# why would a LEO carry a gun on vacation? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311 "2011-09-14T17:11:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/21 "2011-09-15T16:51:14Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > IAMNALEO, but I would proffer that anyone that regularly carries a gun on their person feels a bit naked without it. I think you’re right. My wife’s uncle is a retired police officer, and he still carries his gun pretty much everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/22 "2011-09-15T17:27:01Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:20, topic:596311”] One of the reasons off-duty LEOs carry guns is that people may well know that they’re off-duty LEOs. If they didn’t carry off-duty, they’d be targets. That’s not going to apply so much if they’re vacationing a thousand miles from home, obviously, but it’s still a factor. [/QUOTE] How do LEOs manage to go without them outside of the States: -I mean how do the LEOs of other countries cope without their guns? There are places far rougher than the States. -And, does that mean that US LEO never travel abroad? If they’re so insistent on keeping their guns, and if it so desperately vital to them, how do they ever get outside of the States? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/23 "2011-09-15T17:49:16Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > I have a friend who’s brother was a Canadian police officer. One time while on vacation in the US, he got pulled over for speeding or some such thing. When the US officer who pulled him over found out he was a cop, he started asking what kind of gun he was carrying. When the Canadian cop said he didn’t have one, being on vacation and all, the US cop offered him one of his… Here, have a gun, on me? Bullshit. Joe ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/24 "2011-09-15T17:58:14Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > Here, have a gun, on me? Bullshit. > > Joe 100% agreed. At least in Texas, you aren’t getting any FREE guns from anyone. Unless you pry them from some cold, dead hands! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/25 "2011-09-15T18:10:20Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > How do LEOs manage to go without them outside of the States: > -I mean how do the LEOs of other countries cope without their guns? There are places far rougher than the States. Other first world countries are safer because we do not have so many people running around with handguns, thus there is far less of a need for LAOs to carry a gun when they are not working. IMHO, it is more of a culture thing than a true safety thing, for unlike other first world nations, the USA is a gun culture. > [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > How do LEOs manage to go without them outside of the States: > -And, does that mean that US LEO never travel abroad? If they’re so insistent on keeping their guns, and if it so desperately vital to them, how do they ever get outside of the States? According to my friend at Canadian customs, a lot of American LEOs try to smuggle their own handguns into Canada by failing to declare them. (Quote: “If an American police officer does not declare a gun, he is hiding one somewhere in his vehicle.”) She says that rather than prosecuting American LEOs, they usually just warn the LEO, seize the gun, and return it to the offending LEO’s department along with a nasty letter. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/26 "2011-09-15T18:44:01Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Other first world countries are safer because we do not have so many people running around with handguns, thus there is far less of a need for LAOs to carry a gun when they are not working. IMHO, it is more of a culture thing than a true safety thing, for unlike other first world nations, the USA is a gun culture. First of all, I didnt write First world nations, just the part of the world that is known as “outside of the US”. This is what make it sound so like “policeman’s _caprice_”, there are more than a few countries outside of the US with a higher level of violence (on the other hand the specific of the debate is also tied to the US federal nature. I’m not certain LEOs in other countries are limited by state restrictions, though they are by the frontiers of their country)but with a functioning police, I doubt that their LEOs are as addicted to their guns. But let’s take a First world example, let’s take Italy, you really think that Italian criminals are far less vengeful or bound to retaliate on a LEO than American criminals? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/27 "2011-09-16T00:13:37Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > How do LEOs manage to go without them outside of the States This thread is about travel in the United States. > [@Muffin](#): > > Other first world countries are safer because we do not have so many people running around with handguns Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/28 "2011-09-16T00:22:56Z")
I’m not a LEO, but I _always_ carry a firearm when I travel cross country. Why yes, the sight of one DID prevent me from being mugged by two men in a deserted wayside rest in Idaho at 6am back in 1992 or thereabouts. I didn’t wave it around, I just stopped, drew it, and held it in sideways in front of my chest where they could see it. They decided to be elsewhere. And on another occasion, acting _as if_ I was carrying (when I was not) and saying “that might not be wise” to a couple of aggressive men in an interstate gas station may well have prevented really bad things from happening to some other people they were harassing. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/29 "2011-09-16T01:40:33Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:27, topic:596311”] Cite? [/QUOTE] Sure. Have a look at www.nationmaster.com and filter for each of the following: Crime Statistics \> Gun violence \> Homicides \> Overall homicide rate \> per 100,000 pop. (most recent) by country Crime Statistics \> Gun violence \> Homicides \> Non-firearm homicide rate \> per 100,000 pop. (most recent) by country Crime Statistics \> Gun violence \> Homicides \> Firearm homicide rate \> per 100,000 pop. (most recent) by country Crime Statistics \> Gun violence \> Homicides \> % homicides with firearms (most recent) by country Crime Statistics \> Gun ownership \> Guns per 100 residents \> 2007 (most recent) by country Please note, however, that I don’t think this thread is the place to get into a debate on gun control, so let’s not go down that path. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/30 "2011-09-16T02:02:11Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > According to my friend at Canadian customs, a lot of American LEOs try to smuggle their own handguns into Canada by failing to declare them. (Quote: “If an American police officer does not declare a gun, he is hiding one somewhere in his vehicle.”) She says that rather than prosecuting American LEOs, they usually just warn the LEO, seize the gun, and return it to the offending LEO’s department along with a nasty letter. Tell me about it. I always tried to avoid telling the border guards what I did for a living if it was possible. Because once they found out I was a peace officer, I’d start getting all these questions about whether I was trying to bring a gun into Canada. I’d explain I don’t even own a gun but I could expect at least five minutes of questions on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/31 "2011-09-16T02:10:13Z")
