For many years I’ve enjoyed the YouTube gun evaluations of a friend of mine whose internet name is Justin Opinion. He’s a very sharp guy, and a helluva good shot to boot. He’s also a graduate and has hosted me to teach. A dozen years ago, he did this interview with me about how to handle a traffic stop when you are carrying a gun. The interview also touched on some other things, such as how to choose an instructor. Here’s the interview:
T Y for this video. A great lesson in how to teach memorable points through some humor without using General Patton’s vocabulary. Years ago I was stopped once at night in Arizona in the lonely Bradshaw Mountains boondocks for no good reason apparent to me while carrying and a Deputy Sheriff stepped me out of my pickup. I told one of several officers (what?yow!) that I had a permit (not necessary to have in AZ) and did not care if he took my revolver out of the hip holster. No problems followed. The officer told me that I had name SIMILAR to that of a suspect of interest, and also that my pickup looked shaky. I could have told him that about my old beater pickup. I did not volunteer any possibly incriminating details about anything that I thought needed to be said. By the way, I will never give a phony commercial address for a burner phone again. I still do not know if that was pertinent to the stop, but I think it could have been, through some kind of hyper surveillance. I do remember that did give a commercial address not of my own for the burner phone. Do you suppose there is some unknown law, even those years ago, about that? I don’t even know why I did it, but I must have thought I had a reason. If a suspiciously overly zealous Big Brother is not watching me 24/7 forever somehow, though, I will not be surprised. Like the time I went to renew my Arizona hunting license through Walmart and my identity somehow got mixed up with somebody from California. It may not ever be possible to fully clear that up. Definitely the Internet has become the “Internet Plus.” Sheesh! Imagine how many criminals are out there who share your name, making you a potential “suspect”? Totally fascinating. And just because you are paranoid does not mean that someone (especially a younger brother) is not out to get you.
You should handle a traffic stop carefully even when you aren’t carrying a gun. Police are trained to assume that everyone has one.
Keep your hands on the steering wheel at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock. If a police officer sees your hands, he can be pretty sure you are not about to attack him with those hands. I also say “Yes, Sir/Ma’am and No, Sir/Ma’am,” and never argue or get ornery. I don’t want to fail the “attitude test.”
Brief note on what you might consider doing before the nice person in a uniform strolls up to your window. Note: in some states when the flashing lights come on, you’re apparently supposed to stop right there/then. Common sense suggests some places might not be a good choice.
Moving on, pay attention to the rear view mirror so you see the flashing lights promptly. If it’s not safe to stop where you are, at least turn on your 4 way flashers to show that you know they’re there. Pull over at the first safe opportunity. Don’t start a frantic search for your paperwork. That looks a whole lot like someone reaching for weapons/hiding stuff they’re not supposed to have.
Then, turn your sound system off, your interior lights on, lower the window (both if there’s 2 officers) at least part way and put both hands on the steering wheel and be polite. If your vehicle paperwork is in the glove compartment/console tell the officer and ask permission to reach for it. DO NOT STASH A GUN IN THERE TOO!
Good stuff as always, Mas!
Being pulled over can occur for all sorts of reasons. Early 1970’s, southern California. My boss and I had flown from JFK into LAX on the “Red Eye”. Used his vehicle to get out to Colton to the shop. Boss went in and got keys for a company vehicle so I could get home. It’s about 0400, clear sky, heavy dew on all the windows. Used the wipers, didn’t try to clear off any other moisture. Turned to cross over Interstate 10. Red light in the rearview. Thought – there’s no traffic lights at that intersection, oh drat. All I could do was dig out drivers licence and a business card. Both hands out the window, a card in each. Chap didn’t say a word, just took them. Back about two minutes later, “We were just wondering who was coming out of that street at this time of the morning. Drive safely.” and walked away.
‘That street’, a quarter mile dead end, all industrial, no homes. Something unusual – check it out – I can go along with that.