Open carry and the police

[Roadking Larry]

Funny thing is we've had LEOs on OSA publicly state that they would detain and question anyone they saw open carrying even if it was legal in OKlahoma.

 

[Shoot Summ]

This is why rules are needed for open carry.
Example: a rifle can be carried slung unless embarking or disembarking from a vehicle,
pistol must be carried in holster that covers the trigger guard, etc etc.
Maybe if that lady had a gun and knew how to use it she would not be so freaked out if she saw someone else with one.

He was carrying the rifle holding the hand guard with the muzzle pointed down, butt in the air. IMO the most benign way to carry one, the lady freaked out because it was "black".....

 

[spd67]

Funny thing is we've had LEOs on OSA publicly state that they would detain and question anyone they saw open carrying even if it was legal in OKlahoma.

LEO's don't know who you are until they run your information. All they know is that your an armed subject. You could be a felon, drug dealer, on your way to kill your girlfriend, a crazy wishing to kill a cop or a honest law abiding citizen. We don't know.

I don't think that the officers in this story behaved they way they should have, and I also think that if they guy had just done exactly what he was told from the officer in the beginning that it would have never came to this.

Open carry is a horrible idea for many reasons.

 

[abajaj11]

He was carrying the rifle holding the hand guard with the muzzle pointed down, butt in the air. IMO the most benign way to carry one, the lady freaked out because it was "black".....

I get you. My point was, we don't really have established rules for open carry in OK, since it is, apparently in direct contradiction to 2A, illegal. It would really help if we had established rules on what kind of OC was permissble and the proper way to do it, along with maybe a 6 hour OC course, similar to the CC course we have but with subject matter pertaining to proper OC.

 

[abajaj11]

LEO's don't know who you are until they run your information. All they know is that your an armed subject. You could be a felon, drug dealer, on your way to kill your girlfriend, a crazy wishing to kill a cop or a honest law abiding citizen. We don't know.

I don't think that the officers in this story behaved they way they should have, and I also think that if they guy had just done exactly what he was told from the officer in the beginning that it would have never came to this.

Open carry is a horrible idea for many reasons.

If you are opposed to OC, you must REALLY be opposed to CC. All LEOs now know is that the citizen MAY be armed with a concealed weapon. At least with OC the weapons would be in plain sight and properly carried.
My understanding is that LEOs were opposed to CC as well, but now accept it wholeheartedly. This is because CC has proven to be very effective as a crime deterrent, and CC holders are amongst the most law abiding in the community. And criminals are going to carry, no matter what.

CC holders are amongst the most law abiding members of the community, and OC practitioners would be even more law abiding, in my opinion.

I think once rules for proper OC are established, much of the irrational fear will go away. Clear distinctions need to be made between brandishing and proper OC.
It's not hard, LEOs and other CLEET personnel do it all the time with a little bit of training.
All we will need is a day long (say 6 hour) OC course, on weapon carrying, retention, etc.

 

[Roadking Larry]

LEO's don't know who you are until they run your information. All they know is that your an armed subject. You could be a felon, drug dealer, on your way to kill your girlfriend, a crazy wishing to kill a cop or a honest law abiding citizen. We don't know.

I don't think that the officers in this story behaved they way they should have, and I also think that if they guy had just done exactly what he was told from the officer in the beginning that it would have never came to this.

Open carry is a horrible idea for many reasons.

Papiere, Bitte

 

[SMS]

LEO's don't know who you are until they run your information. All they know is that your an armed subject. You could be a felon, drug dealer, on your way to kill your girlfriend, a crazy wishing to kill a cop or a honest law abiding citizen. We don't know.

Open carry is a horrible idea for many reasons.

I agree that open carry is a touchy subject and some folks don't always use their heads when carrying firearms. I have never jumped into any discussion that could even remotely be considered cop-bashing and this isn't one of them, but your comments are a cause for concern.

You as an LEO don't need to know who I am unless I am commiting a crime, and you have no business "running my information" unless I have commited, or I am suspected of, commiting a crime.

Lawfully carrying a firearm, open or otherwise is not probable cause for police intervention. I am not an armed subject, I am an armed citizen. Huge difference.

 

[338Shooter]

LEO's don't know who you are until they run your information. All they know is that your an armed subject. You could be a felon, drug dealer, on your way to kill your girlfriend, a crazy wishing to kill a cop or a honest law abiding citizen. We don't know.

I don't think that the officers in this story behaved they way they should have, and I also think that if they guy had just done exactly what he was told from the officer in the beginning that it would have never came to this.

Open carry is a horrible idea for many reasons.

You serious?

Anyone reading this post should be outraged whether they are for open carry or not.

 

[Glocktogo]

If SPD67 gets a call about an armed subject, he's going to be required by his dept. to investigate. Depending on the laws (and don't forget that OC is still not legal in OK, yet) he may need to determine whether the armed person is complying with the requirements spelled out in the law. If you're required to have a permit, then he's authorized to inspect it. You can disagree with that, but them's the rules. He stated in his post that he disagreed with the way the LEO's handled it and I agree with him that the citizen handled it poorly as well.

Open carry isn't a very good idea overall, but I can see it having some limited positive applications. If OC becomes legal in OK, CLEET should mandate training for all commissioned peace officers regarding the requirements, permit inspection authority if applicable and how to approach an apparently law abiding citizen carrying openly. If they fail to do this, they will have failed their mission and needlessly endangered citizens and LEO's alike.

 

[bulbboy]

I thought they both handled it poorly.