HI, FIRSTLY I'M NOT YELLING BECAUSE THIS IS ALL IN CAPS.....I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THE COLOR OR FONT IN MY REPLY SO I'M DOING IT MY WAY.
Yes, when you are in fact required by law, you should in fact do so. By carrying that concealed weapon (which I do as well, thank you for doing so yourself) in the state of TX you have already agreed too further limits in your right to remain silent. You signed away some of that right. I do not agree with it, but you did sign it away, so you no longer have that right, in that respect.
My "moron" comment may have been a bit harsh. For that I apologize. However, answering the questions "do you know why I stopped you" can (and will be) used against you in a court of law.
By answering that with an affirmative, you have just plead guilty to the very thing he is stopping you for.
He is NOT a judge, so pleading guilty to him serves you no good at all. Why would you do that? With that said, I have always had very civil and respectful conversations (with most) LEOs and they have always respected my rights... to remain silent, to carry my gun, etc.
A WHILE BACK I WAS GOING TOO FAST IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON A ARMY BASE COMING DOWN A HILL ON A BRIDGE...GUESS WHO WAS WAITING AT THE END OF THE BRIDGE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD? WHEN I SAW THE LEO UNIT TURN AROUND I STARTED LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PULL OVER.
I HAD MY DL AND INS. CARD READY WITH MY HANDS IN PLAIN SIGHT AS HE APPROACHED MY TRUCK....WHY?....BECAUSE EVERY TIME A LEO MAKES A TRAFFIC STOP IT COULD BE THE LAST THING THEY EVER DO.....I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE DAILY STRESS THEY LIVE WITH.
WHEN ASKED IF I NEW WHY I WAS STOPPED I SAID "YES" HE KNEW IT AND I KNEW IT.....I THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE CONSTRUCTION WARNING SIGNS WERE NOT PLACED PROPERLY AND WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC BEHIND NEARLY PUSHED ME OFF THE BRIDGE
THE TRAFFIC CONTINUED TO SPEED BY DURING ALL OF THIS HE RAN MY PLATES AND DRIVERS LICENSE, CAME BACK TO THE TRUCK THANKED ME AND REMINDED ME TO SLOW DOWN
AWAY HE WENT WITH LIGHTS FLASHING.
I ANSWERED HIS QUESTIONS BECAUSE HE AND I BOTH NEW I WAS GOING WAY TO FAST ...I WAS BUSTED AND PREPARED TO TAKE THE TICKET IF I HAD TOO......I WAS CALM AND POLITE AND SAID YES SIR AND NO SIR BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY I WAS RAISED....WORKS FOR ME
The fact that you fought (and been injured, both physically and mentally) for these very rights should put them even higher on your priority then just pleasing the LEO to avoid "harassment".
You certainly did not fight for this country only to bow down to everyone with a badge did you?
IMO JUST BEING POLITE TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ISN'T "BOWING DOWN' TO ANYONE......IF I WERE A LEO, AND EVEN NOW THAT I'M NOT, I WOULD THINK SOMEONE WHO REFUSES TO EVEN STATE THEIR NAME HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE........AFTER ALL WHAT WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED...PLEADING GUILTY TO BEING YOURSELF?
I THINK LEO'S ARE LIKE ANY OTHER GROUP THERE IS GOOD AND BAD IN ALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
I certainly have no fear of a couple of bad cops coming to harass me. They can, and I will most certainly file a civil suit and claim some of that hard earned tax dollars that they will be happy to pay me in a settlement.
And if it were not for people like myself, your rights would not exist at all. They would happily trample on them left and "right". So, while I thank you for *your* service, don't forget to thank those that are CURRENTLY protect your rights that you fought for... such us weirdo's who will happily irritate that LEO to prove the point
that he is the servant, not the master.
EXCEPT FOR THE THANKS TO GUNNY FOR HIS SERVICE......IMO THE ABOVE IS JUST WRONG.....THAT'S JUST WHAT I THINK .........DOESN'T MAKE ME RIGHT.........OR YOU EITHER. TJB
Be safe too Gunny, and thank you for your service. It would be an honor to put a beer in front of you one day
