Carry At Work?

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There are lot of interesting comments but the bottom line remains. Employers or the person whose premises you are choosing to enter wins. There are places that I go where i know i cant carry and i respect that. Like when I go to meet my President, i cannot carry. If i do to make a point of my services and value for value exchange- I will end up in jail for sure.

The idea is to respect the job contract that you sign, because it is willful accent to the stated policies and adhering to such shows character especially even when you in personal capacity might not agree to them.

I alaways thought (may be just a romanticism) that people who are gun emthusiast are also straight forward disciplined folks. Those who respect and honor committment. Its a novel thought, and not accurate by any means, but certainly the one I would like to promote, rather then what antis promote about guns and people who like guns.
 
Suzanna Gratia-Hupp's pistol was in the vehicle in Luby's. In hindsight, she would have disobeyed a bad law if it meant saving lives and stopping a spree. And this thread isn't even about violating laws but violating a work policy that doesn't respect safety.

I work in the inner city, late at night. In a past life in a different ghetto, I was almost killed. That life experience is enough to wake me up to the reality that an ambush can and does realistically happen, especially in ghettos and inner cities, at night. On the street and in parking garages.

We all know that criminals and unstable will intentionally target a gun-free zone. We also all know that an armed citizen can and does make the difference. If carrying in school can get me expelled, so be it, but I have a fighting chance against a Virginia Tech. (Or on a smaller scale, a late night armed robbery on campus or off campus while walking to my car.) If carrying at work can get me fired, so be it, but I have a fighting chance against a gun-free zone massacre. (Or on a smaller scale, a late night armed robbery as I walk to the parking garage.)

At both my school AND my workplace have been armed robberies. This isn't fantasy -- it's already happened. That reality plus my life experience of almost being killed = my life is more valuable than my job. I also value the lives of innocent classmates and co-workers and reserve the right to intervene if it is feasible in the situation.
 
The reality is -- like someone said -- the weapon-free workplace is typically based out of liability or the precedent of irrational fear and political correctness. They think, "If we don't explicitly put this in our policy, it means we condone violence!" We all know it's not about the reality of safety. We also know that criminals don't care about work or school policies but instead prey on locations with those policies.

The fact is, most gun-free workplaces are NOT in secured areas. There aren't armed guards or secured perimeters. And there sure as heck aren't armed guards to the dark parking lot or dark parking garage, yet those places often have "no gun" signs too.

Look, I advocate taking the high road, and I advocate adhering to all laws. But if it is lawful to do so, it is your option as an intelligent human being to weigh the risk vs. reward. I've been bloodied up and talking to God asking, "God, is this how I'm going to die?" and genuinely accepting my own young death at the age of 18 when intervention happened and I was given another chance at life. I will not ever again take personal protection for granted or the illusion of safety by written policies or posted signs as some kind of real criminal deterrent. I will never again be in Condition White la-la land. My rod and my staff comfort me.
 
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I think the question really comes down to what job are you doing.

Some jobs that require you to be all over the place delivering things. Yes I would.
My job, doing IT work which means lots of bending, crawling around and at a school. I would leave it in the car trunk. (Keeps me within the state law boundaries and makes sure I don't paint!)
Meetings etc, Generally I will carry unless I know I will not be able to stay fully concealed and in control of the firearm at all times.

I will follow the law to the best of my abilities. If challenged by others that don't like me carrying I will leave the premises as requested and take my shopping/work elsewhere.
 
Again, interesting agreements. However, no one is coming to my residence armed. They may choose not to come and not be part of my staff. No exceptions except those who carry as per job discription.
 
I am retired now from my last job after 25 years on the job. I carried on the job all but the first year and a half because I had to pass through metal detectors to go to work. After I transferred to another division at another location, I carried every day of the remaining 23 1/2 years even though it was strictly against company policy and probably federal law. Initially I carried a .32 acp Davis derringer because I couldn't take a chance on being made. The Davis simply disappeared in my pocket. Then when the Ruger LCP became available, I went with it.

My office after being transferred to the new division was in a bad part of town. There were housing projects nearby on three sides of our office. Even though our parking lot was surrounded by a six foot tall barbed wire topped chain link fence, our company vehicles were repeatedly broken into at night. Once, just half a block from our office at the intersection, a man was pulled from his car and murdered.

I once had an incident in that parking lot myself. It was after work. I was in the parking lot by myself transferring equipment from one vehicle to another. I was keeping aware of my surroundings and what was happening around me. I spotted this fellow coming down the sidewalk toward our gate. Something, call it instinct, gut feeling or whatever, told me he had me targeted. I reached into my pocket, pushed off the crossbolt saftey on the Davis, and pulled it out of my pocket with my thumb curled around the half cocked hammer. Sure enough the fellow came through our gate. I turned around to face him with my hands on my hips. The Davis was concealed by my hand and he could not see it. As he was approaching me he said very roughly, "Know what I want!" I answered just as roughly while staring him in the eye, "No, what?" This apparently flustered him because it was not what he expected. His whole manner changed and went from aggessive and demanding to stuttering and trying to figure out what to say. He finally said, "Can you give 50 cents to get something to eat?" I told him no. I was not about let my guard down by reaching in my pocket for money. He started talking then but I just stood there staring him in the eye with the Davis ready for instant use if necessary. Three different times he turned around and acted like he was leaving but immediately turned back around toward me. I think he was just trying to get me to drop my guard. But I didn't and he finally left. I watched him out the gate and as far down the sidewalk as I could see.

I am fully convinced that his intention was to mug me. His whole manner of conduct at first suggested it. But my standing up to him convinced him that I was not an easy mark. Those people are predators just as a wild animal is. And they prey on the weak and vulnerable. If I had shown any weakness or backup, he would have continued with his plan. And having the gun instantly ready gave me the backbone and confidence to stand up to him. If he had tried anything he would have gotten two .32 slugs in the face.
 
