Securing Concealed Carry Firearm and Avoiding Confrontations

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Most of us are aware of the FBI agent who recently did a back flip on the dance floor, dropped his concealed firearm, went to pick it up, then cooked off a round, hitting an innocent bystander.

Now, we have a licensed, concealed carry individual, who was a veteran, dead in Oregon. Why? When trying to break up a fight...

Man killed by Portland State police was Navy vet trying to break up fight, friends say

A Portland man fatally shot early Friday outside a sports bar near Portland State University by campus police officers was a U.S. postal worker and father of three daughters who served in the Navy and married his high school sweetheart, friends say...

A witness also told Oregon Public Broadcasting that the man wasn't fighting and was shot after a holstered handgun he was carrying fell onto the ground and he appeared to be trying to pick it up.

After the officers yelled that there was a gun, there was no apparent hesitation before the gunfire, the witness said.

The fight started because one man used racial slurs when speaking to another man, said the witness, who provided video of the altercation leading up to the shots being fired...

Mike Joseph, another friend and former co-worker of Washington's, said Washington was at the bar with friends, celebrating the Oregon State University baseball team winning the College World Series. He had a concealed carry permit for his handgun, Joseph said.

"I saw the video, and there is no way he should have been shot," Joseph said. "I wish he didn't have a gun on him, because this probably wouldn't have happened if he didn't."...

Here's the video from the article...



Maybe my concealed carry education goes too far back, but one of the standard 'rules' was, if you're going to a bar, you leave the gun at home. It doesn't matter whether it is 'allowed' under the law. If you're going to drink, you don't carry.

Beyond that, however, is the idea of secure carry. Again, the 'rules' always indicated one should go out of their way to avoid confrontations when carrying. If you did get in a physical altercation, the idea that you were carrying could create... 'issues,' even more so if your opponent gained control of your firearm or, worse, you lost possession the way this guy did in Oregon and the way the FBI agent did on the dance floor.

Finally, I was always taught that you complied with Police orders, regardless of what you felt your legal rights are, when you are carrying concealed. The idea being not only to avoid issues which could cost your license, but to avoid the very thing that happened here. In other words, it's not about 'right and wrong,' it's about 'avoiding confrontations.'

In short, I'm not saying the guy should of been shot and I'm not saying the Campus Officers didn't overreact. But, from what I can determine, the guy broke several, long-standing 'rules' when it comes to concealed carry.

What say you?

[tawadc95]

Unfortunate.

I don't go to bars for that very reason, they are dangerous armed or not.

Trapped in Ca is a good name, I have a business you just can't pick up and move and feel trapped in a psychotic state.
Rather than the Golden State I now refer to it as the No State.

[Foebia]

More cops free reign with panic fire will be held un-accountable after 3 week paid vacation, turn the page...

[ACfixer]

What say you?

I say you are correct.

[Ron-Solo]

More cops free reign with panic fire will be held un-accountable after 3 week paid vacation, turn the page...

[Lonestargrizzly]

He didnt "cook off a round". Wasnt a hang fire.
He must have thought that the ground was a serpa holster and he just had to shove his index into the trigger guard. Dumbazz agent.

[Cokebottle]

about carrying a firearm

Fixed

[CBR_rider]

What say you?

I pretty much agree with you; whether or not this shooting winds up being justified the lack of a good holster (or securing of the weapon... was it even in a holster? I couldn't tell from video) could have made the whole situation go bad anyway if the other involved parties started fighting over the gun that was now on the ground.

[Guns and guitars]

Dont take firearms to bars. Dont try to break up fights. And finally if you drop your carry weapon in front of the law during a confrontation dont reach for it.

Stupid games win stupid prizes.

[Endless]

What a stupid comment.

The video doesn’t show much, but you hear the officer shout “drop the gun” several times before firing. That doesn’t equal “panic fire” as you claim.

This is sad, but it doesn’t mean the cops were wrong, nor does it prove they were right.

If you’re going to a bar, drinking or not, think carefully about carrying a firearm. More often than not, it’s a bad idea.

Campus Police, not State Police. Some have on the job training only until or IF they get selected to goto the police academy. This is something that happens all over Oregon.

Could the police be at fault here? Absolutely. Especially with no formal police training/academy, yet wearing a badge and a gun.

I am not surprised.

You just don’t drink and drive and you certainly don’t drink and carry.

[Spyder]

Campus Police, not State Police. Some have on the job training only until or IF they get selected to goto the police academy. This is something that happens all over Oregon.

You...clearly don't know anything.

[Skip_Dog]

More to this story there is.

Who knows.

Maybe his friends knew he was carrying and that gave them the courage to get in a fight knowing he had their back?

Maybe he was carrying and that caused him to be the hero?

Maybe he was just a normal run of the mill honest guy trying to do the right thing.

Maybe he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Oldmandan]

I did not see any reason as to why this guy was intervening when armed... there were plenty of cops around to play babysit the drunks.

Maybe a friend of one of the fighters? Regardless, he didn’t follow the rules, he screwed up and payed a heavy price for it.

[mach]

[Arrieta578]

There is a massive amount of responsibility that comes with carrying a firearm in public —especially if you are not wearing a uniform that clearly authorizes you to do so. That means you need to behave and react differently than a person without a firearm in many situations.

True story: My wife wanted me to take her on one of those stupid cruises around the bay that serves a champagne brunch. I finally caved and we went. Parking was in a shady area of the city and I was carrying. We were having a nice time when, I was walking past one of those large tin trays keeping food warm using burning sterno. I was carrying a piece of chocolate cake for my wife. The boat shifted slightly and the whole chaffing tray came crashing to the ground in front of me. Next thing I know, I have burning sterno all over me, I am on fire from my waist down, and I am carrying a concealed firearm on my hip.

I kept my composure, thought about the possibility that I might have to drop and roll, thought about how I’d secure my IWB holstered firearm, called for a little help and asked the waiters to please put me out using the wet towels in their hands, which they did quickly. All this occurred in less than seconds. 50-60 people were present and all eyes were on me.

Luckily, they put me out quickly, I never moved other than to pinch the butt of my firearm against my side using my elbow, and then they took me to the galley to treat my burns. I had several 3rd degree burns on my arm which the crew bandaged up and luckily I was wearing jeans, boots, and a cotton shirt that protected me well against fire.

The entire time, despite being on fire in public, did anyone know I was carrying a firearm. When carrying, you gotta keep your cool, keep your wits about you, respond prudently and when to act, act deliberately. And finally, you have to be prepared to deal with the unexpected and respond appropriately. In all of my training, from private training, military training, or LEO training, did I ever think I’d find myself on fire while carrying concealed in front of 50-60 people watching every move I made.