Police Unholstered Firearm

[FatsMcKay]

I do not know if he was beyond his duty but I had an encounter with a "Rocky Ripple Police." I was at Kessler and Michigan Road at the Shell Gas Station with a guy who was looking to buy an old side by side 20 gauge shotgun. He was inspecting it and this Rocky Ripple officer briskly walked towards me yelling for us to drop the gun, "DROP THE GUN," he said repeatedly. He had unholstered his weapon, which I believe was a Glock 19 with a bicycle innertube over the grip. We put the inoperable shotgun down in the trunk. He asked us if we knew each other and we told him we were friends. He said "I thought you guys might be doing an Ebay deal." He asked for our IDs and my friend gave him his ID and I told him I was carrying a pistol and he asked me for my ID. I asked if I could give it to him or if he wanted to get it for me. He told me to grab it as long as I didn't grab my gun. He ran our IDs and our LTCHs and it was clean. He tried to explain that we would have done the same thing if we were in his same situation.

I don't know. If I am doing a deal, I would like to meet in public and it was a refreshing situation. What do you guys think?

 

[KillStick]

Personally I don't see anything wrong with the officers reaction being that you were at a gas station. It is one of those places that typically get robbed so two guys with a shotgun should raise suspicion.

 

[jdmack79]

Personally I don't see anything wrong with the officers reaction being that you were at a gas station. It is one of those places that typically get robbed so two guys with a shotgun should raise suspicion.

Considering that carrying a long gun in public doesn't require any type of permission or license, I do see something wrong with it. The only excuse would be if the officer thought that they were under the legal age to posses a weapon. If they looked old enough, carrying a shotgun is no more worthy of police interaction than carrying an ice cream cone.

 

[Tanfodude]

Personally I don't see anything wrong with the officers reaction being that you were at a gas station. It is one of those places that typically get robbed so two guys with a shotgun should raise suspicion.

I would have to agree on this.

 

[LEaSH]

You didn't do anything wrong, OP. Neither did the cop, really.

I bet the Lowe's parkinglot would be a better place for ftf deals (if that's what you were attempting to do). But that's up to you.

 

[billybob44_Jr]

I wouldn't do a sell at a gas station. Best place is in the morning at a place where dumb people won't get freaked out about seeing a weapon. Sorry about your experience though...seems like you handled it well.

 

[kickbacked]

I've bought a gun at a gas station before, that being said i prefer meeting at a LGS. Less issues.

 

[buckstopshere]

So, a cop sees two guys handling a shotgun and an acceptable response is to have drawn his firearm and shout commands.....and this is acceptable to most of you?

I'd be filing a complaint if it were me OP.

And what the heck does an eBay deal have to do with anything? Let eBay deal with eBay, why does he care if you know each other or met on the Internet to sell a gun?

 

[Hammerhead]

I do not know if he was beyond his duty but I had an encounter with a "Rocky Ripple Police." I was at Kessler and Michigan Road at the Shell Gas Station with a guy who was looking to buy an old side by side 20 gauge shotgun. He was inspecting it and this Rocky Ripple officer briskly walked towards me yelling for us to drop the gun, "DROP THE GUN," he said repeatedly. He had unholstered his weapon, which I believe was a Glock 19 with a bicycle innertube over the grip. We put the inoperable shotgun down in the trunk. He asked us if we knew each other and we told him we were friends. What if you didn't know each other? Does that matter? He said "I thought you guys might be doing an Ebay deal." What the crap is an eBay deal? You mean a FTF sale? He asked for our IDs and my friend gave him his ID and I told him I was carrying a pistol and he asked me for my ID. Why? Were you committing an infraction or ordinance violation? If not, he can pound sand. I asked if I could give it to him or if he wanted to get it for me. Why would you want some strange man sticking his hands in your pockets? He told me to grab it as long as I didn't grab my gun. Because law abiding citizens are the ones going to suddenly commit a crime. He ran our IDs and our LTCHs and it was clean. He tried to explain that we would have done the same thing if we were in his same situation. So his explanation was that you would violate the rights of citizens for no apparent reason other than they were doing a perfectly legal activity in public?

