Open carry encounter in Culpeper (VA), a happy ending

[308Mike]

I was poking around over at the Virginia Citizen's Defense League (VCDL) website and came across this post regarding a cop who KNOWS and understands their laws and supports their armed law-abiding citizens:

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6. Open carry encounter in Culpeper, a happy ending
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Wayne Stephens writes of his encounter in Culpeper:

Well, I finally got "spoken to" for open-carrying at a park in Culpeper. My six-year-old son, Nicolai, and I went to the park to ride our bicycles. I was wearing an S&W J-frame .357 Magnum revolver, in plain sight, on my right hip, as I always do. There was a gentleman in the parking lot wearing a Town Police polo shirt and carrying a police radio. He was apparently hired by the Town Police, but is not a police officer. He was there that day to rigorously enforce the town's new bicycle helmet law. As we unloaded our bicycles the gentleman approached us and thanked me for complying with the town's new helmet law. For the next 90-120 minutes, my son and I rode our bikes and enjoyed our visit to the park.

As I was loading our bicycles in preparation to leave the park, the same gentleman approached us again and told me that he had "not noticed" my gun earlier, but that it was illegal for me to possess or carry a firearm in the park. I explained to him that the Commonwealth's preemption law had invalidated the town's anti-gun ordinance several years ago and that, in any case, the town itself had just rescinded the ordinance a few months ago. He told me his "paperwork" said otherwise. I asked him to call a Town police officer, which he did.

About 2-1/2 minutes later, an officer arrived via patrol car, followed shortly thereafter by a second patrol car. The gentleman and I explained our positions and the officer very professionally and politely sided with me. The officer explained to the hired security person that the "paperwork" he possessed was out of date and that the department would make sure the people enforcing laws/regulations at the park had the correct paperwork. I thanked the officer, and my son and I prepared to get in our truck and leave.

BUT THEN -- After the hired security person had walked away, the officer pulled up next to me in the patrol car and said, "Sir, excuse me a minute..." I approached the car on the passenger side. The officer looked over and said (believe it or not): "I really appreciate your wearing that here." I said, "Thank you." My son chimed in and asked, "Why?" The officer spoke directly to my son and said: "Well, young man, I don't run across very many people who are willing to take on the responsibility of taking care of themselves, and I appreciate meeting someone who is willing to exercise his rights and be a responsible citizen." (Or words to that effect.)

I thanked the officer again, and Nicolai and I left the park. I will not release the name because I do not know what kind of repercussions this officer may experience at work if a "superior" who does not agree with this position found out who said it. However, we know there is at least ONE "good guy" on the job in Culepeper, Virginia. It's too bad we can't say the same about most of the Town Council.

This officer behaved in a commendable manner, and the entire situation was resolved in a positive way. The incident gave me a chance to have a long talk with my young son about citizens' rights and responsibilities, and the importance of people being willing to take care of themselves instead of relying on the police or the government to take care of them. And, thanks to a good police officer, I was able to have that discussion based on a POSITIVE example of that very philosophy in action.

[mekender]

that is exactly the kind of thing that happens in most of VA, PA and many other OC states.

[Ben Rumson]

Mike: Thanks for taking a look at the VCDL. They do some very good work here in Virginia.

I believe we have a couple of active members on this board.

[308Mike]

that is exactly the kind of thing that happens in most of VA, PA and many other OC states.

Unfortunately, not all places and officers in VA, PA, and many other open carry states view things the same way. If they did, then Danlandi Moore wouldn't be prosecuted for open-carrying where he wasn't restricted.

More BS here:

Moore was arrested for declining to leave Waterside, police said. Moore contends that “we were trying to leave, and instead of just letting us walk out, the officer stopped us.”

[mekender]

i know, i said most of VA... Norfolk is a small part of the state...