Arizona LEOs Want To Take Possession Of Your Firearms During Stops
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 9 months ago
PHOENIX (AP) — Gun-friendly Arizona is trying to avoid deadly encounters between police and people behind the wheel by teaching armed drivers how they should handle themselves when they are pulled over.
Arizona, which allows residents to carry weapons without permits, recently changed its rule book for the road in a bid to avoid confrontations such as the one that killed Philando Castile. The Minnesota man, who had a gun permit, was fatally shot during a 2016 traffic stop after telling an officer he was armed.
Arizona is among a small number of states instructing drivers on what to expect during traffic stops. It appears to be the first to use its driving rules to address situations in which motorists are armed.
Democratic state Rep. Reginald Bolding said Castile’s death inspired him to seek changes to the state’s driver’s manual. He said the revisions were necessary because Arizona does not require gun permits and some owners have not been trained to handle firearms.
“The goal was to create a set of standards,” Bolding said.
The new edition of the driver’s manual, published about a month ago, advises drivers with guns to keep their hands on the steering wheel during traffic stops and tell officers right away that there’s a firearm in the car.
It also tells drivers not to reach for anything inside the vehicle without getting permission first. And officers can take possession of guns, for safety reasons, until the stop is completed. The firearms would be returned if no crime has been committed.
“For safety reasons.” And lawmakers and judges are just stupid enough to think there is something to that. Safety first, we are all taught to believe. But if that’s true, if this was all being done for safety, LEOs would never, ever actually touch another person’s gun.
That is the stupidest thing I can possibly imagine. It risks negligent discharges, as well as misunderstandings. A LEO cannot possibly know what he’s attempting to pick up – a semi-automatic, a pistol caliber carbine, a revolver, a double action semi-automatic, a round chambered or not, a 1911 with a traditional safety, safety on, safety off, a grip (beaver tail) safety, no safety at all, pistols with owner modifications, pistols with light trigger pull modifications, and on and on the list goes.
The author of this policy decision is an idiot. This does nothing to ameliorate risk, it only increases it, and for no good reason. If a gun owner informs a LEO that he has a firearm because that’s what the law stipulates, he isn’t the kind of person who will harm the officer with a firearm in contravention of an even greater law against murder. A criminal will wait until there is no other option, and he won’t inform the LEO that he has a firearm.
This is simply myth-making on the part of LEOs. Here is some advice for gun owners and LEOs as well. Leave the gun alone. Don’t handle the gun. Don’t touch the gun. Not anyone. Don’t touch the gun. Don’t touch the gun. Don’t handle the gun. Don’t touch the gun.
Understand?
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On July 24, 2017 at 2:58 am, Jon said:
It’s already the law. ARS 13-3102.H.L ” If a law enforcement officer contacts a person who is in possession of a firearm, the law enforcement officer may take temporary custody of the firearm for the duration of that contact.”
This article is about the MVD adding this information to the new edition of the driver’s manual.
Sucks, but it’s been that way for a while now. I’ve never had an LEO ask to take my gun, but I’d give it over if they requested it. I waffle on whether to inform them before being asked if I have one.
On July 24, 2017 at 4:34 am, DAN III said:
Where in Arizona law does it require motorists enduring a traffic stop, to declare weapons possession to the badged thug ?
Keep your mouth shut and hands on the wheel.
On July 24, 2017 at 8:06 am, Fred said:
Sir,
To clarify, Arizona is NOT a so called “Must Notify” state.
This a change to Drivers Ed. training and the driver’s handbook.
Arizona is a permitless carry state so young people that have been told in driving class to notify the po-po and then go armed may never be told that they don’t have to tell the revenuer, oh sorry, Police Officer, anything while he collects his $240 ‘traffic infraction’ fee. So while the revenuer makes his daily cut from the slave the situation now might spiral out of control because some kid says “I have a GUN”. Remember, all the revenuer will hear is GUN GUN GUN!
Stupid Training Leads To Stupid People.
The great thing about ‘no notify states’ is that, what our gracious host calls a; Thinking Man, can make the decisions needed to effect his and the revenuers safety by deciding at what point, if at all, to notify the super top cop revenuer just doing its job for the NWO Police State.
On July 24, 2017 at 8:51 am, Ned said:
What Jon said. Plus, they like to screw with you and run the numbers to see if your “gun is stolen.” Mind you, they don’t get the serial numbers off your car stereo or anything else in the car and run the numbers.
And they can do all this over a turn signal bulb being out. In central AZ, local LEO’s love running the numbers and hanging people up over alleged infractions.
On July 24, 2017 at 11:47 am, Bruce Gordon said:
Just understand, That if a local or state LEO takes Possession of ANY of my weapons, he has just committed a Federal Felony, and I will INIST that the local US Attorney prosecute him/her to the fullest extent of the GCA of 1968 as amended… I hold a FFL, and ALL my weapons are part of my Stock, and recorded in my BoundBook… There is NO provision for ANY State or Local LEO to remove from my Possession, FOR ANY REASON, a FireArm that is in recorded as Stock, in my BoundBook, without a Corresponding Entry, in that BoundBook, which I do NOT carry around with me… The only person authorized to make such a confiscation, is a US Marshal, OR an ATF Agent WITH A Warrant signed by a Federal Judge… Just Say’en…
On July 24, 2017 at 12:47 pm, Jack Crabb said:
The statist idiots can make all the pretend legislation they want, but getting half-retarded magic blue costumed idiots to follow said pretend legislation is an entirely different deal.
Not only would the half-retarded magic blue costumed idiots need to follow the pretend legislation, but they would have to not panic and pee their panties at the slightest provocation.
In addition to that, they would have to give clear, concise instructions. How many times have we heard the half-retarded magic blue costumed idiots say, “Don’t move. Give me your license and registration”? Shot if you do; shot if you don’t.
On July 24, 2017 at 2:57 pm, June J said:
I thought by saying this “Democratic state Rep. Reginald Bolding” you were being redundant saying this, “The author of this policy decision is an idiot” because idiocy is an implied state of Democrats.
On July 25, 2017 at 9:30 am, Dirk said:
Agree with the Captain, leave any all guns alone, just compounds the situation.
Jack, you bring up real deal valid points. Their instructions are as clear as mud.
Dirk
On July 26, 2017 at 8:30 am, Col. Douglas Mortimer said:
No duty to inform here in Wyoming, however….
“The permittee shall carry the permit, together with valid identification at all times when the permittee is carrying a concealed firearm and shall display both the permit and proper identification upon request of any peace officer.”
The permit isn’t even required IF you meet the conditions of the permitting process. I have the state permit for 2 reasons. First, reciprocity with 34 other states, and two, like an express checkout lane at the gun store.
On July 27, 2017 at 1:18 pm, Longbow said:
Of course they do! They wield the power of the State and you are…,
well I mean… what do you think you are? A free man? With Natural Rights? Rights secured to you by the State’s founding document? Protected by men who vow a sacred oath to defend those rights?
Why don’t you all just submit and comply? Submit! Submit! Its what free men do!!!!!
On August 2, 2017 at 12:29 am, Brian P. said:
During any traffic stop, armed or not, I roll my window down then grab the wheel at 10 & 2 and don’t move a muscle until the officer comes up and requests my ID etc. I don’t even rubberneck to look back at the cruiser. Then I clearly say “I need to get it out of my pocket/glove box/overhead” then calmly retrieve whatever with one hand, keeping the other hand firmly on the wheel. And I don’t bother putting anything away until they’re done and tell me to leave. Also, I end every answer or question with a Sir or Ma’am. And so far I’ve never once had an altercation with the police.