MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner signs off

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Minutes after a police officer fired the shots that would kill Philando Castile, his girlfriend Diamond Reynolds 

"He's licensed to carry. He was trying to get out his ID and his wallet out his pocket and he let the officer know that he was ... he had a firearm and he was reaching for his wallet, and the officer just shot him in his arm," Reynolds said.

Gun carry permit records aren't public in Minnesota, so it hasn't been confirmed if Castile had a permit or not.

But to get or renew a permit in this state, would-be gun carriers need to go through training. 

According to Reynolds' Facebook video and subsequent remarks, Castile seemed to be following protocol for a gun carry permit holder. But many details about the deadly traffic stop are still unclear.

Castile shooting wouldn't have happened if he were white, Gov. Mark Dayton says

Michael Briggs owns Minnesota Firearms Training, an Anoka, Minn., firm that provides carry permit training. He joined All Things Considered host Tom Crann to discuss how permit holders are typically instructed to handle traffic stops.

Here are some of the key takeaways from their talk: 

• If you have a permit to carry and are pulled over for a traffic violation, Briggs says people should be friendly and keep their hands on the steering wheel. When the officer asks for identification, he says, carriers should say they have a permit to carry and have a firearm. 

• It's not required in Minnesota to state up-front that you have a permit to carry. But Briggs says he always hands his permit over with his driver's license.

• Briggs doesn't know of any requirement for how law enforcement should handle stops of gun carry permit holders.

• Briggs said he's been to many carry permit classes, and they have something in common: "I have not been to a class yet where they do not address how to handle routine traffic stops."

That's just part of their conversation. Use the audio player above to hear it all.

Crime, Law and Justice

Shows

All Things Considered

NewsPartners

Tom Crann

Author

Cody Nelson

According to Facebook video, Philando Castile seemed to be following protocol for a gun carry permit holder. But many details about the deadly traffic stop are still unclear.

How gun carry permit classes teach handling traffic stops

An officer points his gun into a vehicle.

How gun carry permit classes teach handling traffic stops

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox