Disguising a weapon as a toy

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by Verjigorm

This is generally an implausible idea, atleast in America



2) Given the way police handle life or death situations, having an object in your hand and acting in a way that makes a police officer fear for his or her safety will get you shot. When the shooting is reviewed, there is a clear doctrine of including the police officer's awareness AT THE TIME of the shooting. So if you take your hand out of your pocket and the cop thinks you've got a pistol in it, he'll shoot you, and there's a good chance that he will not be prosecuted.

So If:

A) You are a bounty-hunter pursuing a jumper in a bad neighborhood

and B) You get pulled over

You should say C) "Officer I have a permit for that piece and I need it for my job. I am not moving, you can check if you like"

[Verjigorm]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

So If:

A) You are a bounty-hunter pursuing a jumper in a bad neighborhood

and B) You get pulled over

You should say C) "Officer I have a permit for that, piece and I need it for my job. I am not moving, you can check if you like"

Yup. First thing you should do is shut off your car, turn down the radio, put the keys on the dash, and avoid any movements that can be construed as reaching for a weapon or hiding a weapon. Keep your hands on top of the steering wheel. Not all CCW permits require you to disclose to the officer when stopped, but it's generally considered a best practice to do so. Don't do anything without the officer asking you to, and I like to tell them, clearly, what I am doing and ask for their permission.

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Verjigorm

Yup. First thing you should do is shut off your car, turn down the radio, put the keys on the dash, and avoid any movements that can be construed as reaching for a weapon or hiding a weapon. Keep your hands on top of the steering wheel. Not all CCW permits require you to disclose to the officer when stopped, but it's generally considered a best practice to do so. Don't do anything without the officer asking you to, and I like to tell them, clearly, what I am doing and ask for their permission.

I was recently pulled over while traveling out of state, and the officer needed me to wait with him in his vehicle while he ran my information. While I was careful not to make any suspicious movements or similar, he informed me of a potentially-lethal error I had made. While pulled over, I had to get out my wallet (which I did slowly and carefully) to show my license, and as putting the wallet back in my pocket while sitting wasn't comfortable, I opted to wait until I was standing and outside of my car. Due to the angle, what he saw was me get out of my vehicle with a black object in my hand, partially concealed from his view. He realized quickly that it was likely my wallet and not a pistol (confirmed when I put it in my back pocket instead of turning and trying to shoot him), but there was the potential there for things to go south very quickly.

[Flyndaran]

I've a feeling that many of these concerns and suggestions are U.S. specific, or at the very least not at all universal.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I've a feeling that many of these concerns and suggestions are U.S. specific, or at the very least not at all universal.

Actually, they're sort of inherent to firearms, though somewhat dependent on their prevalence. As a police officer, you don't want to get shot. Letting someone draw a gun greatly increases your odds of getting shot. Letting someone get out something that might be a gun also increases your odds -- but by less, because of course the object might be something else -- and of course you also don't want to shoot innocent people.

[Verjigorm]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I've a feeling that many of these concerns and suggestions are U.S. specific, or at the very least not at all universal.

I think that may be right. In the US, there's a widespread amount of civilian ownership of firearms, and very few limitations on them in comparison to most European nations. So if you see something that looks like a gun, it's a short thought chain to: "maybe that's a gun", while in european nations, you're far more likely to see some kind of not-quite-a-gun.

[YankeeGamer]

Weapon need not mean gun. Leaving explosive toys around is an old trick.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Verjigorm

If you want to disguise a firearm, you should conceal it in some sort of innocuous object that will not raise suspicions. Something that looks like a firearm can and will get you in a lot of trouble, possibly even dead.

What sort a situation can you be in where having your weapon look like a toy is a better option than having it look like absolutely nothing because you are carrying it in a closed bag?

If there is no potential target here you leave it in the bag. If there is a potential target here, the security people probably know that too and aren't likely to refrain from shooting you on the chance "it might not be a real gun".

I suppose if you are attacking something nobody would expect anybody to it might buy you an extra instant of hesitation, but you already have surprise, and anyway you could just shoot through the bag and gain as much or more extra time before they notice the threat.

[Kale]

Originally Posted by YankeeGamer

Weapon need not mean gun. Leaving explosive toys around is an old trick.

What about hiding a metal edge inside a wooden training sword or toy sword? The trainer could be a nasty way to assassinate a noble; offer to spar with them, using apparently 'safe' blunt swords but yours has a concealed edge...

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Kale

What about hiding a metal edge inside a wooden training sword or toy sword? The trainer could be a nasty way to assassinate a noble; offer to spar with them, using apparently 'safe' blunt swords but yours has a concealed edge...

And then you get executed, because it's obvious you assassinated the guy and everyone knows who you are?