Yelling "gun" during traffic stop?

[Norwich2012]

Just was curious as to your opinions on a situation a friend and I encountered a few years back.

My friend and I were traveling a two lane highway (55mph) when we simply ran out of gas due to being broke kids. Unfortunately where we ran out was a fairly dangerous spot because there was NO breakdown lane, only a guardrail and a steep bank. After phoning a friend and waiting on a gas can, a State Trooper pulled in behind us and came up, asking for license and reg etc.......

We were traveling to one of our favorite duck hunting spots, so naturally we had two shotguns in the rear of the explorer with ammo in a separate bag. The trooper sees this and gets a little nerved up and goes back to his cruiser. After checking all was good with our IDs, he came back and gave us a lecture about needing our guns locked in cases in the back with the ammo locked up separately. This I can understand, although not practical for a few duck hunters just going around to jump spots.

What I could not understand was when he informed us that it was our duty to yell out, and I quote: "We have guns." My buddy and I both felt that this was hazardous to our well being, and we have come to the conclusion that we would tell any officer in the future when he actually arrived at the window.

What do most of you prefer, and how exactly would you react if we had followed this young trooper's advice?

Thanks all.

--Zach

[Legoate]

I personally don't like to be surprised with guns during a traffic stop. It's nice when a person tells me they have a gun before I figure it out by myself. It usually saves them the trouble of looking down the barrel of my Sig and guessing what caliber it is.

[Norwich2012]

i would also assume this has partly to do with you being in California? Its been my experience, especially in the fall hunting season EVERYONE has guns in New Hampshire

I would certainly TELL the officer if i was ever to be pulled over, just not yell it. :D

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Just was curious as to your opinions on a situation a friend and I encountered a few years back.

My friend and I were traveling a two lane highway (55mph) when we simply ran out of gas due to being broke kids. Unfortunately where we ran out was a fairly dangerous spot because there was NO breakdown lane, only a guardrail and a steep bank. After phoning a friend and waiting on a gas can, a State Trooper pulled in behind us and came up, asking for license and reg etc.......

We were traveling to one of our favorite duck hunting spots, so naturally we had two shotguns in the rear of the explorer with ammo in a separate bag. The trooper sees this and gets a little nerved up and goes back to his cruiser. After checking all was good with our IDs, he came back and gave us a lecture about needing our guns locked in cases in the back with the ammo locked up separately. This I can understand, although not practical for a few duck hunters just going around to jump spots.

What I could not understand was when he informed us that it was our duty to yell out, and I quote: "We have guns." My buddy and I both felt that this was hazardous to our well being, and we have come to the conclusion that we would tell any officer in the future when he actually arrived at the window.

What do most of you prefer, and how exactly would you react if we had followed this young trooper's advice?

Thanks all.

--Zach

My ninja intuition has failed to develop the psychic link with the officer who stopped you. Therefore, I don't know what effing state you were in. 50 U.S. States mean I have plenty of "state troopers" to choose from.

How we do it in AZ doesn't really matter if you're not living here, though. Each state has their own rules about weapons and how they're allowed to be carried.

[Norwich2012]

My ninja intuition has failed to develop the psychic link with the officer who stopped you. Therefore, I don't know what effing state you were in. 50 U.S. States mean I have plenty of "state troopers" to choose from.

How we do it in AZ doesn't really matter if you're not living here, though. Each state has their own rules about weapons and how they're allowed to be carried.

1) I have done enough reading on this site to know that state-specifc and law based questions are usually not able to be answered due to officer's distance from the one posing the question and this was not what I was asking anyways.

2) I was asking about personal preference and insight into the situation, more along the lines of how YOU personally would want a hunter to handle the situation and how you might take someone yelling gun out of the window at you.

3) Although irrelevant, I clearly stated this was in New Hampshire in my second post

[Sgt. Slaughter]

1) I have done enough reading on this site to know that state-specifc and law based questions are usually not able to be answered due to officer's distance from the one posing the question and this was not what I was asking anyways.
You obviously skipped (or disregarded) the multitude of posts that have come before yours in which newbies have no concept of states having different law and methods for handling things. Since you didn't mention that at all, should I (or any of us here) automatically know how much reading you've done and what you've comprehended?

3) Although irrelevant, I clearly stated this was in New Hampshire in my second post
You're right. It's irrelevant as I quoted your first post and opened my reply window before your second post actually hit the system. Ergo, it wasn't there.

[Norwich2012]

1) I have done enough reading on this site to know that state-specifc and law based questions are usually not able to be answered due to officer's distance from the one posing the question and this was not what I was asking anyways.
You obviously skipped (or disregarded) the multitude of posts that have come before yours in which newbies have no concept of states having different law and methods for handling things. Since you didn't mention that at all, should I (or any of us here) automatically know how much reading you've done and what you've comprehended?

3) Although irrelevant, I clearly stated this was in New Hampshire in my second post
You're right. It's irrelevant as I quoted your first post and opened my reply window before your second post actually hit the system. Ergo, it wasn't there.

although the LAST thing i would like is a pissing match, i would just like to point out that i stressed the fact i was looking for personal opinions and nowhere asked for legal advice.

i would also assume that since you greeted me to the site after i introduced myself in the proper way and expressed my education background concerning criminal justice that you would assume I had the elementary knowledge that different states have a completely different way of doing things.

