As soon as an officer runs your plate through LEDS he'll see that you have a concealed carry license. It's better for the officer to know if you are carrying or not so they don't have a doubt/ and know where in the vehicle the firearm is, in case you make fast movements to that area.
Ok, so what if he knows you have a CCP, are you getting stopped for a weapons problem? If not what does the gun have to do with a traffic stop? If you are stopped for something involving a gun I agree that you should be up front about it. If he wants to know about your guns he will ask.
Why is it better for the officer to know, do you plan on pulling your gun for some reason?
Do you plan on making movements like you are going for a gun?
Do you plan on involving you gun in any way during a stop?
Do you tell the bank teller that you have a gun while making a deposit to make here feel better?
Do you walk around with a sign that says "I have a gun on me" sign to make people around you feel better since now they know for sure?
Being forthcoming and honest can also leave the officer feeling a little more easy, vs not informing him and wondering what else you may be hiding from him or your reason for not telling him.
What else do you tell the officer? Do you tell them your whole life story so he can feel better and not think you are hiding anything? Do you tell them about your prescription medications so he doesnt think you are going to sell them on the street? Do you tell him about when you got pulled over last time so he knows you are an honest guy?
I am not hiding anything, I am simply sticking to the situation at hand, which for a traffic stop does NOT involve a gun.
Play nice with police and you'll find yourself in less altercations.
I do play very nice. I DON'T bring a gun into a traffic violation (assuming that is why you are pulled over in the first place). What you are saying is YOU bring a gun into a situation that did not need it involved, I choose not to bring a gun into that situation.
Simply I choose not to bring a gun into a situation that does not involve one. If the LEO wants to bring a gun into the situation by asking that is HIS choice.
I travel about 500 miles a week or more. I have a lead foot and have been pulled over many times in the past 15 years and gotten very few tickets because of my good attitude. I have been asked about carrying firearms less then 10%, probably closer to 5% of those times.
I will say I have willingly told LEO's about my guns 3 times prior being asked but it was for a reason. Each of those times whatever paperwork (License, Reg, ins) were in the same space as a gun. I was not about to reach into those areas with a gun without telling the officer. Each time the officer told me to give him what info I had with accessing those areas. I got no ticket and sent on my way peacefully.