Carry in a Medical Facility

[Bobson]

What are the legalities, provided they exist, of carrying in a medical facility?

Is it an issue that's addressed at the state level, or are individual facilities allowed to set their own rules on the matter? Seems like most hospitals and clinics I've been to have "No weapons" policies addressed with signs at entrance points, but I'm almost positive I've been to others that didn't have any signs (though I can't remember any specific locations now).

I'm wondering because I'm studying to go into the medical field, and want to work in a hospital. I would prefer to carry at work, but I'm not going to break the rules to do it. I am willing to relocate to other states where specific "carry-friendly" hospitals exist, obviously provided other conditions are also met. My wife and I have already decided we will almost certainly move away from Washington state after I finish school.

I would particularly appreciate advice from others who work in the medical field, but I'm definitely open to anyone with wisdom to share.

Thanks for the help.

 

[larry_minn]

First it varies by state. Second if you are employed you will be bound by Hospital rules/policy. (and odds are you will be fired the first time anyone catches on you have a firearm at work)

Now last I heard MN it was legal in hospital/clinic UNLESS posted. If posted (and they realize you have a gun) you will be asked to leave. If you do not do so they Police will be called. IIRC its a $25 fine. (for refusing to leave when asked)

Its not like folks attack other in hospital with stuff........

 

[Bobson]

Its not like folks attack other in hospital with stuff..

No kidding

I understand the repercussions of violating this type of rule, which is one of the reasons I'm not willing to break it, and would prefer to just find a job in a facility that respects my right to carry. If I can't find a job like that in a place that suits my family, I guess I just won't carry at work.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Depends on the State. However, I'm guessing most Hospitals will have some kind of signage by their door.

 

[Bobson]

Maybe it would help if I list the states we know we're interested in. This is not an ironclad, all-inclusive list, but what we have in mind so far:

1. Wyoming
2. Texas
3. Alaska
4. Arizona - possible
5. Tennessee - possible
6. Kentucky - possible
7. Montana - possible

I would love to hear from anyone in these states who may have relevant input.

I will be doing my own legal-related research; just sort of fishing for firsthand experience that would be difficult to find elsewhere without specifically asking.

Thanks again.

 

[anothernewb]

legal to carry in my local hospital (mn) save for the psych/drug detox ward. It's posted there.

 

[jrdolall]

^^Same in Alabama and Georgia. It's not illegal to carry in a hospital but I know some wards do have signs. My father was in the PT wing for several weeks and I never saw a sign but the ER had one. If you are asked to leave, and don't, they can call the police and charge you with criminal trespass.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I think you will have a hard time finding a hospital which let's it's employees carry, for many reasons. Hard to hold a pistol up with scrubs being the least of them

Hospitals also have a long standing policy in most states of no firearms, it's not a new thing at all.

 

[HankB]

In Texas, other than unusual or special circumstances (e.g., a prison hospital) a person with a Concealed Handgun License may carry in a hospital or other medical facility . . . unless that facility has properly given notice otherwise; most often, this will be by posted signage compliant with the requirements of section 30.06 of the Texas Penal Code.

Note that if you work there and are given notice in another manner that restricts employees from licensed concealed carry (for example, by a relevant statement in an employee handbook which is provided to you) you're out of luck in regard to legal concealed carry on the job even if the hospital is not PC30.06 posted.

Medical facilities that prohibit licensed concealed carry are among the few businesses open to the public that seem to be increasing in number.

A partial listing of medical facilities in TX that have posted PC30.06 signage are listed here

 

[MedWheeler]

Cross Florida off your list. Most hospitals are posted no-carry. While there is no statute prohibiting carry when such posted, trespassing laws do apply once asked to disarm or leave.

Hospitals that exist (or any portion of any hospital that exists) for the purpose of treating the mentally ill are off limits by statute, posted or not.

 

[dprice3844444]

if you are employed by the hospital,there will be a policy and procedures manual that will state firearms possessed by employees while on duty,on property, will result in immediate termination.
basically,any hospital,for liability/insurance issues,and eeoc issues,will not let employees
carry while working.(15 years hospital security)

 

[Blue Thunder]

If I have to go in thru the Emergency Entrance from an Ambulance all bets are off, especially if I am not conscious. If awake I may be able to warn them that I'm carrying. It will be a Glock so much safer than some others they may handle. It is almost like underwear, you need to have a clean one on just in case.....

