OC at 4-H Fair. -1 Marshall County Reserve Officer

[686 Shooter]

Not all of them do, just the ones in uniform. The detectives and under-cover cops carry concealed. Wonder why under-cover cops carry concealed?

My Bad.
Not all of them do, just the ones in uniform. (And three off duty cops working the fair circuit, probably supplementing their income.) [STRIKE]The[/STRIKE] Most detectives and under-cover cops carry concealed.

 

[concrete dog]

I can tell everyone here that the Elkhart county fair is the same way. If caught with a gun they have you put it back in your car.

 

[lashicoN]

I have no issue with OC other than you have no element of surprise.

Not to pick on you here, zallen, but I've heard countless numbers of INGOers talk about this, "element of surprise" and I'm finding myself wondering why that is so important. Was the United States better off, while we were fighting with Japan, before we surprised our foreign enemies with the atomic bomb or after we demonstrated our new weapon and openly showed it off?

We're all free to make our own choices, but I would rather take a big deterring weapon over the element of surprise, or maybe a combination of both. OC a big gun as a deterrent and conceal a little one for that element of surprise.

 

[thumperdogg]

It is very concerning to me that 99% of LEO's think that it is illegal to open carry. What is wrong with that scenario? You would think that gun laws would be at the top of the list @ the academy!! What is even better is that there have been several open carry events to inform the public and yet the LEO's still don't know. I think it is time for these officers to have a refresher course. It is funny to hear stories all of the time of citizens explaining the laws to cops, I mean "REALLY?"

 

[Hoosierdood]

It is very concerning to me that 99% of LEO's think that it is illegal to open carry. What is wrong with that scenario? You would think that gun laws would be at the top of the list @ the academy!! What is even better is that there have been several open carry events to inform the public and yet the LEO's still don't know. I think it is time for these officers to have a refresher course. It is funny to hear stories all of the time of citizens explaining the laws to cops, I mean "REALLY?"

I'm not sure that 99% of LEO's are ignorant in regards to firearms. Many are extremely pro-rights, as is the case with several who are members of this board. The problem is that the ones who are ignorant are the ones who enforce their flawed understanding of the law and bring negative press on the whole bunch. It is our duty to hold these few accountable and educate them so that they do not continue to violate anyone's rights.

 

[Phil502]

Everybody on this website that carries should read this thread.

Hoosierdood I can't rep you right now or I would. Great job handling the situation, I know you had to make it clear that you will leave if asked since you could not immediately prove whether that was private property or not, refusing to leave could have given the Deputy reason to cuff you. With his attitude it sounded like a possibility.

The Chief handled his part very well, sounds like an honest guy.

 

[Hammerhead]

Maybe it's the fact that I'm new to the forums, but it seems by the way alot of people on here talk that you all are open carrying all the time. It also seems like a lot of you are walking around hoping that you can incite some type of excitement from a LEO or ignorant civilian. Don't get me wrong, I have no issue with OC other than you have no element of surprise. I personally choose not to and I think it is great that we have OC in Indiana and I'm not gonna get arrested for some libtard seeing the butt of my gun when I bend down to tie my shoe.

Just as an example, and you can read more here, but there are many more instances of people OCing daily that don't have interactions with LEOs, concerned citizens, ignorant libtards, etc.

I OC 98% of the time I carry. I have yet to be accosted by LEOs, accused of being a murder or a criminal, or had anyone ask me anything more than "Hey, whatcha carrying?"

I don't carry to incite any excitement, and I honestly don't give a flying fornication if people are scared, excited, concerned, or bored sipping their overpriced coffee.

Why would you get arrested because some libtard sees the butt of your gun when you tie your shoe? Unless you're in a place that it's illegal to carry (courthouse, secure part of an airport, school, riverboat casino, jail...) then what can you be arrested for? Let me answer my own question. You can't. There's nothing to be arrested for if you're OCing or CCing and someone "glimpses" your sidearm, unless you're in a location like those I just cited.

More than likely what you're seeing, instead of people "trying to cause problems or be accosted" is only the times when people are, because we want to inform our fellow carriers of the garbage we're suffering when ignorant people foist themselves and their beliefs on us. It's not as common as you think, it's just a better topic to discuss than "I OC'd everywhere I went today and meh, nothing happened. What about you?"

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

It is very concerning to me that 99% of LEO's think that it is illegal to open carry. What is wrong with that scenario? You would think that gun laws would be at the top of the list @ the academy!! What is even better is that there have been several open carry events to inform the public and yet the LEO's still don't know. I think it is time for these officers to have a refresher course. It is funny to hear stories all of the time of citizens explaining the laws to cops, I mean "REALLY?"

The problem is that "gun laws" / firearms / are OUR hobby. WE make it priority to learn about them, study them, know them inside and out.

Not all LEO are "gun people". They all have all kinds of laws to know about; traffic laws, tresspass, mischief, DV, battery, burglary, robbery, you name it.

While in an ideal world, every LEO would know 100% of the law 100% of the time, it's just not the case.

If this were a 4x4 / off roading forum, we (in general) would complain about local LEOs not knowing the codes for bumper height, exhaust decibel levels, number of lights you're allowed to have turned on at any one time, and on and on and on.

