Do not go into Killeen. You will be sorry.

[Blandtastic]

Just the facts ma'am...

For the record I probably was speeding and just paid the fine this morning. Not really trying to contest it and it would be a waste of everyone's time to do so anyway.

Also for the record I was within the boundaries of the law for my firearm and knew it.

He threatened me with a spurious arrest, was wrong and knew it. There was definitely no "plain view".

I called in a report to the officer's immediate supervisor and hopefully this is the last I hear about it. I easily could have made a much bigger deal out of it, but to what end? I can't win the internet and certainly don't have the time to educate every wayward LEO out there. I was satisfied that he would look into it. If he doesn't and someone else gets arrested for this I am sure there will be a reckoning. The NRA would love to pro bono a case like that.

I was not actually wrongfully arrested so I have no real grievance here. I was pretty mad the day of the encounter but have slept on it some and realize I don't want to waste any more effort on this issue. I have better things to do such as drink beer and play video games. Besides, you can't really fight city hall and I have no desire to attempt some Quixotic charge against the blue wall.

Finally, I am debating whether or not to inform next time something like this happens in the interim between now and when I get my CHL in the mail. What do you think? I know that I have no legal requirement to inform an LEO but still want to do the right thing at a traffic stop. I still strongly believe that full disclosure to a police officer is always the right thing to do if you are not breaking the law. My belief is this is shaken but not destroyed.

With all that said, I appreciate the support from the community. Thanks.

[Blandtastic]

@jrma: well, I wouldn't say freakishly tattooed. I have the tattoos as sort of an informal catharsis for what I experienced in my deployments. My left arm is almost a full sleeve and represents the things I saw from the time in the Marines. On my right arm I have a casualty bracelet thing for my battle buddy who was killed in Iraq on my wrist. The right arm will eventually be filled in with Army stuff.

Sort of like the expression "wearing your heart on your sleeve". Same thing, except I wear my life in the service on my sleeves. It sounds weird, but the ritual of telling my artist what I saw and then having her put it on my skin seems to help me stay copacetic. And it serves as a way to integrate strangers into a conversation about my service without making them uncomfortable.

The mohawk is a sort of self-defense mechanism for when I am on Fort Hood. I like to keep my hair short simply because of the heat and it is easier to maintain. I choose to wear a mohawk to let everyone on base know without having to ask me that I am not in the service and don't have to listen to orders or commands from soldiers anymore. It lets me breeze through the base without any drama at all which makes it totally worth it.

With all that said, my car does have Purple Heart plates on it. I like that because it costs only $3 a year to renew. The other nice benefit to it is that every other LEO I have ever runs across sees it and immediately asks me if I have any medical conditions instead of just assuming I am as crazy as I look. When I explain my pain issues I can visually see them relax to a degree. I understand that my appearance is outside of the norm but it all makes sense if you just ask me about it.

If, on the other hand, you assume that I am on drugs or super crazy simply because of the way I look, that's not going to work out well for anyone. All I ask for is the benefit of the doubt.

[MeMelYup]

View this, there are some very good points.
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[Blandtastic]

Point taken. I will only tell what I am legally required to and nothing else. Thanks for the linky.

[E.Marquez]

Point taken. I will only tell what I am legally required to and nothing else. Thanks for the linky.

I’m sure you know.. but I see some confusing language in this thread..
There is requirement to inform once asked for ID, the lack of penalty does not take away the requirement to inform.

GC §411.205. REQUIREMENT TO DISPLAY LICENSE. (a) If a license holder is carrying a handgun on or about the license holder's person when a magistrate or a peace officer demands that the license holder display identification, the license holder shall display both the license
holder's driver's license or identification certificate issued by the department and the license holder's handgun license.

Not sure of anyone else, but I've never been stopped, or contacted as a witness and NOT asked for ID..... That means in 47 years, every single one of my LEO contacts would have required me to inform IAW current TX law.
IOW as far as I can tell.. The requirement to inform a LEO you are carrying a concealed weapon under a CHL is about as close to a 100% requirement as there can be…

LEO’s here… In all the stops you have made,,, did you ever pull someone over and NOT ask for ID?

[RogueUSMC]

He has no CHL yet so that requirement is not relevant...under MPA, don't mention it until asked about it.

