What are your feelings/experiences with cops and guns?

Many years ago I was stopped for a speeding ticket (38 in a 35 zone, I beat the ticket in traffic court). I told the cop I was on my way to a rifle range and had several firearms in my truck. The cop asks me for my CCW, telling me I had to have one to transport firearms to a range. This happened in Virginia, I told the cop that Va. didn't have any law like that on the books, the cop informs me he KNOWS the law and I had better not argue with him about it. So I calmly asked him to get his supervisor down here, I have all day and I can wait. He goes back to his cruiser and I assume he gets the supervisor on the radio. Regardless of whom he spoke to, he came back to my truck about 10 minutes later, madder than a wet hen, and then damn near throws my license, registration and insurance info back at me and tells me to sign the goddamn ticket and clear out of here. I signed it, since it was only for 3 miles over the limit and nothing else. When I went to court the cop didn't even show up, so they had to let me off.

I think alot of cops are intimidated by us CCW holders or just the idea of us having guns in our cars.

It was this one story up here in Ohio where this cop pulled this guy over. He didn't get the chance to inform him about the gun because the cop was loud and rude. When the guy finally told the cop about the gun he just went off saying he could of blow the mans head off and some more bull crap. The cop was under investigation. And there are other cases similar to this one, one was even caught on a CCW holder's mini cam and was used as evidence against the cop. Cops are people not machines, some are good and some are bad(and stupid). It is just one of the bad things about being interested or owning guns. Gun owners will always get the bad rap. A wise thing to do is get one of those mini cams, Smith and Wesson makes them. And if things get bad ask to speak with the officer's supervisor.

How do you think the average cop will handle finding a LEGAL gun in a car?

they'd treat me like a armed & dangerous criminal until they can confirm I'm not a felon/otherwise banned from owning guns.

if I happen to have my wasr-10 (California legal) with me, I think they might go directly to "felony arrest" mode. you know how cops are, completely ignorant of the law, made worse by that state of California which makes it seem like anyone that has it automatically = a gang member.

What about in a bigger city?

I couldn't be in a bigger city, Los Angeles Metro area stretches over a 120x100 mile area (includes parts of other counties, but I consider it all part of LA, imaginary lines between houses doesn't make a border) more or less from Oxnard to Highland to Temecula to San Clemente. Covers parts of Ventura County, all of LA county, Western Riverside County, San Diego County and all of Orange County. its a huge chunk of continuously populated terrain. unending land of people's homes, businesses, workplaces, and buildings everywhere.

Has this ever happened to you? What exactly happened?

no, thank god. generally keep cool if a cop stops you and don't be driving thru gang areas at night.

Cops are not going to be confused by a FOID law that only exists in Illinois. PA is gun friendly and cops are not going to hassle you. I am in NY (not the city) and was stopped once by a trouper because they were helping the game warden. He wanted to see the rifles were unloaded but did not even mention the fact that most of us were openly carrying handguns. This was probably illegal because handguns are supposed to be carried concealed in NY, but this was a rural area and we were wearing hunting gear so who cares. PA is friendly to guns and cops know they are legal.

It really depends a lot on the cop, the area you're in, and what kind of gun.

If you get stopped by a good ole boy and you've got a Remington 870 Wingmaster- you're probably going to be fine. He might behave differently if it is an AR15 or an AK clone, etc.

Likewise, you get stopped by one of the "gun guys" who's a cop in a city like Houston- doesn't really matter if you've got a registered SBR, a chest rig, and 2000 rounds of ammo. He'll be cool with it- I worked with some soon-to-be cops like this.

Now- If you're traveling through New Jersey (read "traveling through" as legally protected by the FOPA 1986), and the cop asks if you have a gun- and you have a single shot .22LR in a locked case in your trunk, and a Federal value pack of ammo under the passenger seat.... prepare to get tazed, dragged to jail behind the cop car, and crucified the next morning for being in possession of a "tactical assault sniper rifle machine gun pistol Saturday night special with thousands of rounds of armor piercing incendiary anti-aircraft bullets".

