A lot of states allow people to carry concealed weapons now (as they should). Each year more people are turning to this practice. Carrying a weapon is the best way to protect yourself and your family. But have you ever wondered what to do when you get pulled over? Should the unthinkable happen, you could be forced to use your firearm for protection. Have you thought about what to do with the gun as police arrive?
Do you throw it on the ground, keep it in your hand, or re-holster it? These sound like simple questions, but in the heat of the moment, it may be harder to react than you think. The brain doesn’t like to function correctly with a racing heart and an overload of adrenaline. Muscle memory kicks in, and the body does what the body knows. This is why training with firearms is so important. If you repeat a process over and over, your body will learn it and perform without your brain telling it to.
Dealing with Traffic Stops When You’re Armed
If you carry a gun concealed or in your vehicle, it is important to know how to respond during traffic stops. The first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with the state laws where you live. Each state is different and the laws involving guns change drastically. Some states require you to inform police of any weapons in your car and some do not.
Other states prohibit carrying a weapon in your vehicle without a permit. So, what should you do? If the law does not require it, then you don’t have to say anything. But my recommendation is to inform the officer that you have a weapon in your car or on your person. A lot of people are afraid to inform the police they have a gun out of fear the officer will overreact.
Am I alarmed when they tell me this? No, not most of the time. From my view, the driver stopped, they are being cooperative, and they informed me of their weapon in the vehicle. This doesn’t automatically make someone harmless, but it does indicate they are trying to be safe and cooperate.
The Aftermath of a Shooting Incident
We hope this never happens, but people carry guns for a reason. The simple fact is that people commit crimes, and nothing can protect you as much as you can. If the unthinkable happens and you fire your weapon in self-defense, what will you do next?
It’s natural to think about how you will respond to a threat, and most people train for that encounter. But few people give any thought to what they will do after the incident takes place. Most of the time, there are multiple people around when a shooting happens. Even if you call 911 (which you should) it’s likely that others have called, and the police are already on their way.
The officer is responding to someone with a gun, and they don’t know what happened yet. They are concerned about finding the gun, making the scene safe, and rendering aid if needed. They will likely detain anyone involved and sort out the details later.
What should you do?
My recommendation is to holster your weapon if the threat is no longer there. Stay in the area and when the police arrive, tell them you are armed and have the weapon in your holster. Unless they ask for it, don’t reach for the gun and let them take it off you.
They may detain you until they sort through what happened so don’t get offended if they put you in handcuffs. They will ask you what happened, and you can explain everything then. If you are in a situation where the threat is still there and you have your gun out when the police arrive, lower your weapon as they respond.
If you can raise one hand towards them, it may help the officer to see that you are not a threat to them. They will still order you to drop the weapon and put your hands in the air. Again, don’t get offended, they don’t know what’s going on yet.
Responding to Help Others
This is a tricky one that no one can answer except you. In general, I tell people your firearm is for your protection. If someone is being harmed right in front of you, of course, you will want to help them. But what if you are further away and you hear someone is in danger? If you hear shots being fired in a building when you are outside, should you go running in?
Again, this will be a decision you must make on your own. I would say, respond to help others within reason. If someone is hurting others and you are close by and know you can help, then you may want to help. But keep this in mind: other people may be thinking the same thing. If you hear gunshots and go running around a corner or through some doors, someone else could be doing the same thing as you. And both of you are looking for someone with a gun… When police arrive, they are in uniforms and have some type of visible markings indicating that are law enforcement. Everyone else does not. The police are also looking for anyone with a gun and their plan is to stop that person.
I encourage people to practice drawing their gun when the weapon is needed, not before. If you see a threat and draw to fire, holster your weapon when the threat is gone. Make sure your hands are visible to the police when they arrive.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t a perfect answer to all encounters with the police when you’re armed. I have heard stories of police asking everyone to step out of the car and confiscating firearms during a traffic stop for “safety reasons.” Around my area, if someone tells an officer they have a “CCW” gun on them, the officer thanks them for letting him know and continues with the traffic stop.
It’s not uncommon for us to respond to calls in the county where the homeowner is holding burglars or trespassers at gunpoint. We respond knowing the homeowner (who is talking to dispatch) has a gun pointed at someone. We simply ask them to lower their gun as we approach. You don’t have to tell the police you have a gun on you if you don’t want to (unless state law requires it), but it’s still a good practice and most police will appreciate your courtesy. You must decide how you will respond, so give it some thought and have a plan in place.