 

[marv]

I don't think it is illegal in IN. The main entrance to our local hospital is posted. The E R entrance which is the most used is not. Barney is on duty in the E R during weekends.

 

[moxie]

In my experience, FWIW, most states make the rules on firearms in hospitals. Most leave it up to the individual hospital/clinic.

Here in Texas, as Hank notes above, you can carry with a CHL in a hospital/clinic UNLESS they post a "30.06" sign prohibiting it. In my experience, again, almost all of the hospitals/clinics I have seen in Texas (many) have the 30.06 sign posted. And even if they allowed CHL holders to carry, it's highly likely that staff would be prohibited from carrying. It's just the hospital culture. But Texas is still a great place to live and is, overall, very gun friendly.

On a side note, another recent thread on this forum highlights the practical problems of carrying while wearing scrubs. Ain't easy.

 

[Ankeny]

Legal in Wyoming. I know two doctors that carry in their clinics. They also carry during their hospital rounds.

 

[longknife12]

Went for a flu shot Oct 1....Kaiser was putting "no weapons" sign on glass then. As it is not on door, and you have to look for it.....not real sure how legal it is.I was totally concealed so I went on in....car was several hundred yards away. Kept mouth shut and no one said anything.....in future, I'll comply.
Dan

 

[guyfromohio]

In Ohio, it cannot treat the mentally ill. But what does that really mean? A nursing home with an attached dementia unit? As a visitor, it's gray enough that concealed is concealed. As an employee in scrubs, I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Locally, I think all of the hospitals are posted, but the only one I'm sure that has "enforcement" is the ER at one of our "inner city" facilities.

Since OH makes the hospitals "at the will of the owner", other than the psych ward issues, it's up to them.

The one ER I know about bit me last winter. My wife's got a slightly off-the-wall girlfriend who ended up in that ER one very cold day. I got volunteered to go pick her up. I figured they'd have worked out the concept of "you need a metal detector", so I just left my EDC in the car. Forgot to leave the magazine. Cold, icy, snowing, me at 67 in those days, and walking with a cane. The guys on the detector made me hike back to the car....

As a mostly retired rent-a-cop, I don't take these things personally - if I can't talk 'em into ignoring something like that, or a small pocket knife, I either just leave (when that's possible), or comply.

On the way out, I asked 'em if they would be able to sleep after forcing an old codger like me to walk back to the car. We all laughed....

(Don't get this wrong - leaving a gun in the car is downright stupid, IMHO, but the fools who permit these bans are still working....)

Anyway, generally, such prohibitions will be in your employee manual, and as an employee, you're pretty much stuck, posting or not. As a "guest" (visitor, etc.), the signage is important, but in most states, you probably could take the risk unless there's something in the state's rule that specifically locks you out. (Like funeral homes in SC!)

WAY back - maybe 1970 - a buddy of mine ended up in the psych ward at that same hospital. I visited him, along with another rent-a-cop. (Buddy was a full time LEO.) The folks at the ward desk asked us to NOT give the guy (or anybody else) matches. Nobody said a word about guns....

'Bout the same time, my dad ended up in a cardiac unit late one night. I was on the road doing my rent-a-cop thing when my dispatcher told me to head over to the hospital. Blue suit, Sam Browne, hawgleg, etc. Not a word....

Regards,

 

[Bobson]

Looks like it's not going to be a realistic option, except with limited exceptions. Happy to hear about those (particularly in Wyoming, our #1 preferred place to move), but ultimately, going into this expecting not to carry might be for the best. It will allow us to focus on other priorities. Obviously, there are plenty of things to consider when making a move from one state to another, and the truth is that while preferred, carrying at work isn't at the top of that list. Not even top five, really.

And hey, if I do happen to find a place to work in a state where everything else clicks for us, awesome. If not, at least I went in expecting that.

 

[BSA1]

Is it an issue that's addressed at the state level, or are individual facilities allowed to set their own rules on the matter? Seems like most hospitals and clinics I've been to have "No weapons" policies addressed with signs at entrance points...