I don't know. If I am doing a deal, I would like to meet in public and it was a refreshing situation. What do you guys think?

Responses in red.

What I think? The LEO overstepped his legal authority and violated your rights with your permission. Instead of observing you to find out what the hell was happening, he confronted you in condition red.

Then, instead of telling him to pound sand, you willingly submitted by handing over your papers when none are required, opening your mouth about a firearm that wasn't important at the moment (your sidearm) and letting him run your papers to make sure you were law abiding citizens when he didn't have RAS or PC to do so.

Fail all around.

 

[thompal]

Considering that carrying a long gun in public doesn't require any type of permission or license, I do see something wrong with it. The only excuse would be if the officer thought that they were under the legal age to posses a weapon. If they looked old enough, carrying a shotgun is no more worthy of police interaction than carrying an ice cream cone.

Unless they were putting on balaclavas at the time. No wait, that would mean they were ATF.

 

[Dead Duck]

I think more people should pull their guns out at gas stations. Have you seen the prices?





I tend to deal in larger parking lots. They give you more time to deal with annoyances.

City malls are fun.
Was sighting a scope on a light fixture while checking out a rifle I was wanting to get from some dude once. Those security golf carts are surprisingly fast.

 

[SERparacord]

I've found the large parking lots at the big box stores to be the best place.

 

[HmDBrian]

I hope you got this officers name or badge number, and I really hope you file a complaint. There is no reason for this, reather it was an internet sale or a friend, it does not matter it is a legal sale. No different than meeting someone to buy a guitar, tools, car, ect.

With that said, this is why when I do a ftf transaction, I try to do it inside my vehicle. Never know if a cop like this one is around, or a anti 2a individual, who will call 911 and make my quick ftf transaction into a long ordeal filled with unnecessary inconvenience.

 

[Jknight]

i dont see anything wrong ith the officers actions. first rule is go home at the end of the shift

 

[j706]

Good grief here we go

 

[Jknight]

dont think he thinhs your a criminal.

 

[UncleMike]

Good grief here we go

Yup.......

 

[11-B]

 

[jdmack79]

Good grief here we go

Yep. Here we go, another cop getting involved in a situation unnecessarily.

 

[ModernGunner]

Nope, you didn't do anything wrong. But the cop didn't do anything wrong, either.

Unfortunately, some out there appear to be oblivious to the fact that we've had, in the very recent past, mass shootings at places like schools, theaters, and parking lots. They also appear to believe that anyone and everyone around them should KNOW their intent, regardless of their actions.

They're apparently unaware that crime is predicated on 'intent' and I guess the thinking is that, before LEO's or anyone else investigates or interjects, those observing should stand by idly and 'wait to see' if their intent is to actually perpetrate a crime. Then, IF they actually DO perpetrate a crime, react.

Such thinking in this day and age is both naïve, and foolhardy. Why not meet outside a bank, or maybe a school?

Think about it. WHY didn't the Buyer and Seller meet at the home of one or the other? Usually the response is "for safety reasons". That's fine. At the same time, don't they have a responsibility to consider the safety concerns of all others in that same public place that aren't involved in the transaction?

We're all glad this was just an innocuous transaction, but those around them could not possibly have known it was innocuous. So the response from the LEO was appropriate. A little better planning in the future on the part of Buyers and Sellers will diminish or prevent such incidents.

Better to plan ahead, and perhaps avoid places like gas stations, banks, schools, and other such places where prior lethal incidents have recently transpired.

Better to be proactive and figure this out now. 'Cause if an inadvertent and unfortunate incident happens with such an FtF transaction, the gun-grabbers will most assuredly use the incident to blast pro-gunners, and ban such transactions altogether.

Which is what they're ALREADY trying to do. WHY give them a valid reason?