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Zero guns allowed at work!!! What are your options??

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  • DougC

    Well-Known
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    Feb 22, 2021
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    From USCCA the presenter discusses what if anything one can do about your employer says no guns allowed or you can't work here. Can you change the policy or find another job? Carry anyway and hope no one notices.
    I am for any business to have their own rules about guns. If one doesn't like them work somewhere else or hide the gun and hope no one sees it.
     

    Sasquatch

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    Apr 20, 2020
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    If the employer bans guns, they should be 100% responsible for any and all injuries or deaths caused by violent criminal action that could have been prevented by an armed individual. There needs to be a balance between the rights of a business, and the rights of the employees, and the right to defend one's life is arguably more important than a business' right to make whatever assinine policies they want.

    Personally - I've taken the approach of carrying despite policy. No law was broken, only a stupid company policy. Boss found out, said no carry, I carried anyway. Finding another job is easy, finding another life - not so much. Said boss had a conversation with a coworker about me carrying - coworker pointed out to him that he was SOL anyway if something happened. If I had to shoot someone, he was probably getting sued. If I got hurt because I wasn't carrying, he was getting sued. He hadn't looked at that angle. He dropped the issue at that point. Policy never changed, but he never said another word about it either.

    Now, I wasn't working in an office - I worked out of my truck, and drove all over a large metropolitan area, dealing with the general public, at all damn hours of the day & night, and we dealt with cash and people's property, and we got to interact with the general crazies you'd find out and about.

    Employers that ban guns think they're limiting their liability in lawsuits, or the policies are made by antigun people, period. There may be jobs where carrying a concealed firearm could be a detrement, they're few & far between. Stores, office jobs, warehouse jobs, schools, etc... most of those wouldn't be negatively impacted by someone carrying.

    Businesses that are open to the public should likewise either assume 100% responsibility for the safety of patrons, or not be allowed to ban carry. "No guns" signs should likewise not have weight of law behind them.
     

    Tnhawk

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    The only place I've worked where gun carry was permitted was a gun range. I didn't see any reason to discuss the issue with management. I didn't ask, I didn't tell. The only time someone noticed and commented about my weapon I replied I'd rather be caught with it than without it. Weeks later he was robbed and stabbed while at a car wash on the west side of Houston. When he was able to return to work he quietly asked questions about purchasing and training with a gun. During my last years of employment I was armed while traveling and locked my weapon out of site when at customer locations. Some probably suspected I was armed just as I suspected they were, but again, don't ask, don't tell.
     

    Grumps21

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    My increasingly woke company has a 30.06 sign. I and several others leave our side arms locked in our Vehicles and just don’t advertise it.
     

    TxStetson

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    I will attempt to be brief here, but I apologize in advance if I get too wordy. You have 2 options, either comply or don't. If you decide to comply, in Texas, they can't legally prevent you from leaving it in your vehicle once you arrive at work. If you decide not to comply, the "C" stands for concealed, so act accordingly. Also, as @toddnjoyce has pointed out on this subject multiple times, Texas is a right to work state which means they can let you go for any reason. So they can't fire you for leaving your EDC in your vehicle, but they can certainly make you redundant the following day.

    One of my previously employers put an authorization letter in my personnel file for carrying a weapon in my company owned vehicle. They also did this for a couple salesman and field supervisors who travelled into some really remote and unsavory areas of West Texas and Southern New Mexico. When that company got bought by a foreign owned international company, we weren't even supposed to carry pocket knives anymore because they were considered weapons. I continued carrying in that company owned vehicle, even though I knew I would be terminated if discovered. Every time that company opened a new facility in Texas they put up a huge 30.07 sign because it was the newest anti-gun sign and they thought it covered everything. Instead of pointing out the error of their ways, many of us continued to legally carry concealed every day, but we knew it would result in our termination if discovered. When it became fashionable to hold active shooter training, our HR Department escorted a contract company to all facilities for said mandatory training. One trainer called on me asking what I would do if there was an active shooter situation in our reception area right then, and before I could answer the VP of my segment and the HR Manager both interrupted and said let's ask somebody else instead of him. This resulted in an uproar of laughter and smart assed comments. The trainer asked why and the VP explained that I was the internal rapid response team leader for all emergencies in that facility and it wouldn't be beneficial for everyone to know how we would respond. I was stunned to hear we had such a team, even more so that I was even on it. Maybe we weren't all as sneaky about carrying as we thought we were.

    TL/DR:
    Either comply or don't, and either decision could have consequences.
     

    Texasjack

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    Jan 3, 2010
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    I worked in a chemical plant where it was strictly forbidden to have firearms on site. The company was most unhappy when Texas law changed and they found that they weren't allowed to ban firearms from the cars in the parking lot. (Another chemical plant I had worked at before the law was changed was NOTORIOUS for conducting "random" searches of the vehicles of union people they didn't like when hunting season kicked in. They managed to fire a number of folks who had simply loaded the truck up to go to their hunting lease after their shift. Oh, and they would inspect the cars of the HR staff to prove that it was "random".)

