I work at an Anti-Gun Gun store, should i quit?

[Light Storm]

Here is my delema. I work part time at Dicks Sporting Goods in the gun department. Today i come into work, only to see a no weapons sign on the front door. The company has never allowed me to carry on the job, but becasue of the way the ohio CCW law is worded, me so much as touching on of the guns we have for sale would be a felony in a building where the sign is posted. I told my boss this, and he agree's that the sign should not be posted, but said that this policy comes straight from the top, and that there is nothing that can be done. Since we hold an FFL, it is only a mater of time till an ATF agent is in the store, and i am sure they could not pass up an opurtinity to enforce the law. Should i just quit now, give it a few weeks to see if the signs come down (maybee enough angry customers will call or write to get a policy reversal) or should i just stick it out and hope no cop or ATF agent ever see's me holding a gun in a no weapons building. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Third_Rail]

How much do you need money? Your principals, if you can financially, should come first.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd be inclined to find another job, turn in a written letter of resignation, and make it clear in the letter the store's anti-Second Amendment bigotry was the reason I left.

That saidâ„¢, there's a good chance I'd quit, make it clear why I'd quit, and go find another job.

 

[Old Fuff]

In every other situation of this sort that I've encountered the signs only applied to the general public and store employees were exempted - at least those that worked in the gun department.

The ATF&E can only enforce federal laws, not Ohio state statutes. I highly doubt that a local police officer would arrest an employee for handling a firearm unless there was more to the issue. Unless you are fed up with the job I wouldn't do anything rash. Go look for another one and after you find it, give you're present employer two weeks notice.

 

[One of Many]

Just tell the customers that you are prohibited from touching any of the firearms, and can not let them touch any firearms as well, because of the policy being posted and Ohio law making it a felony. When the store discovers that they are not selling product, they will reassess the policy. They may just close the gun department, but in that case your problem is solved.

 

[Light Storm]

One of many, i like your idea. The job is more of a hobby than anything, i only work 1 or 2 days a week. I have another job that is my main source of income. I need to sleep on it for a day or two, but i may just have to go with what i know is right and get my butt out of there.

 

[Ukraine Train]

What city are you in, if you don't mind? I was in a Dick's on the east side of Cleveland a couple weeks ago and there were no signs then. Wonder why they waited so long. You should let the people at www.ohioccw.org know so they can put it on their site. They have slowly been able to get businesses to reverse their decisions on the signs.

 

[Light Storm]

I work at a Dicks in Cincinnati, and the sign literaly just went up this morning. I allready sent an email to ohioccw.org hopefully they will be able to help mobilize the troops on this one.

 

[gezzer]

Easy solution= stand around but do not touch any guns, sales stop you still get paid they fire you, you sue and get millions for them trying to make you commit a felony.

 

[Mulliga]

Easy solution= stand around but do not touch any guns, sales stop you still get paid they fire you, you sue and get millions for them trying to make you commit a felony.

BINGO!

Seriously, get your boss in on this - explain to him your predicament. This is the most ridiculous policy I've ever heard - no weapons ... in a store that sells guns??

 

[atek3]

I'd be inclined to find another job, turn in a written letter of resignation, and make it clear in the letter the store's anti-Second Amendment bigotry was the reason I left.

That saidâ„¢, there's a good chance I'd quit, make it clear why I'd quit, and go find another job.

careful, most businesses are anti-gun. quiting a job because you are a "crazy gun nut" (in HR's eyes), is a surefire way to be unemployed long term.

atek3

 

[laser monkey]

If your health insurance and the majority of your income came from Dick's, then I would not want you to loose those things over this. But since this is more of a "hobby job", quitting in protest might be a good way to show the corporation that their policy doesn't just effect customers but employe's as well.

 

[atek3]

gun departments at sporting good stores are primarily for the 'hunter sportsman' type. Not the crazed gun nut that would actually get a carry permit and want to carry on the job. They might shoot a fellow employee.
Real gun stores are different. So are jewelry stores and pawnshops.

atek3

 

[JPL]

Simply refuse to help a customer when he/she asks to see a gun, I guess.

Eventually the manager will get the idea.

 

[stealthmode]

if i understand what you mean correctly then i wouldnt show any guns to anybody except through the glass case or point to the rifles in the rack and when you will get fired when people complain to the management and maybe you have a lawsuit. you have a perfect defense in which you would be breaking the law by touching or having a customer touch a weapon.

how about that

 

[BluesBear]

Now I have seen everything

I honestly don't know which is more stupid.

The policy of the Dick's Sporting Goods or the existence of this thread.

:banghead:

 

[Majic]

How can a no weapons law affect someone on private property without the property owner filing a complaint? Are you also saying if you put a no weapons sign up at your home then you can be arrested if you touch one of your own guns in the house? The firearm is owned by the store. You are a representative of the store. You are empowered by the store to handle it's merchandise. You should know the meaning of the law, but you seem to be trying to purposely twist it and to think that others are going along with you on this.
Come on now folks. Use that lump sitting on your shoulders.

 

[Tinker]

Light Storm,

You said: "...becasue of the way the ohio CCW law is worded, me so much as touching on of the guns we have for sale would be a felony in a building where the sign is posted."

Is it a felony just because you have an Ohio CCW only? Is the law/policy written in such a way that another employee, a person without a CCW but under the store's FFL, is the one who does sales?

If the law applies to all people, CCW or no, then is every customer who handles a firearm in a store for purchase with such a sign posted commiting a felony? I'm just curious. Thanks.

 

[Light Storm]

The law applies to all people, not just CCW holders, so customers are affected also. The management just does not seem to want to take the time to read the law to see what their sign realy means.

 

[Kobun]

I'm with gezzer on this one.
Do nothing, get fired and sue.

Find a lawyer and make sure you know exactly what the sign/law means.

 

[Werewolf]

The law applies to all people, not just CCW holders, so customers are affected also. The management just does not seem to want to take the time to read the law to see what their sign realy means.

If you wouldn't mind please post a link to or the actual law that is being broken.

FWIW it seems a bit strange that just touching a firearm in a posted business would be a felony. Have you verified this interpretation with a lawyer?

Please post the law...

 

[field70]

becasue of the way the ohio CCW law is worded, me so much as touching on of the guns we have for sale would be a felony in a building where the sign is posted."

Please clarify...where is this in the Ohio CCW law?

 

[Light Storm]

Ok, i was mistaken, it is a 4th degree misdomener, not a fellony. Here is the text from the law taken from house bill 12 (the ohio CCW Law):

Sec. 2911.21. (A) No person, without privilage to do so, shall do any of the following:

...............

(4) Being on the land or premises of another, negligently fail or refuse to leave upon being notified by singage posted in a conspicuous place or otherwise being notified to do so by the owner or ocupant, or the agent or servant of either.

.................

(D) Whoever viloates this section is guilty of criminal trespass, a misdemeanor of the forth degree.



The sign stats that no "possesion of firarms, weapons, or dangerous ordinace" is allowed in the building. By most deffinitions, when you are holding a wepon, it is in your possestion, so by picking up on of the guns that are for sale, i would be breaking the law.

 

[Majic]

According to the Ohio AG web site the sign means you can not bring a weapon on the premises. They have an example of their state approved sign. This is no different from any place else.
http://www.ag.state.oh.us/web_applications/concealcarry/About.asp

 

[alarmguy]

I just don't see how you can interpret the Ohio CCW law to mean that you can't touch or handle the store's firearms. It means that you can't enter the store with a concealed handgun, that's all.