Question about vehicle carry

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IonicDOG

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Hello Everyone, my question is, at what point does a vechile become an extension of your home?

I'll explain, I live in Louisiana and I work for a company that lets me use a company truck. I work in the oilfield and i'm a lease operator, or as we call it a "pumper." My job is to drive to all the well locations we have and to make sure everything is running right. Some locations are deep in the swamp, where there is only one way in and one way out with limited cell phone coverage. Sometime I have to go to the locations in the middle of the night, where the only light is the headlights and my flashlight. So in doing this I carry a 5" XD .45 in the truck, its in plain view and is easily accessible. So the other morning, at out office my boss comes in and tell the employees that he talked to some lawyer from Pennslyvania and said since the truck wasn't registered in the employee's name, that the truck wasn't an extension of the home. The company doesn't have a written or verbal firearms policy, my boss said he didn't care if we carried in the truck, but to hide the firearm. Does this have any validity, because I don't want to get in an accident, or stopped by a LEO and have the XD in the truck, and then be in trouble.
Thanks, Josh

Edit: I also forgot to add that I take the truck home everynight and i'm able to use the truck for personal use.
 
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To tell you the truth, I don't see how anyone could claim that an employer's vehicle is an extension of the employee's home. The vehicle isn't owned by the employee, it isn't registered to the employee, the insurance isn't paid by the employee, nor does the employee pay for the maintenance - the only connection to the employee is that he gets to drive it during the course of his employment.
 
Extention of Home

Well, I believe that LA and TX. are both somewhat conservative regarding guns in vehicles. I personally do not believe it should matter whether the vehicle is registered to you, as long as it is used as a "take home vehicle" the "Intent" of the law is the same. Just because the vehicle is owned by the company should not affect the laws "intent", it just happens to be a perk of your job position, IMHO. If concerned I would suggest you contact your "county attorney's" and ask one of the attorney's, they do work for you.
Good Luck
 
arent there exceptions for a CCL? I'd check with your local law enforcement about it.

and get a shotgun for the truck, and one of those gun racks that attaches to the sun visors. and charge the company for both.
 
Texas now allows concealed carry (only) in a vehicle without a CCL. This is new as of 1 Sep 07. You still can not open carry a handgun in a vehicle. It does not matter who owns the vehicle. So if your job takes you there you are GTG. LA I do not know.
 
My advice is to follow the law of the state concerning firearms transport and carry in LA. Your employer says "he" doesn't care, but the "company" does. I would make my own decision and live with the consequences whatever they may be.
 
Check the law, I'd be very suprised if it mattered who's car you were driving for the law to apply. I drive a company truck & use it for personal stuff also. The use of the truck is part of my job/income so it's mine as far as I'm concerned.
 
Louisiana is what we call a traditional open carry state. They have complete state preemption of firearms laws with the exception that laws in place prior to the passage of preemption are allowed to remain in place.

No licence is needed to carry a firearm as long as it is kept in plain view. Once you conceal or hide the firearm a concealed weapon licence is necessary.

I searched and I could not find a provision in LA law requiring a weapon to be concealed within a vehicle, therefore it is my belief that it therefore must be kept in the open (again unless you are licensed to conceal and the OP is not).


I should add that I am not a lawyer and do not play one on TV... so what you hear from me is worth what you paid for it... nothing :)
 
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State laws aside, you will also need to know your companie's policy regarding employees carrying in their vehicles. Carry in their vehicle in violation of company policy, and you'll be spending time looking for a new job.
 
Thanks for the input, as i stated in my first post the company doesn't have any policy regarding firearms, and also my "boss" is also the owner of the company.
 
Just remember, that your employer does not trump state law. If your employer insists that you conceal, but the state prohibits it.....

Your boss may be able to fire you, but the state can put you in jail.
 
In TX I do believe the law states...."in your vehicle or any vehicle that YOU ARE IN CONTROLE OF....."
someone please correct me if I am wrong.

I suggest that you read the law for LA to see if it is worded thew same way.
 
My advice is to use the Internet to do some research on Louisiana law.

If it's legal for you to have the gun in the truck, it doesn't really matter about "extension of one's home". Whatever state and federal laws would apply, as to searches, but the gun should not be a legal matter in whatever searching might occur.

Art
 
what state?

it varies from state to state, in AZ ya can have a handgun concealed or not anywhere in the vehicle provided its in a holster......... but then ya can't legally have a handgun in AZ unless your 21 as they follow the federal statute, we ran into this over my 20 year old step daughter target shooting onea my wifes pistols out in the desert even though she is 20 the State trooper gave her grief and was going to cite her, it took me 10 minutes to get him to chill...... now she only shoots on our private range with handguns, she can legally posses a HG in her home however
 
I grew up in Louisiana, and now live in E. Texas. I still own and maintain, with my sister( lives in Miss) my parents house near W. Monroe.

About two years ago the State and local police forces were conducting drug stops along I 20. Going to W. Monroe we came upon a line of traffic, so got off at next exit, passing a line of parked patrol cars. One pulled out , followed me about a mile, then flashed his lights. I pulled over and opened my door. He came up and said my registration had expired at which point I pointed to the new sticker, applied the previous day. He commented it must not have made it into computer system. At that point I pointed out a Kimber 45 in door pocket and he said" thats ok, we are gun friendly here" I then commented I knew, and was planning on a trip to the local parish rifle range the next day. We exchanged a few friendly comments and went on our resptecive ways.
 
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