That being said, what if the OP were to reverse the roles they played? What if the officer commenced to tell our veteran how what he did the day he sustained his injuries where what got him hurt? Maybe the officer's criticism might be accurate but it is probably irrelevant as the OP was acting per his doctrine and training at the time. If I was the OP, I would have been agitated at this officer critiquing actions he has no experience with. Hindsight in combat is a good thing but training and doctrine are what rules at the time.

The officer had a job to do and I would hazard a guess that he get's more agitation than cooperation as a general rule.

Maybe we can all back up, shake hands and agree to disagree...we have to share the finite space available to us on this planet with everyone else.

Another 2 cents worth from RogueUSMC adjusted for inflation...

Semper Fi

[E.Marquez]

He has no CHL yet so that requirement is not relevant...under MPA, don't mention it until asked about it.

Both carry under CHL and MPA is being discussed in this thread, hence my use of the words "confusing language in this thread"

Additionally the OP stated he is set to receive his CHL in the mail.. Further encouraging me to get the clear requirement to inform if carrying under CHL in this thread. No harm, no foul intended,, if it is knowledge YOU do not need, throw it away.. Perhaps it will help someone though.

[Dave2]

One should recall that if an officer arrests you in good faith with a faulty recollection of the law, they cannot be held liable.

Just saying...

Wait, so ignorance of the law is an excuse?

[RogueUSMC]

Knowledge is like money: to be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value.
- Louis L'Amour

lol...it's all good...is there knowledge you don't need?

[E.Marquez]

Knowledge is like money: to be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value.
- Louis L'Amour

lol...it's all good...is there knowledge you don't need?

Yes.. I have no current need to know the airspeed of an unlading swallow.. African or European

[RX8er]

Yes.. I have no current need to know the airspeed of an unlading swallow.. African or European

Au contraire mon frere, you do when ya hunt em.

The European variety fly at an estimated 11 meters per second: http://style.org/unladenswallow/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Blandtastic]

How about the answer to life, the universe and everything?

Hint: it's Forty-Two

[3dfxMM]

He has no CHL yet so that requirement is not relevant...under MPA, don't mention it until asked about it.

Both carry under CHL and MPA is being discussed in this thread, hence my use of the words "confusing language in this thread"

Additionally the OP stated he is set to receive his CHL in the mail.. Further encouraging me to get the clear requirement to inform if carrying under CHL in this thread. No harm, no foul intended,, if it is knowledge YOU do not need, throw it away.. Perhaps it will help someone though.

What I was trying to convey earlier (and clearly not succeeding) is that there is no requirement to tell the officer you have a weapon. If he asks, then yes, you should tell him. There are a lot of folks on here and elsewhere who will show their CHL whether carrying or not. I am one of them. However, I am of the opinion that doing that is sufficient. If the officer wants to know more he will ask.

[RX8er]

What I was trying to convey earlier (and clearly not succeeding) is that there is no requirement to tell the officer you have a weapon. If he asks, then yes, you should tell him. There are a lot of folks on here and elsewhere who will show their CHL whether carrying or not. I am one of them. However, I am of the opinion that doing that is sufficient. If the officer wants to know more he will ask.

That's the way I understand it. Just because I have a CHL does not mean I have to tell an officer I have a firearm in my vehicle or on my persons. I do have to give him my CHL if I am carrying a firearm. If he asks if I am carrying, then I will tell him.

I have rehearsed this in my mind a bunch:

1. I have been lite up
2. slow down and make my way to a safe place to pull over
3. Push the button to lower the rear window sun screen (cops can't see in through this)
4. Turn on the video and audio record of my phone
5. Pull over and turn on my hazards and interior light if needed
6. Turn off the car
7. Pull out my DL, CHL and insurance card
8. Roll down the window
9. Have them in my left hand with both hands on the wheel
10. Wait for instructions from the officer


Nowhere do I tell the officer about any firearms in my possession.

[CainA]

What I was trying to convey earlier (and clearly not succeeding) is that there is no requirement to tell the officer you have a weapon. If he asks, then yes, you should tell him. There are a lot of folks on here and elsewhere who will show their CHL whether carrying or not. I am one of them. However, I am of the opinion that doing that is sufficient. If the officer wants to know more he will ask.

I'm one of them too. DL, CHL, Insurance and registration, anything else just ask.