When would a CHL have legal right to handcuff

[Running Arrow Bill]

Any NON-LEO who contemplates "cuffing" a BG and/or intervening when one's own or one's other's is not in fear of bodily harm or death is well...

"STUPID IS...STUPID DOES!"

A/k/A... "Hey! Hold my beer...watch this!"

[Skaven]

HEH, I am glad that I can ask stupid questions anonymously without anyone knowing who I REALLY am. LOL But in reality, thanks for the feedback.

[WildBill]

HEH, I am glad that I can ask stupid questions anonymously without anyone knowing who I REALLY am. LOL But in reality, thanks for the feedback.

Skaven - This question has been asked by others, so don't think that it's stupid. One of the main purposes of the forum is for learning.

[srothstein]

Now for a slightly different point of view. Many non-LEO's carry handcuffs and use them all of the time to restrain prisoners. Your legal authority to handcuff someone is exactly the same as any security guard's. You may use the handcuffs when you are making a lawful arrest, which must be for a felony that occurred in your presence or to prevent the consequences of a theft.

But, I also agree with almost all of the other posters that it is a really bad idea. Placing the handcuffs on someone is the most dangerous part of any arrest for officers, and this is why you will normally only see it done with other officers present if there has been any resistance at all. Yes, I have handcuffed compliant prisoners without a cover officer. But it really made me nervous and I knew what I was doing (well, I had been trained anyway ).

But in other threads where this has come up, I have made sure to tell people that it is a good point. When you have the firearm for self-defense and point it at someone and yell for them to freeze, what are you going to do when they do freeze? You really need to think about this before it happens. Does it make a difference if it is a burglar in your house, someone breaking into your car, or someone trying to rob you on the street? Do you really want them to freeze, or do you want them to leave the area? Do you want them to drop their (or your) property or just leave as they happen to be when you catch them?

Consider all of this ahead of time so you know what you will say. Yes, I generally will tell them to freeze, as I have 30 years of habit behind that. But as a CHL, your choice may be to just tell them to leave and leave now. You may decide it is safer tactically to not try to hold them for the police. So, ask this and think about what you will say and when.

[Oldgringo]

I have a CHL to protect myself and my household. I have no authorization to fight crime, chase sirens, or handcuff others. It's not my job, and I have to believe there would be more than a few instances where a LEO would NOT appreciate me muddling around in his domain.

This just about says it all, IMO.

[Kythas]

But in other threads where this has come up, I have made sure to tell people that it is a good point. When you have the firearm for self-defense and point it at someone and yell for them to freeze, what are you going to do when they do freeze? You really need to think about this before it happens.

Very good point and I have actually thought through what I would do, which is exactly what I used to do when I wore a badge and had a suspect at gunpoint with no backup: I would tell the person to lie on the ground facedown, arms out to the side with palms up, ankles crossed, and have him turn his head away from me. I would inform him that any movement he makes would be interpreted by me as a hostile action. Then I would wait for officers to arrive on scene.

As a cop, there was no way I was getting within arms reach of a hostile suspect without backup. As a civilian, there's no way I'm getting within arms reach of a person I've been forced to draw on...period.

[Beiruty]

I do not have handcuffs, never owned one and may never have one. As far as I would go command the BG to freeze, hit the floor, hands above his head and hold him at gun point till local LEOs are on the scene to take over.

[RPB]

I own two pair of cuffs because ...I carried cuffs when I used to hang out with off duty officers all the time, to give to them.
I have no intention of cuffing anyone.

If I had too many bad guys in the house to watch, I might have a couple of them cuff themselves together while I held a gun on them, and have them take off their pants and stand outside till police arrived. I'd have the neighbors all come take pictures and point and laugh too. If they ran they'd be easy to describe to police and we'd have photos .... look for the two guys holding hands skipping ...

Just kidding, but nah I wouldn't get close to a bad guy.

Most non-LEO people don't even think, reach around the arm, versus reach between the guy's arm and his body ... No one has any business working with equipment without training IMHO. If you haven't had real training and think you can cuff someone who offers even mild resistance, you'll be surprised, not in a good way. Handcuffs make a really good weapon too once you get only one on a guy.... his new weapon to use against you. When I interviewed for Baytown P.D. in the 1970s, I had to cuff their martial arts trainer .... I did it, EVENTUALLY, but he got a day off due to his injuries .... so yeah I didn't get hired.

I later learned about the cuffs and body mechanics etc, and still ... I wouldn't get close to a bad guy, I'm not paid to get that close. The 2 pair of cuffs stay in my house now, mostly for my niece to play with, She's 15, likes to play and put them on .... I like to play too, I play like I lost the key

She loves animals, especially German Shepherds, I'm suggesting she work with a K-9 unit when she gets older.

[Ol Zeke]

HEH, I am glad that I can ask stupid questions anonymously without anyone knowing who I REALLY am. LOL But in reality, thanks for the feedback.

As my Grandaddy used to say, 'there's no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answers' and I get a lot them....

[Fangs]

+1 on letting them cuff each other/themselves, if you're going to take that route. I personally don't carry cuffs because... I prefer scarves?

[RPB]

Though not as sharp as a knife, cuffs can be used as a weapon, and I'd really think before allowing a bad guy to control or pick up another weapon ....

Seriously I'd probably have them on the ground waiting for police .... might have them dial and call police themselves on my cordless phone.... they might be real happy to get arrested and saved from the crazy homeowner

"Hello police hurry .... there's a nut holding us at gunpoint in his house we tried to invade .... please hurry, I gotta go potty ...

[JP171]

the only people you should ever cuff are your wife and girlfriend( and be very careful with that) all others get constructive detainment, as point your weapon tell em sit on their tail till the police show up or if you really think they might try something tell em lie on their stomach arms out to the sides palms up feet crossed. cuffing is a difficult thing to accomplish and the possibility of illegal restraint charges are high. so leave the cuffs at home for play, keep your cell phone close and use it. yes I have had people hit my with my own cuffs, had em run off with them on one wrist and even cut the crud out of my self trying to get them onto the BG.

[wheelgun1958]

When you get a badge (a real one) and a commission.

[Snap E Tom]

Seriously? Carrying cuffs? I'll be willing to bet that the type of person that carry cuffs would also get a CHL badge. In other words, likes to play cop.

[Skaven]

Question was answered. It was a misunderstanding. I thought that some people were carrying cuffs. Turns out they were LEO's and I didn't know that. Thanks for the feedback!