Nobody likes to get pulled over, but it can be even more stressful if you have a legal firearm in the car — not because you’re breaking any laws, but because police officers get a little twitchy around guns that aren’t in their hands. If you get pulled over while you have a legal firearm in your car, what should you do? What are your rights, and what do you need to know to stay safe in that situation?
Keep Your Hands on The Wheel
If you get pulled over, whether you’ve got a concealed firearm in the car or not, your first step is to roll down the window and keep your hands on the wheel. Keeping your hands in plain sight will make the officer more comfortable, which is essential for any interaction between you and law enforcement.
Tell Them First
The first thing you should do when you get pulled over, even before the officer asks for your license and registration, is to know your state’s Duty to Inform law. Some states require you to tell the officer you have a concealed carry license and that you have a firearm in your car. Others only require you to disclose your firearms if the officer asks you. Even if your state doesn’t require it, it’s a good idea to tell them anyway, just to avoid surprises if they search your car and find a firearm.
Transport Your Guns Correctly
Guns are a popular hobby — estimates state civilians in the U.S. own around 256 million guns, and some states have more than others. Wyoming is among the highest, with 195.7 registered firearms per 1,000 people. It’s essential to make sure you’re transporting your guns correctly, especially if you get pulled over.
Other than a concealed firearm on your person, you need to lock any firearms in your car either in a trunk or in a container. They must also be unloaded. Large firearms, like shotguns and rifles that are too large to lock in a box, need to have a trigger lock installed or remain locked in the trunk.
If you’re transporting an unloaded gun in the trunk, you don’t necessarily have to inform the officer the gun is there. If you just got stopped for a standard traffic ticket, the officer won’t be searching your trunk.
Stay Calm and Be Polite
Finally, as with any traffic stop, one thing you need to remember is to be polite, and most importantly, to stay calm. The last thing you want to do is get too freaked out and blurt out, “I’ve got a gun!” instead of calmly saying, “Officer, I have a concealed carry permit and a firearm on my person.”
That should be your state of mind anytime you get pulled over, or have to interact with a law enforcement officer — providing there isn’t an emergency to get stressed out about. Just be level-headed, comply with the officer’s orders and you’ll be golden.
Getting pulled over while you have a firearm in your car doesn’t have to be a big deal. Keep a cool head and be polite, and if the law in your state obligates you, tell the officer you have a firearm on you and don’t make any moves toward it. It will be safer for you and the responding officer. No one looks forward to getting pulled over, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Know the laws of your state and your rights, and you’ll be on your way in no time.