My husband has a CCW in AZ, and according to information in the CCW class he had to take, there is a reciprocal agreement and he can carry in CA. We travel back and forth between our home in NE Arizona and our kids’ places in SCal. One trip I thought to ask him: “You brought your guns with you?” He answered, “I bring ALL my guns with me when we travel.” “Oh, GREAT!” I said. “I’m glad I asked before we ever get stopped anywhere. PLEASE, ALWAYS let me know where your guns are when you have them in the vehicle with us.” I already know from the stuff he’s told me over the years about his CCW that if he’s ever stopped, the very FIRST thing he is to tell the approaching officer (WHILE his hands are clearly placed on top of the steering wheel) is that he has a gun in the car. I mean, it would be NICE for me to know why he’s being yanked out the driver’s side window by his collar and thrown on the pavement, yanno… I suppose it would be a good idea for me to have my purse on the floor, and my hands on the dash. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/32 "2011-09-16T02:18:53Z")
You never know when the skyscraper where your soon-to-be-ex-wife works will be taken over by German terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/33 "2011-09-16T02:22:37Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > My husband has a CCW in AZ, and according to information in the CCW class he had to take, there is a reciprocal agreement and he can carry in CA. We travel back and forth between our home in NE Arizona and our kids’ places in SCal. > > One trip I thought to ask him: “You brought your guns with you?” > > He answered, “I bring ALL my guns with me when we travel.” > > “Oh, GREAT!” I said. “I’m glad I asked before we ever get stopped anywhere. PLEASE, ALWAYS let me know where your guns are when you have them in the vehicle with us.” > > I already know from the stuff he’s told me over the years about his CCW that if he’s ever stopped, the very FIRST thing he is to tell the approaching officer (WHILE his hands are clearly placed on top of the steering wheel) is that he has a gun in the car. > > I mean, it would be NICE for me to know why he’s being yanked out the driver’s side window by his collar and thrown on the pavement, yanno… > > I suppose it would be a good idea for me to have my purse on the floor, and my hands on the dash. > ~VOW Just FYI - I didn’t think California honored any other state’s CCW permits. Here’s at least one site that agrees with me. [http://apps.carryconcealed.net/legal/california-ccw-state-laws.php](http://apps.carryconcealed.net/legal/california-ccw-state-laws.php) ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/34 "2011-09-16T02:51:07Z")
I’ll have Hubster check with local law enforcement. I risked having my eyeballs permanently crossed by reading through the legal statutes available through that link, and Statute 12026 SEEMS to allow a person who has a valid CCW from his legal residence to possess and carry, either openly or concealed a weapon in the State of California. SEEMS. IANAL. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/35 "2011-09-16T04:10:55Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I’ll have Hubster check with local law enforcement. I risked having my eyeballs permanently crossed by reading through the legal statutes available through that link, and Statute 12026 SEEMS to allow a person who has a valid CCW from his legal residence to possess and carry, either openly or concealed a weapon in the State of California. > > SEEMS. IANAL. > ~VOW I just looked through the handouts I got when I went to my last CCW class. This was a year and a half ago, so my info is dated. From what I gathered, Calif is one of those “not just no, but hell no” states. I carry because bad things happen in good places. A while back, I got pulled over in Texas. I was in a rental car, with out of state license, insurance and CCW permit. I handed the cop my license and CCW card. His eyes widened a little and he said something like “Thank you for showing this to me. Are you carrying a weapon now?” I told him that I was and where it was, he asked me to put it on the passenger seat and to go sit with him while he called my license in. I very carefully unholstered my gun, fingers nowhere near the trigger and got out. The cop politely asked me to sit in the very crowded front seat with him while he called me in, made “casual” conversation with me and when he figured out that all was good, he was very polite while telling me what I had done wrong and that he was just warning me because I was out of state. No handcuffs, no grabbing me by the shirt and yanking me out of the window, no violation of my civil rights or anything. I do think the stop was a BS stop, but the cop didn’t seem to think that my gun was a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/36 "2011-09-16T04:17:10Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > You never know when the skyscraper where your soon-to-be-ex-wife works will be taken over by German terrorists. Yippee Ki Yay, MichaelEmouse… ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/37 "2011-09-16T07:05:16Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:27, topic:596311”] This thread is about travel in the United States. [/QUOTE] The thread title is: **“why would a LEO carry a gun on vacation?”** I didnt realize vacation now meant “traveling within the States”. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/38 "2011-09-16T07:29:19Z")
Same reasons civilians would? I don’t have a gun, but I know people (both Americans and Spaniards, none a LEO), who own them and shoot at competitions, and who will check “shooting ranges and acceptability of spending a morning there” as one of the possible entertainment options of their travel. So long as they do comply with local and travel regulations (which may include “no, you can’t just carry your gun around accesibly, we don’t care if you have a permit - it’s illegal here”), each to his own. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/39 "2011-09-16T07:45:42Z")
FTR, if I were a law enforcement official, I most certainly would carry a gun with me whereever I could. You just never know when one will be needed or when duty will call. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311/40 "2011-09-16T11:49:47Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I’ll have Hubster check with local law enforcement. I risked having my eyeballs permanently crossed by reading through the legal statutes available through that link, and Statute 12026 SEEMS to allow a person who has a valid CCW from his legal residence to possess and carry, either openly or concealed a weapon in the State of California. > > SEEMS. IANAL. > ~VOW I think 12026 only applies on private property - it’s the statute that gives business owners the right to carry at their business, gives people the right to carry around a gun on their private property, etc. I would recommend doing a lot more legal research before you guys take your next trip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-leo-carry-a-gun-on-vacation/596311.md?page=3)