude then the officer will more than likely return the crap attitude, not all cops are bad, don’t be closed minded and you will see that
Here in east TN, all the cops I have encountered while carrying have been great. One time,.I was on my motorcycle and had to walk into the sherriff’s building. I didn’t want to leave the gun with the bike because it would not have been secure. I told a detective outside the situation. I offered to leave it with them while I went inside. he just had an officer go with me inside so as there
Sorry…..He just had an officer go inside withme so there were no misunderstandings. Seem to have mostly good cops around here.
I, also spent some time in the Army (24years). Please educate yourself about your States laws. It is a whole different world you are in, now.