Q: What do I say to a police officer if I am stopped for open carrying a firearm in Pennsylvania?
Outside the city of Philadelphia
A:
Do you have a license to carry a firearm? While open carry is legal outside of Philadelphia, most police take a dim view of it, may stop you, ask where you are going, give your vehicle a look to see if there are any violations at all, will check the size of your magazine--and may take their time doing it. In short, you will be a cop and complaint magnet, and if you have an attitude about it they may turn it into a disorderly conduct or threat violation. You'll perhaps do a disservice to the gun owners of Pennsylvania, but ........ you want to ask yourself "why?"
If it's just to aggravate people, be sure you will get as much aggravation back as you give. And don't have your hands anywhere near the trigger. Don't even think of that.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