[Cat_Doc]

My perspective:

Someone yelling "Gun!" as I am walking up on the car will cause the immediate actions;

#1. I will stop my approach while drawing my weapon and pointing it at the occupants. (I perceive the yelling of "Gun!" to be an immediate threat.)

#2. All occupants in the car from which some idiot yelled "Gun!" will show their hands and remain motionless (if they don't want the unpleasant feeling of a projectile slamming into their body) until I have sufficient back-up units arrive to conduct a "high risk" stop.

#3. All occupants of the vehicle will receive stern lecturing for yelling out "Gun!" as a law enforcement officer approaches their vehicle and schooled on the proper procedure of keeping your hands in plain view and politely informing the officer that there are weapons in the vehicle.

It is completely asinine and a distinct lack of common sense for anyone to yell "Gun!" as an officer approaches, no matter what state you are in.

I doubt very seriously that the state trooper told you to yell "Gun!" the next time an officer approaches while you have firearms in the vehicle.

And finally, if you are indeed being factual, the trooper who told you to yell "Gun" is an idiot.

[Citicop]

My perspective:

Someone yelling "Gun!" as I am walking up on the car will cause the immediate actions;

#1. I will stop my approach while drawing my weapon and pointing it at the occupants. (I perceive the yelling of "Gun!" to be an immediate threat.)

#2. All occupants in the car from which some idiot yelled "Gun!" will show their hands and remain motionless (if they don't want the unpleasant feeling of a projectile slamming into their body) until I have sufficient back-up units arrive to conduct a "high risk" stop.

#3. All occupants of the vehicle will receive stern lecturing for yelling out "Gun!" as a law enforcement officer approaches their vehicle and schooled on the proper procedure of keeping your hands in plain view and politely informing the officer that there are weapons in the vehicle.

It is completely asinine and a distinct lack of common sense for anyone to yell "Gun!" as an officer approaches, no matter what state you are in.

I doubt very seriously that the state trooper told you to yell "Gun!" the next time an officer approaches while you have firearms in the vehicle.

And finally, if you are indeed being factual, the trooper who told you to yell "Gun" is an idiot.

[Norwich2012]

My perspective:

Someone yelling "Gun!" as I am walking up on the car will cause the immediate actions;

#1. I will stop my approach while drawing my weapon and pointing it at the occupants. (I perceive the yelling of "Gun!" to be an immediate threat.)

#2. All occupants in the car from which some idiot yelled "Gun!" will show their hands and remain motionless (if they don't want the unpleasant feeling of a projectile slamming into their body) until I have sufficient back-up units arrive to conduct a "high risk" stop.

#3. All occupants of the vehicle will receive stern lecturing for yelling out "Gun!" as a law enforcement officer approaches their vehicle and schooled on the proper procedure of keeping your hands in plain view and politely informing the officer that there are weapons in the vehicle.

It is completely asinine and a distinct lack of common sense for anyone to yell "Gun!" as an officer approaches, no matter what state you are in.

I doubt very seriously that the state trooper told you to yell "Gun!" the next time an officer approaches while you have firearms in the vehicle.

And finally, if you are indeed being factual, the trooper who told you to yell "Gun" is an idiot.

This is exactly the kind of response i was looking for and is what i assumed to be the case. This is why my friend and I were shocked to hear him say this.

To clarify, he didnt advise us to simply yell the word "gun", he told us we needed to inform him of the weapons before he got near the vehicle. Even this seems like it would warrant a response such as what you posted.

Thank you for your reply

[BJJVad]

[Sgt. Slaughter]

i would also assume that since you greeted me to the site after i introduced myself in the proper way and expressed my education background concerning criminal justice that you would assume I had the elementary knowledge that different states have a completely different way of doing things.
I'll take it you know what happens when you assume... To think I remembered details about a quick post I made a month ago in an intro thread is silly on your part.

Your bad.

Carry on.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

[Norwich2012]

i would also assume that since you greeted me to the site after i introduced myself in the proper way and expressed my education background concerning criminal justice that you would assume I had the elementary knowledge that different states have a completely different way of doing things.
I'll take it you know what happens when you assume... To think I remembered details about a quick post I made a month ago in an intro thread is silly on your part.

Your bad.

Carry on.

yep im the silly new newb :D

my bad, all is good. thanks.

[Switchback]

i would also assume that since you greeted me to the site after i introduced myself in the proper way and expressed my education background concerning criminal justice that you would assume I had the elementary knowledge that different states have a completely different way of doing things.
I'll take it you know what happens when you assume... To think I remembered details about a quick post I made a month ago in an intro thread is silly on your part.

Your bad.

Carry on.

yep im the silly new newb :D

my bad, all is good. thanks.

For the record, I am addressing BOTH of you. I could have quoted more posts, but these 2 serve to demonstrate my point just fine.

There is no need for these posts to be in this thread. Each of you were speaking ONLY to the other and the posts serve no purpose for the rest of the RP community. In the future, take these sorts of comments to PM... and there is no need for the posturing from either of you. IT IS THE INTERNET.