I guess when and if the things get so bad that you are in a situation where you no longer feel safe without weapon then it is time to confront your employer for possible new course of action.

In my case if things got so bad around here, I may allow personnel to start carrying, but surrender under entering the very inner part of the residency.
 
I guess when and if the things get so bad that you are in a situation where you no longer feel safe without weapon then it is time to confront your employer for possible new course of action.

In my case if things got so bad around here, I may allow personnel to start carrying, but surrender under entering the very inner part of the residency.
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I don't know if its that I don't feel safe without a weapon. I have carried as a civilian for so long and was a cop for several years up til about 30 years ago, that I definitely don't feel "right" if I am not carrying. I just don't like feeling helpless. If some nut case started shooting somewhere, if I am armed at least I have a chance. I realize the odds of my needing to use my weapon are small. But if you are the one, the odds are 100%.

BTW, after about ten years at the "bad" location, they did move our office to a much better part of town. But I still carried.

but surrender under entering the very inner part of the residency
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I don't understand what you meant by that.
 
I wouldn't violate policy on carry, but also would quit if I felt the job location was dangerous. Back when I used to deliver the hot and fresh grease wheels, I carried a 3 D cell mag lite. That made reading house numbers much easier.
 
would quit if I felt the job location was dangerous
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Does anyone really go places when they expect there to be trouble?

I don't think people would have anticipated that seeing a batman movie would be an issue.
I doubt Suzanna Hupp expected Luby's to be an issue.

The bottom line is that I am strapping a gun on my hip and going about my day. I don't expect trouble. I pray that there is none.

I do not have the ability to anticipate when trouble will come up.
 
I CAN NOT carry at work, as it is both against company policy and Federal Law. I work on a military base, and I work in a controlled access area on the base. I can not even have a 2 cell mag lite with me at work, or a 3.5 inch pocket knife. Several months ago we had a random inspection of personnel and bags coming into the turnstile. This was a full metal detector, ID check, bag check search authorized by the Commanding Officer. I was chewed out for having a 2.5 inch machinist pocket knife with me. I pointed out that it was legal as per the large sign, but still caught grief from the CIVILIAN Security officer. I really wish we could go back to the days when the military provided their own security on base, then you could at least count on professionalism.

So as stated above I do not carry at work, not by choice but as a matter of law.
 
We had to sign a form forbidding us from carrying at work or on work premises. Not even allowed in your personal vehicle. I asked the VP if I could get a pass because I shoot 3 days a week at a range 2 miles from work and I live 30 away. They said no. Now I park with my weapons in the lowes parking lot right across from my work. My VP asked why I parked there and I told him exactly why. He wasn't happy and said that I cannot park there. I walked in a talked with a manager at Lowes and they agreed to write a notice allowing me to park there. Didn't tell them my reasons. Then I proceeded to tell my VP to piss off.

Thanks Lowes!
 
CCW at work could be compared from a Constitutional standpoint to praying silently at work. Would you do that if it were not allowed? Would you carry a Bible to work if it were not allowed? Of course CCW is much more likely to keep you alive to work again tomorrow, even if it has to be at a different job.
 
I carry every day at work, but there is no policy against. People regularly bring firearms for show and tell. I worked over 30 years for a State agency, and carried after getting CC Permit when they first became available. There was a "don't ask, don't tell" informal policy on firearms. There was a rule against firearms in state vehicles, but many employees carried discretely anyway. This is a big state, lots of areas with no cell phone coverage. The nearest cop could be hours away. A guy who worked for me was fired for brandishing a handgun in a road rage incident while driving a state car. That was just stupid.
 
Recently several cars were smashed up and spray painted at my work were forced to park the furthest away from the store. Their are no cameras either it has happened several times always in the winter time. The store I work for has installed no cameras and still makes us park as far away as possible. Also the municipal building which is adjacent to an elementary school, high school, two colleges, and a tech school which I attend one of the college's anyway the municipal building came under fire a gunmen was shooting parked cars. Do I carry at work and school what do you think?
 
I'm now retired but my employer provided security over an extensive arena.
I really did not see a reason to "carry".
Not saying that it's the way it should/must be.
 
I work for myself and carry every day. In fact, I carry everywhere I go. 'Cept I throw my little Kel-Tec in the glovebox when I run into the post office (stupid, stupid law), or when I know I have go past a metal detector. Which is rare, as I refuse to fly.
 
It used to be a clause in the safety section of the employee handbook where I work. Something vague about unsafe weapons. And the old personal manager was a permit holder and would tell you ..... "just keep it in your car locked".

Then Joe nut job in one of the production shops started talking big about his AKs, Glocks etc... and would makes "jokes" that sounded a lot like thinly veiled threats, when he had conflicts with other employees.

So the latest revision of the personal manual explicitly bans any type of weapon on the company property. And the new personal manager is a total "yes woman".

None the less, there have been occasions where prudence has logically been the better path of virtue. Like the day of a planned layoff announcement. Or the day I know I have to terminate an employee. Or in the aftermath of an employee altercation or threat.

My opinion in these situations is generally "concealed is as concealed does"

"Fortunately" our rank and file jobs are not quite as lucrative as say, the USPS, and there ain't no sense of entitlement in an "employment at will" state.
 
69Rebel said:
I work for myself and carry every day. In fact, I carry everywhere I go. 'Cept I throw my little Kel-Tec in the glovebox when I run into the post office (stupid, stupid law), or when I know I have go past a metal detector. Which is rare, as I refuse to fly.
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post office parking lot is a gun free zone too. I know stuptd law.
 
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