-J-

 

[96firephoenix]

good job dealing with it, I hope his boss was more professional than he was.

gotta admit, I read the title too fast the first go and thought it was a Deputy Marshall giving you the hassle.

 

[japartridge]

Not to thread jack but how about your priest coming up to you after Mass and reaching in to pat your side and landing his hand squarely on the butt of your G23 in a cross draw holster under your shirt. My toes curled and I about deficated on the spot. I don't think he had any idea what he did.

Wow!!! that would be awkward to say the least! what did you do?

 

[SirRealism]

Given the fact that it's really hard to memorize all laws, I'd easily give LEOs a pass for not knowing everything. But that assumes that they don't act like richards, and they listen before over-reacting.

The unfortunate part about being ignorant of carry laws is that the stakes are high in situations involving guns... and it's one of the (if not the) most important of our rights.

 

[iChokePeople]

The attorneys and judges don't know 100% of the law without going back to the books... expecting that of the LEOs is silly. I suspect that 90%, or better, are familiar with this law, at least at the enforcement level... but the nature of the beast is that you'll only have (or at least remember and discuss...) encounters with the 10% who don't.

 

[thumperdogg]

The problem is that "gun laws" / firearms / are OUR hobby. WE make it priority to learn about them, study them, know them inside and out.

Not all LEO are "gun people". They all have all kinds of laws to know about; traffic laws, tresspass, mischief, DV, battery, burglary, robbery, you name it.

While in an ideal world, every LEO would know 100% of the law 100% of the time, it's just not the case.

If this were a 4x4 / off roading forum, we (in general) would complain about local LEOs not knowing the codes for bumper height, exhaust decibel levels, number of lights you're allowed to have turned on at any one time, and on and on and on.

-J-

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for LEO's and I am not knocking them in any way. The only problem I have is them not knowing that it is legal to open carry. In my mind, this should be one of the most well known laws out there. I don't expect them to know right off the top of their head every law, but guns are a big and serious part of our society. I have never seen a LEO get an attitude with someone for OC, but get tired of them saying "you know you are supposed to have that thing concealed." I just wish they would have a special training session that covers this subject.

 

[ryknoll3]

Maybe it's the fact that I'm new to the forums, but it seems by the way alot of people on here talk that you all are open carrying all the time. It also seems like a lot of you are walking around hoping that you can incite some type of excitement from a LEO or ignorant civilian. Don't get me wrong, I have no issue with OC other than you have no element of surprise. I personally choose not to and I think it is great that we have OC in Indiana and I'm not gonna get arrested for some libtard seeing the butt of my gun when I bend down to tie my shoe.

I think it's funny that people often say on INGO, "I'm glad we have open carry in Indiana, but I don't think you should do it."

What's the point of having a liberty properly recognized if you're not going to exercise it?

 

[jgreiner]

People in this country do need to get used to seeing people with guns, no doubt, but that needs to be done thru education, not intimidation.

Open Carry is intimidation? I can't disagree more. That is the equivalent of saying wearing a football jersey is intimidation.

If someone is afraid of a gun, so be it. that isn't my problem...any more than it is my problem if they are afraid of spiders, and I have a picture of one on my t-shirt.

If they are intimidated by the sight of a gun, then they need to seek professional help to get over that.

A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity. ("General Introduction to Psychoanalysis," S. Freud) Sigmund Freud

 

[henktermaat]

Open Carry is intimidation? I can't disagree more. That is the equivalent of saying wearing a football jersey is intimidation.

If someone is afraid of a gun, so be it. that isn't my problem...any mroe than it is my problem if they are afraid of spiders, and I have a picture of one on my t-shirt.

If they are intimidated by the sight of a gun, then they need to seek professional help to get over that.

A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity. ("General Introduction to Psychoanalysis," S. Freud) Sigmund Freud

AMEN to that.

 

[GBuck]

As such, the COUNTY cannot have any law/rule/policy on this.

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but, you cannot carry a firearm in to any government owned buildings such as courts, city-county buildings, BMVs, etc. I also know you cannot carry at the State Fairgrounds too.. So, is this any different?

 

[Scutter01]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but, you cannot carry a firearm in to any government owned buildings such as courts, city-county buildings, BMVs, etc. I also know you cannot carry at the State Fairgrounds too.. So, is this any different?

Check your facts. You're (mostly) incorrect. With the except of the courthouses and the Fairgrounds (but ONLY during the State Fair), all of those places are good to go.

 

[Hoosierdood]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but, you cannot carry a firearm in to any government owned buildings such as courts, city-county buildings, BMVs, etc. I also know you cannot carry at the State Fairgrounds too.. So, is this any different?

Actually, you are incorrect. You cannot carry into a building that houses a courtroom. You may still carry at city, county, and state owned buildings including the county/city building and the BMV. Indiana Code 35-47-11.1 is the portion of the law that just went into effect on July 1, 2011 which made it illegal for any governing body to make any rule, decision, ordinance, or law concerning the owning, possession or carrying of firearms. You may even carry into a facility that has metal detectors. You still may not carry at the State Fair since that is state law, and you cannot carry on school property. Other than that, you are pretty much free to carry anywhere you like (other than Federally controlled property).

 

[SirRealism]

Lots of education resulting from a person OCing.

Just sayin.