Tennessee Firearms Assoc. Inc.

If you are pulled over is it law that you have to tell the officer you have a handgun or is it a courtesy? I was told that it was not the law. Then a friend of mine who is a highway patrolman said it was. It wouldn't be the first time an officer didn't know the law. I am on the fence about this one. There are some officers that over-react and think they are the only ones that should be allowed to have a gun. I have always, in the past, done this but have had reservations about it lately because I have heard storys I don't like. An officer can pretty much make you lay down on hot dirty asphalt if they feel threatened.

Rich

While you are not required to tell a LEO that you have a HCP when stopped if they ask then you must then respond. Many believe it is good to inform if stopped, others don't feel the need. I believe it would be few LEO's that would react adversely to one having an HCP but I know there are probably some.

I always hand them my DL w/ my HCP and say nothing. Every time so far they have thanked me and handed it back. It lets them know I am a responsible citizen (that speeds) and it lets him know that I'm not going to shoot him to get out of a ticket.

As a police officer, I appreciate being informed and tend not to "over react". I know some with various agancies that are uncomfortable, but don't really show it. Believe me, I'm not typicly worried about the HCP holder. If I get a bad sence about it (heven't yet) I just ask them politely to keep their hands visible and take it from there. I'll find out when I run a license if you are an HCP holder and if it's valid. It won't tell me if you're packing, but it gives me an idea. If you are asked by an LEO if you have a firearm and you lie about it... it's a whole different issue if the LEO finds out you do have a firearm. That sends a bad signal and no one wants to be in that situation.

A few tips. Let the LEO know you have an HCP and that you have a firearm VERY POLITELY (to avoid seeming confrontational). Remember, that the LEO doesn't know you, where you've been, or what you were doing 10 minutes earlier. You could be coming from grandma's house or the bank you just robbed, or somewhere in between. I'm not suggesting that HCP holders are out robbing banks, I'm just saying they don't know you. Let the LEO know where the firearm is (on your hip, under your thigh, in the center console, etc). Ask him if he would like you to store the firearm in some way and let him know that you don't want him to feel threatened by you. I've had people offer to not only unload it, but offer to disassemble it. I laugh and tell them not to reach for it and continue my reason for stopping them. LEOs REALLY APPRECIATE THE COURTESY!!!

Funny story (short version). Before I was a police officer I went shooting in the country with some friends. I had the SUV so I was nominated to haul all the firearms. On the way back I was pulled over by THP and the first question he asked was "Do you have any weapons in the vehicle or on your person?" My shoulders sagged and I very politely explained to him that i had 14 pistols, 4 shotguns, 9 rifles, and enough ammo to support a small army behind enemy lines. He was a little concerned. To cut to the end, I was standing with the trooper behind my SUV showing him my bolt action .308 and he offered to buy it from me. The moral? Grandma was right... You attract more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

Take care and stay safe,

I like the idea of handing over my DL and HCP at the same time - it seems like a good/quite way to inform an officer.

While I understand that Tennessee does not require a handgun carry permit holder to inform law enforcement that the HCP holder is armed; letting the office know just seems like a reasonable thing to do and the best course of action to avoid a bad situation.

Some (I would think very few) officers out may overact/be nervous when you tell them but then again, if they are going to overact when you tell them and show them your permit; imagine how they might react if you don't tell them and they find out on their own!