Yuppers, just hand them your CHL with your TXDL. But everyone wants to be difficult and prove "they know the law", and fight the officer every step of the way..

 

Cops sometimes spazz out when you tell them you have a weapon. It does happen. Tell me you wouldn't at least feel uneasy at first seeing a gun strapped to the column as you walk up.

 

Locked up in gun safe if I need to enter a gun-free zone, on my hip for short in-town rides, and in a console holster for longer rides, as it's more comfortable.

 

I wouldn't doubt it. Cops are still people too, every one of them are individuals and they react differently in different scenarios. But myself and most others, I'm sure if you ask they would rather know then not in most situations whether you have a firearm or not. It's one less thing to worry about. Although knowing there is a firearm besides the peace officers is present may be unnerving, but at the same time there are so many different things running through our heads that if that is brought to light it eases a little more stress.

Numerous things running in our heads. Oncoming traffic, whether to cite or not cite, other occupants in vehicle, listening and paying attention to radio traffic from your partners, so many things to worry about along with the person you are making contact with.

Not here saying what is the right thing and wrong thing, I am just relaying my personal experience along with what most of my coworkers and others in the same field have expressed. To each his own.

 

That's my whole point, cops are people too. People don't need to know what's in my car.

 

By state law it is. Your laws might be different but thats how it is here.

 

So if you have a CHL, don't have your weapon with you (so no need to tell the officer you have a weapon) and they discover you have a CHL, you go to the ground? Are you required to tell them you have a permit to carry regardless of whether or not you are carrying?

 

Actually, that is not true. Previously, you were required to tell them you were armed, and there were penalties for not doing so (do not remember what it was, fine, loss of license, not sure). Now, you are still "required" to inform them, but there is no penalty for not doing so.

 

And I would rather someone with murderous intent during an aggravated robbery just go ahead and announce it before they start, so I can be prepared, but we all know that is not going to happen.

I understand that police have a hard job, and deal with a lot of dirtbags, but not everyone is a dirtbag. What I have on my person or within my property is my business, and is up to my discretion as to who will find out. A police officer is just another person, and they do not NEED to know anything more than the rest of the general public does. There are bad cops out there just like people in every other profession, and that gun on my hip could save my life in the event that things go south, just as it could in any situation with any other person. No one, regardless of the job title they hold, is above me on my right to defend myself when necessary and my will to survive.

 

I wouldn't keep the trigger exposed like that, especially where you have the gun located. Then again you may not carry with one in the chamber and even if that's the case it's better practice to keep the trigger covered.