SG> distinguish between how it is carried - in plain sight, concealed, or
 SG> out of reach. Though naturally, "in plain sight" is asking for trouble.
 
 PN> How is "'in plain sight' is asking for trouble?"
 SG> You mean you don't know? Say you're on your way to the range, in which
 Uh, no, I don't know...
 SG> case you're allowed to have a handgun with you, or you're
 SG> "travelling", and you get pulled over for a busted tail light or
 SG> something similar. If you have a handgun on the seat next to you or in
 SG> a visible holster when he walks up to your car, what's he going to do?
 Well, here's where the difference between our respective jurisdictions
 are obvious.  I've never had any comment from any kind of law
 enforcement person while I've been carrying openly.  Well, some
 comments, but they've been of the nature of "Get a real gun" from a
 local chief and ipsc shooter who carries a plaxtic wondernine.  Usually
 there is a glance, and when it's determined that I'm not waving it
 around or pointing it at the officer it is then ignored .
 SG> Or you're driving home from a bar in town, and you may have had just a
 SG> little more than you should have. Maybe you hadn't eaten supper, and
 SG> it went straight to your head. If you're in a pickup truck with a
 SG> shotgun in the rack, a policeman is going to be a bit more careful with
 SG> you than he would otherwise.
 I haven't driven back from a bar while under the influence in a lot of
 years, since I quit drinking alcohol.  But I've never had any kind of
 law enfocement contact that the gun was any more of an issue than
 "Would you step back to my vehicle please" to get my speeding
 ticket(S).
 I have heard that it is not uncommon for the weapon to be run to see if
 it's stolen.  But such has not happened to me.  I've also heard that
 folks have been harassed, possibly in part to having a weapon, but
 again can't state that I've witnessed such or been party to it.
 I _am_ convinced that it is to some degree attitude.  I was told by
 granny that one may catch more flies with honey than vinegar, which I
 took to mean don't give the cop a hard time.  It must be -- and granny
 prolly knew what she was talking about because grandad was the chief --
 because I know that I'd have accumulated lots more points, and lots
 more fines, and deservedly so, except that I've always found that by
 treating the guy writing your tickets as a professional and with
 courtesy they've always been less than...enthusiastic? about writing me
 a ticket for everything I've deserved.
 (That's a heck of a run-on sentance and should be edited...but I'm too
 tired)
 SG> In the case of a handgun, he is not required to figure out if you had
 SG> it for a legitimate reason. Now, in rural areas or some such, he
 SG> probably would let you go if you seemed legitimate. But many city cops
 SG> won't take that chance - they'll let the legal people try to figure it
 SG> out. So you get to spend some time downtown, and depending on what the
 SG> legal people thought you might lose your gun for a while - until they
 SG> did figure it out.
 Locally, and again this is a difference in jurisdictions, possession of
 a firearm in and of itself is not a reason for anything.
 SG> A similar point, but not as bad, applies to the shotgun in the gun
 SG> rack. He's probably more likely to let you go if you're not too badly
 SG> impaired if he doesn't see a gun. But if he does, he may take you
 SG> downtown for a blood-alcohol test just to be safe.
 SG> And of course, "in plain sight" is also asking for trouble from the
 SG> bad guys if they think they can get the drop on you.
 Now this I'll state categorically to be untrue.  Firstly there is no
 evidence to back up the statement.  Second, most criminals are cowards
 and lazy.  Show a means of defense, show the ability to defend oneself,
 and _most_ criminals slink off.  Sure, there are the criminally insane,
 but they are in the minority.
 And besides, being openly armed keeps folks from invading your
 personal space, as in supermarket checkout and atm lines .
--- FMail 1.02
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