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Thanks very much for all the comments. I am in the process of having a lawyer write the Chief.

I just now took out my yellow carbon copy of the warning, and noticed some additional information that I might have included originally.

Under "OTHER CONDITIONS" the officer wrote Weapons Chkx2 - Neg Ruger; Derr.. The NAA isn't a derringer, but never mind.

Under "VEHICLE SEARCH" he checked the box for No.

Under "TYPE OF SEARCH" he did not check the box for CONSENT, but he did check the box for INVENTORY. I take this to mean that he searched some of the vehicle's inventory, namely my weapons. This looks to me as if he thought he did not need my consent, since he didn't check that box. Else I am misinterpreting this form.

Under "CONTRABAND FOUND" he checked the box for No.

Purplehood wrote:Can an LEO do that? Isn't that an illegal search if you refuse? (though you obviously did not refuse)

I'm not sure. I knew he had the general authority to disarm me. Once in possession of your firearm, I don't see anything to stop them from running the serial number or whatever. I had just never heard this stated before. Does that then put you at more risk if you buy a gun from a pawn shop not knowing how it got there?

Yesterday evening I was pulled over by Hallettsville Police. I was driving a rental car with Virginia plates. The officer said he pulled me over for failing to stop at a stop sign. No response from me (other than a genuinely surprised look on my face). I handed over my DL and CHL. Are you was armed? Yes, sir. What/where? Revolver in shoulder holster and another in front right pocket. Front pocket? Yes, sir... it's one of those NAA mini-revolvers. Why do you need two revolvers? I hesitated and he offered Just because, huh? Yes, sir. He asked also about my destination, what university department I worked in, my title, etc.

He went off to run my license. Then he came back and told me he wanted to check my weapons to see if they were stolen. So he had me get out and I cooperated in helping him locate and draw both my revolvers, which he carried off to his car, while I got back in. Well, this seemed different from any LEO encounter that I had read about (I confess to not having read about many). After a while, he came back, opened the rear door and told me he was laying both revolvers on the rear car seat, and that I could get them after he left. He had unloaded them. He then told me he was giving me a warning about the stop sign. He thanked me for being cooperative. And that was it. Big relief about the warning. The rest of it was kind of curious.