Lights flashing in the rear view mirror can create that sinking feeling in one’s gut and Steven Hildreth, Jr of Tuscon, Arizona, knew exactly why he was being lit up and pulled over. He also knew how to respond respectfully and drive away from a routine traffic stop. He shared his experience on his Facebook page and the story has caught fire.
Hildreth’s headlight was out and the police flipped around to cite him with a fix-it ticket. Upon reaching the car, the officer asked Hildreth if he had any weapons, to which he replied, “I’m a concealed carry permit holder and my weapon is located on my right hip. My wallet is in my back-right pocket.”
The officer explains for his safety and mine, he needs to disarm me for the stop. I understand, and I unlock the vehicle. I explain that I’m running a 7TS ALS holster but from the angle, the second officer can’t unholster it. Lead officer asks me to step out, and I do so slowly. Officer relieves me of my Glock and compliments the X300U I’m running on it. He also sees my military ID and I tell him I’m with the National Guard.
Lead officer points out my registration card is out of date but he knows my registration is up to date. He goes back to run my license. I know he’s got me on at least two infractions. I’m thinking of how to pay them.
Hildreth got off with a warning to get his light and registration fixed. He reminisced in his Facebook post with this:
Why nothing else? “Because you were cool with us and didn’t give us grief,” Hildreth recalled police telling him. “I smile. ‘Thank you, sir,’” he added.
“I’m a black man wearing a hoodie and strapped,” Hildreth concluded. “According to certain social movements, I shouldn’t be alive right now because the police are allegedly out to kill minorities.”
He added: “Maybe…just maybe…that notion is bunk.”
Source: The Blaze
Ron Grant Did you see this one? A true gentlemen who gets my respect! 🙂
Black matter=diarrhea