I didn't want to hijack a good thread https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo..._defense/134941-surrendering_your_weapon.html but I have thought about this while reading it. Typically I wouldn't inform an officer I had a firearm unless I felt I had to, but I was recently pulled over in Michigan (must inform) and I thought what would be the safest way to "get it over with" if he asked for my gun. I'm of the opinion that refusing, even asking "am I being detained, etc" would escalate a situation that at least at the time of the stop, I would always be on the losing side of.
Before handing someone a gun, especially one they aren't familiar with, it has always been my practice to clear the weapon. With the talk of officers asking for firearms during stops, if you were to surrender your weapon to an officer, clearing it first would seem to be the safest route.
The drawbacks
-the officer would most likely have their gun pointing at you. I am really not a fan of ever having guns pointed at me.
-you are now handling the firearm and the officer may misunderstand what you're doing (even if you inform them prior to doing it) and react.
-Any time you handle a firearm there is always an increased chance of accident, but is that better than giving the officer the chance to have an accident?
The advantages
-the weapon is now "safe" and the chance of you getting shot by your own gun is reduced.
-less likely to have damage to your weapon from someone not familiar with it trying to clear it.
-hopefully the officer would not have their gun pointed at you after this.
-you won't get your gun back in pieces with your magazine in one place and your bullets some place else... hopefully
As always, LEO input is appreciated, but what does everyone else think?
Before handing someone a gun, especially one they aren't familiar with, it has always been my practice to clear the weapon. With the talk of officers asking for firearms during stops, if you were to surrender your weapon to an officer, clearing it first would seem to be the safest route.
The drawbacks
-the officer would most likely have their gun pointing at you. I am really not a fan of ever having guns pointed at me.
-you are now handling the firearm and the officer may misunderstand what you're doing (even if you inform them prior to doing it) and react.
-Any time you handle a firearm there is always an increased chance of accident, but is that better than giving the officer the chance to have an accident?
The advantages
-the weapon is now "safe" and the chance of you getting shot by your own gun is reduced.
-less likely to have damage to your weapon from someone not familiar with it trying to clear it.
-hopefully the officer would not have their gun pointed at you after this.
-you won't get your gun back in pieces with your magazine in one place and your bullets some place else... hopefully
As always, LEO input is appreciated, but what does everyone else think?