Is packing a gun big trouble??

[Jesse Risley]

I carry a gun in my vehicle all the time, including chasing.
I had an attempted car jacking in Tulsa back when I was 17. It scared the living crap out of me and as soon as I was old enough to carry, I started.
One thing that has not been brought up is the injured animal scenerio. A few years ago while chasing, we hit a deer. The deer had broken legs and other injuries that would eventually kill it. We were out in the middle of nowhere and the animal was suffering greatly therefore I put it out of its misory with a .38 snub nose revolver. I would have felt terrible just leaving it there in pain, only to end up dead anyway.
I have gone to a Glock 27 (.40 compact) for my vehicle now and really like it - in case anyone is shopping guns.

I would not advise this course of action, for safety reasons if nothing else. Getting charged with poaching may be the least of your problems.

Sure, this sounds like the humane thing to do, but most lawmaking jurisdictions specifically forbid a civilian from discharging a firearm within a specified distance (often 100+ feet) from a public right-of-way, including highways and streets. This could end up being far worse than a poaching citation. Your best course of action is to contact LE and have them dispatch the injured animal.

 

[Jesse Risley]

Your damned if you do and your damned if you don't. The bottom line will end up being that you will be at risk for legal problems if you carry a gun. (welcome to the New America ) so its going to be a matter of whether you want to risk carrying a weapon in a case in the trunk or something while driving in order to secure your safety at night. Parking in well lit areas and common sense will alleviate most of the risks but sadly there is still that risk. For the record I am Pro Gun and well armed so I can tell you that being armed does intimidate some people and when its an LEO it can be a bad deal for you.

Since the thread specifically addressed the need to carry as a chaser, I think something else needs to be added. If you're going to carry a firearm, what happens when you do find yourself in a situation where it could or should be used? This isn't a topic to take very lightly.

I think we need to remember that the use of a firearm on another person is an extremely sensitive legal topic as well, and you will most likely be prosecuted or sued regardless.

If you do actually have to use that gun for self-defense, you better make darned sure that your life was actually in imminent danger and that you had no other reasonable alternative. You're not generally (it differs from state to state) going to be justified in shooting someone who is merely stealing your chase equipment or trying to break into your vehicle; your life is going to have to be in danger or you'll likely be doing some jail time.

 

[Brandon Ivey]

Thanks for the links George! I plan to take a conceal and carry class next Sunday. I am going to throw in a direct link to information on which states you'll be able to travel in with your gun concealed. If you DO plan to carry a concealed gun and chase at the same time, this will help you out on the legal side of things. I would also recommend that you don't speed while doing so. This could add major delays to your chase and possible problems. I also found it interesting that Kansas will honor Nebraska, but Nebraska does not honor Kansas. This list was updated back in October of 2007 so some things may have changed by now.

http://www.ksag.org/files/shared/conceal.carry.reciprocity.pdf

 

[Brandon Goforth]

As has been mentioned several times, every state has its version of gun laws. Take a look at these sites for further info:

http://www.handgunlaw.us/
http://carryconcealed.net/legal/reciprocity.php

Also, please check with your state officials. Here in Nebraska, the State Patrol administers the CCW program:

http://www.nsp.state.ne.us/findfile.asp?id2=252

Kansas has a much better site:

http://www.ksag.org/content/page/id/90

Geo

Good info there, and you're absolutely right about laws varying across states. If I got a concealed carry permit in OK, not all states would recognize that. However, I was talking only about Oklahoma law, and if you do not have a permit to carry, you must keep the handgun laying out in open view (not in the trunk) with the ammo separate and out of reach. This way an officer can easily see it without having to search for it or having you tell him where it's at. You have to keep it out in the seat, this is the legal way to go about it. You might be able to keep it in the floor on the passenger side so long as it can be easily seen, but it HAS to be in open sight where it can be easily seen without search. Yes, someone might see it and call you in, which would be stupid on their part, because there's nothing illegal about transporting firearms, but that's the benefit of a carry permit. If you don't want an ignorant person calling the cops on you for having a pistol laying out in your front seat, then go get a permit and conceal it, it's simple. Regardless of whether you have a permit or not, if you get pulled over, as the officer walks up to your car simply put your hands on the window so he can see both of them and tell him you are carrying a gun, legally of course either by permit, or by transporting in open view. You will be fine, especially in this part of the country. Don't hide it, don't put it in your trunk (I don't even have this option driving a single cab truck), and certainly don't put it in your glove box. So as far as David Skau claiming that I'm "misinformed" by saying to leave an UNloaded handgun in your seat if you don't have a permit, he should've done more research before making that comment. If you are in OK and don't have a permit to carry, and you don't have it out where it can be seen, you can easily be charged with concealing a weapon. Don't make that mistake.
http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=69762

 

[Brandon Goforth]

You're not generally (it differs from state to state) going to be justified in shooting someone who is merely stealing your chase equipment or trying to break into your vehicle; your life is going to have to be in danger or you'll likely be doing some jail time.

This is also correct. You can't shoot someone for trying to run off with your gear, even though they might deserve it. But if they threaten your life, especially with a knife or other weapon, I say start blasting because you have the right to defend your life. I'm not sure, but I think that in OK you can actually shoot someone if they break into your house without them threatening your life. I'm not sure on that last part though, I will have to look, of course it's irrelevant as far as chasing is concerned though.

 

[Gene Moore]

I live on the Mexican border and it can be truly dangerous, especially at night. Problem is, shooting someone generally gets the person defending themselves in jail. Better that than dead through, if the threat is real, but what if it's not and an innocent person gets shot....your life could be over. I have at times carried a firearm, but I think it's better to chase in a group.

If I may offer a bit of advice....

With regard to taking lightning pictures at night. If you are within visual range of any lone farm house chances are high you can expect problems. Sometimes they just call the police, that's no fun. Sometimes they will stick a gun in your face and tell you to leave, even less fun. The worst situation that came upon me was just SE of Norman shooting lighting on a lonely farm road. A person let out about ten huge dogs and had I not gotten in the vehicle fast I would have been ripped apart....that's one time I really did wish for a gun. People that live out in the country and see you in the distance will not rest until you are gone. Best not to be near a farm house if possible.

Gene Moore

 

[Nick Parker]

I pack a Ruger 22-250 and a Winchester SX3 12 ga. in my rig all the time. Im constantly out on the farm though keeping an eye out for coyotes....

I just keep theem cased and ammo outside of the case itself. Been pulled over by State Police and Game Wardens and nothing has ever been said.

 

[Patrick McCarthy]

For the few of you who venture deep into the northern plains this time of the year, don't cross the border into Canada if you're packing a firearm! This happens occasionally, especially if carrying a weapon has become second-nature to you. If you get through the border, crossing back into the U.S. with a weapon can be very bad news too. Besides, people of the Northern Plains (Canada/U.S.) are very friendly and non-threatening...except maybe off the beaten path in Montana.

Pat