The Health Care Organization I work for has posted no firearms at the entrances at all of it's Clinics and Hospitals. If a person is observed carrying a firearm they are informed of the policy and asked to remove it from the building. If they refuse the police are called to deal with it.

Blue Thunder if you come into the E.R. by ambulance and EMS has not discovered you are packing heat (or knife) if you are conscious you have the option of giving it to a family member or designated friend or letting security take custody of it until you can make other arrangements. If you are unconscious security takes custody it and is returned either to you when you are discharged or to someone you designate. This is not a big deal in the E.R. as the Doctors and nurses are use to dealing with anything.

While our company bans employees from carrying firearms inside the building except for security officers it does allow employees to store their firearms inside their locked vehicles parked on company property.

One reason for banning carry of firearms is not what you would suspect. As a Security Officer I take care of Lost and Found Property on my shift. You would be amazed at some the found stuff that is turned into me and even more amazed at how much of it is never claimed! I also get regular calls from patients in the evening who had a appointment with their Doctor several hours earlier in the day looking for lost items. Purses, wallets, cellphones are commonly lost. Speaking for wife she never goes anywhere without her purse so I wonder about women that call looking for there's. A bit of a extreme case is I had a patient yesterday looking for their cane they lost 4 weeks ago in our facility. Now how does someone that needs a cane to walk not notice it is missing for 4 weeks?

I would not be the least surprised for firearms being left behind in the examination rooms and, worse, the public restrooms.

 

[BobWright]

Where I live, in Tennessee, there is no law prohibiting firearms in hospitals or medical clinics. However, two of the big hopsitals here are posted as no carry sites. Anyone caught carrying here is in violation of the law and is subject to fine, also likely to have permit canceled or suspended by Dept. of Safety.

However, if the gun is used in a case of self defense, no crime or violation has occurred. In other words, it is an excusable violation. BUT, not if one is a convicted felon.

Case in point: A man pulled up to his bank just as a bank robbers was making a getaway. Seening the customer, the robber tried to carjack the man. The bank customer reached into his car, pulled a gun and shot the bank robber. He had no carry permit, but as "no crime occurred" no charges were filed. But, as he was a convicted felon, the Federals did charge him.

Go figure.

Bob Wright

 

[rhinoh]

In SC carry in any medical facility is illegal, permit or not.
I've kinda wondered a few times how they define that- for instance when I got my flu shot at a CVS, is their Minute Clinic considered a medical facility? Half of it is right in the store area, which is not carry prohibited....so??

 

[jrdolall]

In SC carry in any medical facility is illegal, permit or not.

Not to derail the thread but SC is the only state in the SE that is like this. Every other state honors our permits and we honor everyone else...except SC.

 

[Sav .250]

I`d just ask if they have a policy concerning weapons......................................... Beats, my neighbor said. I heard. I think. My friend has a cousin who said.

 

[george burns]

I understand The High Road, and try to do the right thing. But my life and the lives of my family is my responsibility and I must do what I deem reasonable to protect it. The word Concealed means just that. How anyone is going to know you have a firearm, unless you tell them is beyond me. I haven't seen any metal detectors or x-ray machines in any doctors office or Hospital, other than a few in NYC, like Bellevue.
So one must weigh the option of being asked to leave "big deal", you can come back without it if you really have to. Against a madman with a gun shooting you and yours.
My personal doctor told me about the new Remington Wingmaster he bought, which is the 3d gun this year since I got him into shooting.
Even though he has the sign on the door, it is so small and in the lower left corner of the glass door where you really have to search to even see it.
That being said, is this even a legal sign, he knows darn well I have my gun on me every time we meet, and never even asked me not to carry it.
So perhaps this is much ado about nothing?
It seems to me that it's a discretionary call on the part of the patient. If you are a strict believer in following every law, and never drove while having a few drinks in you, or rolled through a stop sign, went over the speed limit, or littered, crossed against the light etc, then perhaps it's more mandatory for you.
I may not like the fact that my picture is taken 300 time a day every time I leave my home, or that the govt allows aliens to cross into my country and spit on the flag, give my tax money to lazy people who just prefer not to work, with no repercussions, but they choose not to follow their own laws, so I am just doing the same thing. If asked to leave, I would, if asked if I had a weapon, I would tell the truth, otherwise all bets are off.