Jusme wrote:
I agree actions/body language, are a definite tell for almost anything you are doing, but, and don't misinterpret, my ignorance, for curiosity, why were you, or why do you believe LEO, are so anti LTC? I have only had positive interactions with LEO, while carrying. I have never been to Atlanta, so I can't comment one way or the other regarding LEO, attitude towards lawful carry. I only know that any and all interactions with Texas LEO, have been, exactly as they should have been. If you don't mind, please give a few more details, regarding you interactions with, not only LEO, but the general public. Thanks
It's primarily LEO in urban areas (tend to vote blue). Atlanta PD, as well as Dekalb and Fulton county LEOs are relatively well known for putting someone on the ground for having the temerity of ordering a chicken sandwich for OC, for example. The concept of the Terry stop was used over, and over, and over, across people exercising OC, but not apparently in the process of creating reasonable suspicion that a crime was afoot. This type of justified paranoia formed almost the entirety of my early "carded" life from 2006-2009.
The probate judges that issue licenses are borderline openly hostile; while there is a state law that indicates "shall issue" within 90 days, it would usually take well over six months to get issuance, and in my case I think it was 11 months. I literally had to call or visit the probate clerk every two weeks (her name was Sheila lol) to get my permit issued. The city/county also regularly tried to break state and federal law, with a blatant example being the airport. Federal law (IANAL) prohibits weapons in the secure area of the airport. The airport authority attempted to restrict the carrying of firearms on *all* airport property, to include the parking lots, check in area, etc. Taking your firearm in a locked case to check on a flight became a heartpounding (for a new licensee) experience as you had to walk by signs that you *knew* were illegal
http://tucson.com/news/national/atlanta ... 1970a.html
"This is a matter of national significance," Mayor Shirley Franklin told reporters at a news conference. Permitting guns inside an airport, even weapons carried by permit holders, would create an unsafe environment that "would endanger millions of people," the mayor said.
Franklin vowed Tuesday to lobby Congress and federal officials to mandate that any public facility receiving federal money be declared a "gun-free zone." That would affect airports nationwide.
Franklin's comments followed a vow by city officials to arrest anyone carrying a gun at Hartsfield-Jackson. The city drew a line in the sand on the same day a new state law easing gun restrictions in public places took effect.
Georgia law was also written to prohibit licensed carry at "public gatherings." This was not really defined in law, and we (Georgiapacking.org) were essentially reduced to having thread after thread created asking questions like if a church fishing tournament qualified as a public gathering. Metro PD and sheriffs were pretty regularly creating circumstances with horribly loose definitions (eyeballing a fender bender and a crowd gathers? Uh oh!) that created doubt and fear in most people that carried. Take the Rodeo examples from Texas with younger cops not knowing what the rules are, but tending to default to the most restrictive stance, and multiply that by 500 across the Atlanta airport, retail establishments, etc.
It's not all LEOs obviously, as we figured out that going to Cobb County (NW ATL) and OC would produce almost no response. OC in Louisiana, no response. OC in northern Virginia, you get a lot of interest. OC in the SW corner of the state of VA, no response.
Anytime I've ever had a negative experience it has *always* been in an urban area. Rural areas have never produced a negative LEO experience, with the exception when a county cop on an interstate disarmed me, cleared the chamber and left my weapon, ammo, and loose round on the bumper of my truck for a speeding offense in the middle of the day.
Let's not overthink this. Whatever it is.
