On dealings with Cops

I was reading Diogenes’ blog where he tells of a little incident he had with Po Po recently. It got me to thinking of run in’s I’ve had with them.

Once I made my own little entrance ramp onto the freeway by driving up an embankment. There was no traffic coming so it wasn’t like I endangered anyone. Then I put the pedal down and hauled ass.

A little ways down the road I was pulled over by a local cop. He started out as truly one of the more professional officers I’ve ever met. He pointed out that he could have written me up for driving me the embankment, doing over 85 in a 65 mph zone, and not wearing a seatbelt. I was polite and respectful and it resulted in only a speeding ticket for 74 in a 65.

When Officer Nicely handed me my license back I opened my wallet in front of him to put it back, and that’s when he noticed my CWP.

His whole demeanor changed instantly.

I swear to you dear reader that I am not exaggerating here. He took a step back, placed one hand on his pistol and sternly demanded to know if I was armed. His face had lost the friendly smile it had only moments before. This being some years ago, and before I developed the habit of carrying 24/7, I told him “No sir… it’s in the truck”.

He asked to see my CWP and I produced it for him. He scrutinized it closely as I stood there quietly thinking how ridiculous this all was. Then he handed it back to me and proceeded to lecture me on the necessity to always and immediately identify myself as a CWP holder upon any contact with LEO.

Now I’ve made myself thoroughly knowledgeable of Florida statutes, and there is no such requirement. Neither is a CWP even required for a firearm to be in an automobile. But I didn’t argue. Instead I was flabbergasted at how quickly the cop’s whole attitude had done a 180 the moment he discovered I was an armed man.

When the GOOBERment fears the citizen, it’s Liberty.