Quandary of mind, offended a guy

Great, armed hot-head patient at a Federal Hospital. What could possibly go wrong?

ngnrd said:

Showing my ignorance here... Is keeping a firearm in a locked car illegal at all Federal Hospitals? I'm pretty sure our local VA hospital (the only Federal hospital I can think of around here besides those on military bases) is in a building on a larger private hospital campus. I wouldn't hesitate to leave a firearm locked in the car while I'm there.

And, besides hospitals on military bases, what kind of hospital is behind a gate? Is that a common thing down in America?

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Places Off-Limits Even With A Permit/License

As to the OP? I would have expressed my gratitude.

Knowing that signs are clearly posted at the gate of the hospital and that no warrant is needed on federal property and that it would be federal charges I knew things would not go well for him if caught.

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Unless it was this persons first visit they should know the rules and even at that clearly posted is just that. I would, again, have expressed my gratitude and removed the holster.

Just My Take....
Ron

I wouldn't sweat it. You could have told him that it IS your business as a hospital employee and that it IS your duty to report anything suspicious. I bet his tune would have changed. If it were me I would have told you that I was conducting an empty holster protest over gun free zones.


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JFtheGR8 said:

If it were me I would have told you that I was conducting an empty holster protest over gun free zones.

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Now there's an idea!

If as you say, trying to help. Hard to read folks at times. Your concern is noted. Only not by him.

ID-shooting:

You did good. It's not your fault the guy is a raging lunatic.

I've been chewed out more than once by a woman for holding a door open for her. Doesn't keep me from continuing to do it, even for other guys. Some people just have a chip on their shoulder.

Matt

ID shooter - would have given you a wholehearted and polite thanks for that one. Well done. Someone urinated in his corn flakes that day or he's just one of those angry at the world types. You know, the "are you trying to tell ME what to do?" people. Noise.

Do you know if this guy was government or civilian?

Right thing. You didn't intentionally offend. That he took offense speaks more about him than you ... as it does all the idiots who "take offense" when someone rubs them the wrong way. And why is it that the most easily "offended" are often the same ones who scream for tolerance?

morcey2 said:

I've been chewed out more than once by a woman for holding a door open for her. Doesn't keep me from continuing to do it, even for other guys.

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Been there. Here's the response: "Madame, I did not hold the door for you because you are a woman. I held the door for you because I am a gentleman."

You did the right thing and tried to help a fellow gun owner. He resented your help and acted like a total jerk. Don't let this one negative experience affect your own concerns for trying to help others in similar situations.

I think you did the right thing and he acted like a jerk.

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Yep.

Showing my ignorance here... Is keeping a firearm in a locked car illegal at all Federal Hospitals? I'm pretty sure our local VA hospital (the only Federal hospital I can think of around here besides those on military bases) is in a building on a larger private hospital campus. I wouldn't hesitate to leave a firearm locked in the car while I'm there.

And, besides hospitals on military bases, what kind of hospital is behind a gate? Is that a common thing down in America?

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It's going to boil down to who owns or controls the parking lot. I work in a "federal" facility but it's in rented commercial space shared by other non-federal/non-government private entities. The parking lot is a public area shared by all; the feds don't control it. So, having a gun in the car would be ok. OTOH there are federal facilities where the whole property is fenced, you have to drive past a guard who checks your badge before you get to the parking lot, etc. So, there the feds control the parking lot and having a gun in the car is a no-go.

That's a terribly odd thing to become offended about. People are strange.

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Agreed. I would be most appreciative of a stranger looking out for me that way. But I've had some people give me the hairy eyeball when I try to alert them of a low tire on their vehicle or similar; seems some folks would rather be ignored to their own detriment.

ID-shooting said:

Back story, I am a medic at a federal hospital located on federal property. I was performing intake on a patient and when he took off his jacket to get on the scale I noticed an empty kydex holster on his hip. Assuming he left the gun in his car I waited till we were at my desk to complete vital signs and quietly mentioned to him that I was a shooter as well then suggested he remove the holster before one of our federal cops saw it and had a reason to search his car. Knowing that signs are clearly posted at the gate of the hospital and that no warrant is needed on federal property and that it would be federal charges I knew things would not go well for him if caught. He became very agitated and told me to mind my own business, using some colorful expletives.

I feel bad for offending the guy but didn't mention it again.

Was I right to try to let the guy know he was potentially setting himself up for failure?

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You did the right thing.
25 years ago a guy worked with in California had a CCW permit and was at a federal park with his wife and kid. He left the handgun in the car, but retained the holster under his shirt. When he got back to the car, several LEO drew down and cuffed him. And that was the beginning of his nightmare, a woman had spotted him getting out of the car and saw the holster. Seems he had parked in the government parking lot and that was enough to spark a two year legal battle.

I steer clear of carrying or having in possession on a USPS parking lot.

HUH ?

He should have thanked you PROFUSELY and offered to buy you a cuppa joe.

To say he was rude is being nice.

It always saddens me when people see a holster and freak out. Since when did criminals use holsters? It seems that only law abiding citizens and LEO use holsters.

ngnrd said:

Showing my ignorance here... Is keeping a firearm in a locked car illegal at all Federal Hospitals?

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Bubbles said:

It's going to boil down to who owns or controls the parking lot.

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That makes sense. I don't know why it struck me as strange. I guess I've just never seen a Federal hospital on its own property, so the situation caught me off guard.

quote from PabloJ:

Like he said you should have minded your own business. Does anyone in Idaho care that older white dude carries a handgun?

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PabloJ: Unless I missed it, I see no reference to age or race in the OP's story. What is your deal anyway?

What ever happened to just minding your own business?

IMHO as a health care professional you stepped outside the scope of your duties. You have a clear set of duties to perform when a patient comes in for medical treatment. You have not shown where giving those same patients advice about gun laws is part of your assigned duties

You made a number of assumptions which are not provable;

He owned a gun.

He had the gun somewhere on Federal property.

He was violating Federal Law.

He was ignorant of Federal Law that banned keeping a gun secured in a private vehicle is illegal. (At least in your opinion).

I also strongly suspect that you know you will be in trouble if he was to complain to his Doctor or a supervisor about what you said to him.

You also are concerned that by upsetting the patient you may have interferred with his treatment.

I'm sure you realize that dealing with patients and their families can be very touchy.

Unsolicited advice is rarely appreciated and seldom heeded.

People are way to thin skinned anymore, everyone thinks they have a right to an opinion but should be insulated from things that offend them.
I wouldn't worry about it, you didn't report him so aside from the interaction between the two of you, you pretty much minded your own business.

I think you did the right thing. Who walks around with an empty holster? You were correct in thinking he left it in the car and warning him that someone might see it and bust him. If he doesn't want to accept the advice, so be it. If he was a jerk, I might have reported it myself. Let him learn the lesson the hard way.

He overreacted, bottom line.

What ever happened to just minding your own business?

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Really?

"Hmm. This 18 wheeler has a flat tire on the interstate and I don't think the driver knows it, but I'll just mind my own business..."

"I just saw some guy break into a car downtown and commit more heinous crimes, but I'll just mind my own business..."

"Some guy just set down a backpack in a public area and walked away. but I'll just mind my own business..."

Or.

"Man, this guy might hose himself in some way that he may not be aware of, let me try to help him out."

He was just trying to help the guy out. He may not have needed the help, but how was he to know that? I'd never be a jerk to a guy who is just trying to help me out.