Recently we ran an article detailing our recommendations on how to conduct yourself during a traffic stop while armed. Ironically, one of our writers, Joe Levi, ran into just such a situation only days after the story was run. The following is his account in his words (used with permission).

It’s been years since I was last pulled over, but having a brother and a next-door-neighbor in law enforcement has kept me close to the their community. Although I respect the man behind the badge, I also respect the fact that “anything I say or do will be used against me”.

I left work shortly after dark and was “lit up” by a police officer. I pulled to the side of the road, put the car in “park” and cut the headlights.

I rolled down my window and place my hands on the top of the steering wheel while I waited for the LEO to come up to my window.

When he got to my window he did something I’ve never seen a LEO do before: he introduced himself by name and department: “Hi there. I’m Officer Smith from Clearfield Police Department.”

“Good evening, I’m Joe Levi, Syracuse, Utah.” Now, if I were on foot, that’s all the identifying information that I’d be provided to give, but since I was driving a vehicle at the time, I was prepared for the next question. It didn’t come, well, not right away.

“It looks like you’ve got a headlight out on the passenger side. Were you aware of that?”

“I didn’t know it was out, but it’s been acting up, so I’m not surprised,” I replied

“Yeah, it’s was out when you drove past me, that’s why I stopped you. Can I see your driver’s license?”

“Sure thing, it’s in my front pocket.” In my experience, LEO’s like to know what you’re doing so there are no surprises. Telling him that my wallet was in my front pocket, then digging my wallet out of my front pocket reassured him that I’m one of the good guys. I removed my driver’s license AND my Utah Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP), place the wallet on the dash in front of me, and handed him BOTH forms of ID, then returned my hands to the top of the steering wheel.

He looked at both (CFP was on top of the driver’s license) and said “Oh, okay. Are you carrying this evening?”

With my hands still on the top of the steering wheel I replied “Yessir. Right hip.”

“Thank you for letting me know. I’m also going to need your registration and proof of insurance.” He didn’t miss a beat, didn’t make a big deal over the fact that I had a loaded firearm on my hip.

“No problem, they’re in the glove box.” I paused before reaching for the glove box, then reached over with one hand, opened the glove box and removed the envelope that I keep that information, then handed him the requested papers.

“Great. I’m going to go back and run this, sit tight.”

“Yessir.”

A couple minutes later he came back, handed my my papers, permit, and license. “I’ve entered this stop into the computer as a warning with a note that I’ve advised you that your headlamp is out and that I requested that you have it serviced. I’m not going to cite you for anything and you won’t be getting any paperwork, just make sure you get that light looked at as soon as you can. Have a good evening.”

“Will do. Thank you.” He returned to his car. I re-filed my paperwork in the glove box, put my cards back in my wallet, turned the headlamps back on (both came on, ironically), signaled to my left, put the car in drive, waited for traffic, and drove the rest of the way home.

The total traffic stop was no more than 5-7 minutes and was the easiest, most hassle-free stop I’ve ever been involved with.

Mutual respect goes a long way, and I truly felt this officer respected me.

Question

Most of the time while at work my suit jacket is off so I just have suit pants, shirt, tie, etc.  The way I figure my pretty much ONLY option for carry is an ankle rig.  Pocket carry would seem just too difficult to conceal… even with a 642.  Anything I’m missing here?

Answer

Give some serious consideration to "tuckable" inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster, such as the Workman by Mitch Rosen.

With this sort of setup the holster lives between your body and the inside of your pants. Different types of IWBs have different "attachment" mechanisms. The Workman has a leather loop that wraps around your belt to secure it in place. A reinforced strap then drops down along-side the holster, and fastens to the bottom of the holster, allowing a shirt to be tucked in between the holster and the pants/strap. A little blousing of the shirt conceals the bulge and the top of the "loop".

Other IWBs may accomplish the same functionality in a different manner.

In this setup, as long as your shirt is sufficiently thick or dark, you can effectively conceal even a full-frame sidearm.

A reader of a forum posted this question (paraphrased):

This may be odd to some, I have been carrying my firearm for about a month and have yet to carry it fully loaded. I’m just now getting used to the Holster and weight.

When I’m carrying I think about what if something happens and I need to fire. If I draw my sidearm I would first have to rack the slide to chamber a round.

We don’t have kids so I’m not locking up my gun anymore. It stays close to me.

Here is a reply from one of our staffers:

I carried 10+0 in my Glock30 for the first 10 years (full magazine, no round in the chamber).

I sat through another CFP class recently and the instructor ran though some scenarios and statistics, and I came to realize, in most altercations where drawing my sidearm is necessary, I may not have enough time to draw and acquire my target before my target is "on me"… and carrying "unloaded" (no round in the chamber) means I’d still have to rack a round… which would take even more time. Add to the timing factor that I may have one of my hands occupied (fending off an assailant’s weapon, or distancing myself from him with an out-stretched arm), or may have an injured limb, and may not be able to use both hands to rack the slide, and it becomes even more important that all I have to do is "point and click".

After that class I’ve carried with a round in the chamber everywhere that I carry my sidearm.

It’s great they you’re getting used to the mechanics of carrying a sidearm! Take some time and get familiar with it. Get used to the holster, the added weight, and the fact that you have the added responsibility of that tool with you.

It took me a long time before I didn’t feel "uncomfortable" carrying concealed.

It took me a long time before I didn’t feel "uncomfortable" carrying fully loaded.

I’m still getting used to open-carrying.

You’re not "odd" by carrying "unloaded". Carry the way that you feel best suits you. Ask questions, do research (like you did by posting your question), and find out if you need to change "what suits you" in favor of a better practice, then decide if you’re willing to do so.