    I found out that ONE GUY was authorized to have a pistol locked in his office, just in case there was a crazy shooter that came in and attacked us. That was their brilliant way of protecting us. Before someone asks, the "security guards" couldn't protect anyone. Most were 300 lb. women that sat at the gates and checked trucks in and out.
     

    dsgrey

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    Oct 25, 2015
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    Also might check into the Texas state statutes regarding the carrying of firearms in your personal vehicle. Only under certain conditions can an employer actually prohibit you from carrying in your personal vehicle.
    My employer moved it's corporate office to a new building about 7 years ago and I was in the meetings regarding policies along with the corporate lawyers. Someone mentioned banning firearms from employee owned vehicles and our legal team was quick to point out why that couldn't be done though I don't recall the specific details at this moment. As corporations will do, they updated the HR policy discussing firearms, other weapons and drugs at the corporate office but did not specifically state ONLY the office building.
     

    Moonpie

    Omnipotent Potentate for hire.
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    21   0   0
    Oct 4, 2013
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    Gunz are icky.
    My employer has very strict NO WEAPONS of ANY type on company property.
    They’re serious about too.
    Several instances of people bringing a pew-pew to work and getting canned on the spot.
    Heck, one office admin lady got caught with one of those pepper spray things on her key chain. She almost got fired over it. 50+yrs old woman. Took some big dogs to vouch for her to keep her job.
    Numerous arguments over folding/pocket/multi-tool knives. Size/length etc. Is it a “weapon” or a tool?
    Stupid shit really. Right there in the break room kitchen area is a drawer full of big kitchen knives. Oh wait. That’s different.
    They caught one guy with his fishing tackle box in his vehicle. Had a filet knife in it. Security had a meltdown over it. Fvcktards.
    Essentially if the company calls it a weapon it is a weapon and you’re hosed.
    All i carry to work is a Leatherman tool.
     

    Orbie

    Born Texan
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    7   0   0
    Feb 21, 2011
    2,490
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    San Antonio
    If the employer bans guns, they should be 100% responsible for any and all injuries or deaths caused by violent criminal action that could have been prevented by an armed individual. There needs to be a balance between the rights of a business, and the rights of the employees, and the right to defend one's life is arguably more important than a business' right to make whatever assinine policies they want.

    Personally - I've taken the approach of carrying despite policy. No law was broken, only a stupid company policy. Boss found out, said no carry, I carried anyway. Finding another job is easy, finding another life - not so much. Said boss had a conversation with a coworker about me carrying - coworker pointed out to him that he was SOL anyway if something happened. If I had to shoot someone, he was probably getting sued. If I got hurt because I wasn't carrying, he was getting sued. He hadn't looked at that angle. He dropped the issue at that point. Policy never changed, but he never said another word about it either.

    Now, I wasn't working in an office - I worked out of my truck, and drove all over a large metropolitan area, dealing with the general public, at all damn hours of the day & night, and we dealt with cash and people's property, and we got to interact with the general crazies you'd find out and about.

    Employers that ban guns think they're limiting their liability in lawsuits, or the policies are made by antigun people, period. There may be jobs where carrying a concealed firearm could be a detrement, they're few & far between. Stores, office jobs, warehouse jobs, schools, etc... most of those wouldn't be negatively impacted by someone carrying.

    Businesses that are open to the public should likewise either assume 100% responsibility for the safety of patrons, or not be allowed to ban carry. "No guns" signs should likewise not have weight of law behind them.

    Well said.
     

    Lonesome Dove

    A man of vision but with no mission.
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    7   0   0
    Sep 25, 2018
    5,859
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    Cut n Shoot, Texas
    Well I know/ knew two guys who attempted to carry at work. A truck driver snitched and they went to jail. Lost their guns, gun rights as well as their jobs in the industry. Shocking I know I had my gun in my truck like all was cool. But I knew the rules No guns on premises. For the next two years all vehicles were checked at security entrance they caught one more. Don't know what happened to her other than she lost her job.
    Also might check into the Texas state statutes regarding the carrying of firearms in your personal vehicle. Only under certain conditions can an employer actually prohibit you from carrying in your personal vehicle.
    I believe they can exclude that with the private property rule.
     

    Eastexasrick

    Isn't it pretty to think so.
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    2   0   0
    Jul 2, 2022
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    Naples TX.
    Cliff notes version.
    Decide if you can live with the consequences of getting caught. Both criminal and non-criminal like getting fired. Act accordingly.
    So short, and simple it is elegant. A good axiom to use in most cases were some one's arbitrary rule(s) go against your personal grain
     
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