Present CHL if not carrying?

[nightmare69]

All that comes back from running plates is, make/model of vehicle, name/address of registered owner, insurance info, if the vehicle is stolen, that's all. When we run your DL is when we find out if you have a CHL. My advise, inform the officer you have a CHL or just hand it over with your DL. I prefer the citizen inform me vs dispatch.

[treadlightly]

My untested guess is that showing a CHL should indicate you aren't a problem child. You've been through background checks and presumably you walk the streets with the means and opportunity to create all sorts of mayhem - but you don't, because vetted law-abiding citizens with guns are even less of a problem than unverified law-abiding citizens.

In other words, why would you not practice de-escalation and show your CHL? I don't think it will make any difference in whether or not you're going to get a ticket, but it might make for more cordial conversation.

Cordial is good.

Frankly, watching police interact with armed nuts on youtube, I'm pretty sure the average cop in Texas has long since lost any knee-jerk reactions against lawfully armed citizens. Guns.com headlined this video as "Houston cop goes off on open carry advocate". But did the officer really "go off" on anybody? I think the cop was pretty cool when confronted by a kook with a kilt and a rifle, and appears to quite appreciate (sane) armed citizens and the Second Amendment - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think I would always show the CHL whether or not carrying.

[bigity]

My untested guess is that showing a CHL should indicate you aren't a problem child. You've been through background checks and presumably you walk the streets with the means and opportunity to create all sorts of mayhem - but you don't, because vetted law-abiding citizens with guns are even less of a problem than unverified law-abiding citizens.

In other words, why would you not practice de-escalation and show your CHL? I don't think it will make any difference in whether or not you're going to get a ticket, but it might make for more cordial conversation.

Cordial is good.

Frankly, watching police interact with armed nuts on youtube, I'm pretty sure the average cop in Texas has long since lost any knee-jerk reactions against lawfully armed citizens. Guns.com headlined this video as "Houston cop goes off on open carry advocate". But did the officer really "go off" on anybody? I think the cop was pretty cool when confronted by a kook with a kilt and a rifle, and appears to quite appreciate (sane) armed citizens and the Second Amendment - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think I would always show the CHL whether or not carrying.

This is my thinking as well. I guess you might have the exceptional 'bad cop' who dislikes you having a CHL, but for the most part I had thought from second hand stories (I have yet to need to provide ID to a peace officer since I received my CHL) that by and large, LEOs are good with people having CHLs.

As has been said, we are much less likely to cause any problems, you'd think that would be something an officer would be glad to know.

[mr1337]

My untested guess is that showing a CHL should indicate you aren't a problem child. You've been through background checks and presumably you walk the streets with the means and opportunity to create all sorts of mayhem - but you don't, because vetted law-abiding citizens with guns are even less of a problem than unverified law-abiding citizens.

In other words, why would you not practice de-escalation and show your CHL? I don't think it will make any difference in whether or not you're going to get a ticket, but it might make for more cordial conversation.

Cordial is good.

Frankly, watching police interact with armed nuts on youtube, I'm pretty sure the average cop in Texas has long since lost any knee-jerk reactions against lawfully armed citizens. Guns.com headlined this video as "Houston cop goes off on open carry advocate". But did the officer really "go off" on anybody? I think the cop was pretty cool when confronted by a kook with a kilt and a rifle, and appears to quite appreciate (sane) armed citizens and the Second Amendment - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think I would always show the CHL whether or not carrying.

The problem with the video is that he was detained for exercising a lawful activity. In order to be detained, officers must have reasonable articulate suspicion that you've committed or about to commit a crime. So, unless the officer had reasonable articulate suspicion the guy was a felon, he had no reason to be detained. And as established in the 4th Circuit, Black v. US, a firearm alone, when carried legally, does not create reasonable suspicion because felon is not the default status.

[K5GU]

I will also agree that it's best practice to show both driver's license and CHL when stopped by LE. Every LEO I've ever known, including CHL instructors, state, city, county, etc. say they prefer that practice. A couple of LE officers have told me they're immediately relieved to know during a stop, that you are probably a good citizen if you show the CHL. Mine are both in a removable fold-out insert that holds drivers license, insurance, and CHL.

I've heard many complaints and concerns from people about showing a CHL, but I've never heard a good reason for having those concerns. In other words, why wouldn't you want to show your CHL ?

[cb1000rider]

In other words, why wouldn't you want to show your CHL ?

Because, in a very few instances, it creates immediate tension... Which is sorta ridiculous, if you think about it.

I'm in the "provide it" crowd. I assume it is going to show up and if it's not provided, I'm going to be asked.

[Bill]

Got stopped for illegal right turn, handed the officer my DL and CHL, he said have a nice day and I went on my way. I did not ask him why!

[sabuck]

The mindset of "only present when legally required, otherwise the LEO has no right" continues to elude me.
I went through the wait time of the background check to get my CHL. Why wouldn't I want to "show off" that I'm a good citizen that a LEO doesn't have to be worried about when I have any kind of LE encounter?

Frankly, watching police interact with armed nuts on youtube, I'm pretty sure the average cop in Texas has long since lost any knee-jerk reactions against lawfully armed citizens. Guns.com headlined this video as "Houston cop goes off on open carry advocate". But did the officer really "go off" on anybody? I think the cop was pretty cool when confronted by a kook with a kilt and a rifle, and appears to quite appreciate (sane) armed citizens and the Second Amendment - " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think I would always show the CHL whether or not carrying.

Such as in this video, why not keep your ID handy so that interacting with a LEO takes 2 minutes instead of 20?