There is no definitive answer.

In California, on our way home from Dirt bike riding and a weekend of shooting, I was pulled over by CHP for going 60MPH with a trailer. In CA you can only go 55MPH while towing. I had my wife and 2 kids (girls) in the SUV with me. Cop asked me for my LIC, Reg etc. and asked where we were returning from. I told him Yucca Valley. He then asked me if I had anything illegal in the car to which I responded,

"No I do not, however for your safety and mine I do want to advise you that there are several firearms (<--Note the word FIREARMS, not GUNS) in the rear of the SUV. All hand guns are in a locked safe and shotguns and rifles are amongst the ice chest and other goodies in the rear." He responded. "Great I appreciate you notifying me" He then went back to his car for a few minutes I assume to run my Lic. and Registration.

He returned to the car looking in the rear windows on his way, and asked me if all the firearms were registered to me.

I responded. "No Sir, I have 1 shotgun and 1 Revolver that my father loaned to me for this trip, however I do have my HSC which allows him to loan them to me for up to 30 days." I pull out my HSC and present it.

"Very good, and any other firearms in the back are registered to you?"

"All except for my wife's XD, that is registered to her"

CHP nods his head and looks at my wife. "Enjoy shooting do ya?"

"Love it" - responds my wife.

The officer looks at my kids, and asks if they had a good time. They said they did. He then looks at me and returns my Lic, Reg, Insurance and says. "Clearly you know the laws in California, therefore you know that you need to maintain a speed no faster than 55 when towing."

me - "Yes Sir, the trailer was pushing me a bit down the decline, perhaps I will drop the car into second next time so I do not gain so much speed."

Officer -" Very good, 5 MPH over isn't worth the time to cite you, so I will just give you a verbal warning. Be safe on your journey home, and have a nice day"

In my case, I was polite, honest and clearly new my rights and the state law. The officer responded with the same kindness, trust and professionalism. Had I been an A hole, I am sure it would not have gone so well.

A gun won't be ready to be a "who". basically you may keep your loved ones, yet a gun isn't the only element you need to use. while you're that worried approximately your loved ones and getting broken in to, then shifting to the country, finest a sparkling existence and not striking around regulation breaking idiots will do extra for you than any gun ever could.

Well, I had two, neither one very eventful. I got stopped for a cracked windshield and when the officer came to my window, my first words were " sir I have a pistol beside me ". He just said " Ok, can I have your license, registration, and proof of insurance please? " I gave him the items, he asked me to put my hands on the steering wheel where he could see them, and he went back to his car. When he returned he handed me my items, told me I had 30 days to get it fixed, said " have a nice day " and off he went! The other experience was when I had to pick up a revolver of mine that had been confiscated from a friend of mine, during a marital dispute. I had lent this gun to my friend to carry, as he worked at night and had to go through a not so great part of town to get to his job. He had the gun for over a month and was going to buy his own in another few days. Well, he got into it with his wife one night, and she called the cops on him. As it turned out, they both went to jail and my gun went also! I was told I could pick it up in a few days. They wouldn't turn it over to my friend, they said it could only go back to it's owner. Ok, all I had to prove ownership was the serial number in a notebook I keep with all my guns serial numbers. That satisfied them perfectly and my gun was returned. Never got the ammo back though! :)

Colter, your last paragraph is classic! Thanks for making me piss myself!!!

got stopped in a city of 400,000 by a county sheriff. he saw a bucket in the back of the truck with empty shotgun shells and busted clays in it. he came to the window and said " good afternoon sir, do you have any weapons in the vehicle?" i said " yes sir, there is a shotgun under the back seat."

he said " ok, well the reason i stopped you is because i think the tint on your truck is a little too dark" he did the whole testing my tint thing, told me it was too dark and sent me on my way. not another word was said about the shotgun. i couldnt have been more pleased with the whole experience.

He would just ask you "Do you have any guns in the car"? And you say yes he would probably just take it out and if everything checks out write you a speeding ticket or something of that sort and go on with his day.