MainelyGlock
Regular Member
Just curious as to how the conversation with the police went? Sorry if this breaks forum rules since the man was cg gun. I'd like to focus on how politce handled it though, assuming the person will ever see this.
Warning: Long post quasi-related to the Portland Press Herald article on AR-15 rarity.
This afternoon I OC'd (slung to my back) my DD M4 for the first time for about 6 miles around Portland.
I guess a whole bunch of people called the cops because 3 police vehicles rolled up on me (no lights/no siren) near the intersection of Deering street and State street. Cop 1 asked "Is that airsoft?" and I replied "No, sir." Then he walked up to me and asked if a round was chambered to which I replied yes; then he grabbed it and looked at the bolt carrier group for some reason. I told him that I didn't consent to any searches or seizures -- to his credit he didn't take the weapon off me -- or point it at me and clear it - unlike boyscott399's cop. After that he asked me for ID, and I respectfully declined (don't feel like having my full name in a police report) which he was okay with. I gave Cop 1 my first name since he was being pretty respectful. Cop 2 was a younger guy who was pretty cool -- we just shot the breeze about my rifle and firearms in general. Cop 3 was the SGT and made it clear that I was free to leave but also voiced his view that maybe I should think about carrying something else.. After that there was no police interaction, but I saw a cop car drive past me on Baxter Blvd so some more people probably called 911 for a completely legal activity.
I guess it could have been worse given that an insane madman shot up a school about a week ago. Cop 3 was the most terse cop, but I wouldn't call him hostile.
Other notes:
This was my first interaction with police OCing. It only lasted about 5 minutes, but hopefully next time I'll be more on the ball with the "Am I being detained?/What crime do you suspect me of committing?/Am I free to go?"
Cop 1 asked if I was part of the group of OCers that had been talked to before -- I assume he was talking about the fine folks at opencarry.org -- I know those guys aren't long gun open carriers and made sure he knew that I wasn't a member of that group.
Other than that I did have a couple interactions with people if anyone is interested. Thanks for taking the time to read this!
Hi Mainely Glock and Boyscout399,
I was the person who open carried the Daniel Defense M4 (AR-15 today). I've lurked this forum for a while and have seen your videos, boyscout399
Here is a copy&paste of the post I made on the Gun Owners of Maine Facebook group (written before it made the news)
Hi Mainely Glock and Boyscout399,
I was the person who open carried the Daniel Defense M4 (AR-15 today). I've lurked this forum for a while and have seen your videos, boyscout399
Here is a copy&paste of the post I made on the Gun Owners of Maine Facebook group (written before it made the news)