Defense at work

[global247]

I live and work in Washington State. I have been working late at my office for the last week or so, and will continue to do so for a couple of months. It is a small office in an industial area. In the past few months there has been numerous break ins among the surrounding offices including the office connected to the one that I work in. Does anyone know if the laws are the same defending yourself at work by yourself as they are defending your home?

 

[icebones]

do you own your own buisiness or are you employed by someone else?

that has a lot to do with it.

 

[HIcarry]

In general you need your employer's permission to possess a gun at work. There may be exceptions to this based on your specific state or job.

 

[global247]

I am an employee, of a cell phone dealer. I do business to business sales and spend time late at night doing paperwork. My employer knows that I have a firearm.

 

[Tyris]

In general you need your employer's permission to possess a gun at work. There may be exceptions to this based on your specific state or job.

I think the exception is that you do not tell them.
I would not tell mine, as it is not their business and it has no bearing on my work performance.

-T

 

[Bobarino]

you're just fine law wise but your employer could fire you if they have a policy against guns in the workplace and you get found out. legally, you are in no jeopardy.

Bobby

 

[Craig_AR]

Does anyone know if the laws are the same defending yourself at work by yourself as they are defending your home?

Global,
First, IANAL.. so consider this as only thoughtful amateur surmising.
If you are referring to Castle Doctrine laws, my understanding is that no, the provision of the castle doctrine that you have no obligation to retreat before using deadly force does not apply at work, It only applies in your own domicile (home).
From my reading of concealed carry and personal protection books, no matter where you are, you have the right to use deadly force to protect yourself when you are fearful of death or major physical harm and you have no avenue of escape. That last part about no avenue of escape is where the castle doctrine laws factor in - bu tonly in your home.

craig

 

[Bobarino]

Washington has no duty to retreat in your home, your work place or any other place. the law doesn't care where you are. there is no distinction between home, work, public or otherwise in Washington's laws.

RCW 9A.16.050
Homicide — By other person — When justifiable.


Homicide is also justifiable when committed either:

(1) In the lawful defense of the slayer, or his or her husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister, or of any other person in his presence or company, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury to the slayer or to any such person, and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished; or

(2) In the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, in his presence, or upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode, in which he is.

RCW 9A.16.020
Use of force — When lawful.


The use, attempt, or offer to use force upon or toward the person of another is not unlawful in the following cases:

(1) Whenever necessarily used by a public officer in the performance of a legal duty, or a person assisting the officer and acting under the officer's direction;

(2) Whenever necessarily used by a person arresting one who has committed a felony and delivering him or her to a public officer competent to receive him or her into custody;

(3) Whenever used by a party about to be injured, or by another lawfully aiding him or her, in preventing or attempting to prevent an offense against his or her person, or a malicious trespass, or other malicious interference with real or personal property lawfully in his or her possession, in case the force is not more than is necessary;

(4) Whenever reasonably used by a person to detain someone who enters or remains unlawfully in a building or on real property lawfully in the possession of such person, so long as such detention is reasonable in duration and manner to investigate the reason for the detained person's presence on the premises, and so long as the premises in question did not reasonably appear to be intended to be open to members of the public;

(5) Whenever used by a carrier of passengers or the carrier's authorized agent or servant, or other person assisting them at their request in expelling from a carriage, railway car, vessel, or other vehicle, a passenger who refuses to obey a lawful and reasonable regulation prescribed for the conduct of passengers, if such vehicle has first been stopped and the force used is not more than is necessary to expel the offender with reasonable regard to the offender's personal safety;

(6) Whenever used by any person to prevent a mentally ill, mentally incompetent, or mentally disabled person from committing an act dangerous to any person, or in enforcing necessary restraint for the protection or restoration to health of the person, during such period only as is necessary to obtain legal authority for the restraint or custody of the person.

Bobby

 

[mortpes]

The concept for self-defense and the use of deadly force is defined by your state. In general it does not matter where you are, BUT the difficulty of defending your actions legally will vary as you move the site of the shooting from place to place.