Should I Inform My Employer That I CC?

[ForumSurfer]

I don't think he knows I have handguns though. I think he may be of the opinion, as a highly conservative Christian

Means nothing, brother. I traded a 1911 for a 308 AR...with a preacher man. (edit::He used it for a carry piece.)

I go by the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

I do a lot of driving for work, and ever since I got my CHP I've been worried about getting pulled over and having to inform the officer that I have a concealed handgun on me in front of my boss/father-in-law.

Get that out of your head, dude. Do the legal thing without remorse. In NC, we have a duty to inform and a state trooper will enforce that. They don't play. If you hesitate and try to mention it to him quietly so that your bos/FIL won't notice...you're breaking the law AND you're making a guy with a gun who is already possibly nervous even more nervous. That's bad voodoo.

I wouldn't tell my boss. It isn't his business if there aren't any policies.

I would tell my FIL, but I'd sit down man to man with him. I'd also have a well thought out argument WELL ahead of time....complete with examples and local news stories of bad people doing bad things.

 

[thorazine]

Another vote for,

[X] Nope.. keep it to yourself.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Ah, I reread the OP. It's your father-in-law. I am much more inclined to say don't tell him. If there is ever a reason he finds out, then explain to him you want to be able to return safely to his daughter at night. Also, assuming you have all the paperwork to CCW, how would he find out even if you get pulled over? Why would you show him the ticket?

 

[ny32182]

Unless he has some very profitable business you are interested in, and have well founded designs on taking it over one day, I would likely seek employment elsewhere.

If you are in close contact with him every day, eventually he will figure it out. You know much better than anyone here what his likely reaction will be.

 

[hermannr]

I didn't notice the "very Conservative Christian" statement. That is the last thing I would worry about.

I am confessional Lutheran (which some would consider a very conservative christian) I carry, our pastor has more guns then I do, and a CPL. My Dad was (he is long deceased) a Lutheran pastor, and he definately believed in self defence. He was pastor of a Lutheran church in LA during the Watts Riots. I now have his guns (along with my own).

Christians carry, not a problem. Good Christians try their best to obey the laws of the country they live in, and it is legal to carry you know....so what's the problem? That your FIL is a Christian should not even come into the equation.

Like I said earlier, Ask him to go to the range with you, He might like it. Discuss carrying for self defence (in general, not specifically you) while he is shooting, Try it.

 

[mrbro]

Lets look at this from another POV.

If you are driving a company vehicle and on company time you are placing his company under some risk should something happen that involved your use of that firearm. Whether he would ultimately be held liable in civil or criminal court is only partially the point, either way he would amass considerable legal costs defending his position. Since, I presume, the business does use armed employees, he is not likely insured for any claims that might occur as a result and could have to go it on his own, to the point of losing the business. He could even be forced to spend money because he did not have a policy against employees carrying firearms.

How would this impact the relationship with your father in law? How about with your spouse?

I recommend you leave the gun home and never tell him you carried it on the job.

 

[MachIVshooter]

However, there is no company policy regarding firearms, so I'm not doing anything wrong.

There's your answer. Most companies that have a problem with it will outline that. If they don't, I think one can reasonably assume that it's an acceptable practice.

I say continue to carry, and do so discreetly.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Remember the old saying: It is easier to get forgivness than permission?

 

[Sam1911]

Remember the old saying: It is easier to get forgivness than permission?

And it is better to ask forgiveness than to have your untimely passing mourned by your loved ones.

As hackneyed as the expression certainly is, "concealed is concealed." One's self-defense tools are private.

 

[ScottieG59]

My wife is anti-gun and is annoyed that I have guns. I do my best not to talk about it with her. The main issue I have is that I keep my handgun concealed and I do not mention that I am carrying when we are out. My wife is not savvy enough to refrain from the topic in public or in front of our children. She is also opinionated and does not take hints about my wish that she stops talking openly about it.

As to the workplace, your situation is potentially complicated. For me, it is easy. I work for the federal government and my permit is invalid on the job. In other jobs, there may be a some flexibility. On the one hand, you can be told to stop carrying on the job. On the other hand, you may expose yourself to some legal exposure. I think you can be considered a trespasser if you are asked to leave with the gun and you stay.

I did have a job where I legally carried a handgun. The boss knew but the other employees did not. I handled large amounts of cash and being armed was a safety precaution. It was awkward when some other employees found I was armed when the boss was concerned with a particularly large cash deposit and asked me. I carried 100% of the time. I also randomized my travel times and routes as well as never told the other employees when I was going to the bank.

If I were legally able to carry at work and there is no policy against it, I would do so. If my duties require me to go places where my permit did not allow, I would ensure I have a secure area in the vehicle. My vehicle is equipped with two safes. If I have to leave the handgun in the vehicle, I store the unloaded handgun in one safe and the ammo in the other.

 

[milefile]

If you ever have to save his ass with your evil gun he will likely change his tune.

How is it "Christian" to not defend yourself?

 

[Sam1911]

How is it "Christian" to not defend yourself?

Look, there are various Christian sects and branches which consider pacifism a crucial part of their belief structure -- yes, to the point of dying rather than causing harm. (Society of Friends/Quakers for example, among others.)

But this isn't the forum to debate the validity of those religious beliefs. If dcdub says that is part of his F-I-L's belief system, about all we can do is accept that it is so.

It isn't critical to the quesiton anyway. The man doesn't have to be religious to oppose guns or self-defense.

 

[Mags]

Don't do anything to get pulled over, problem solved.

 

[Creature]

Was disclosure a condition of your employment?

 

[Ala Dan]

Putting trust/faith in your father in-law could prove to be a mistake; especially
if he looks down on guns, or 2nd Amendment Rights. I don't think I would tell
him more than he needed too know~!

 

[dirtykid]

No and NO !! I would do just as i did, All of my co-workers are aware of my "carry" status and my feelings about RKBA but i never get up-in-their-grill about it so it's all good.
Awhile back there was discussion of the legallity of an employer not allowing employees to keep their guns in locked cars in employee parking lot, so I reviewed the employee manual and noted the lack of ANY reference to handgun-posession so I mentioned to the office "controller" that im a member of a gun forum and this very subject was brought up for discussion and noticed WE did not have any "rules" regarding this subject. He responded with a "I'll check into it"
Well, that was months ago and no answer so far, which in my opinion is a good answer.
I continue to carry-concealed and mind my manners and figure i'll deal with it IF a problem comes up,, short of a ND I dont foresee any..
Our company El-presidenta is Republician,but doesnt hunt or anything like that,so im gonna assume if i keep my ducks in a row,,,, All's good !!

 

[hermannr]

ScottieG59...your wife doesn't like guns? If you do not already have, obtain a .22 pistol and take her to the range with you. She may find that shooting is fun.

My wife is a my hunting partner, and she bugs me to go to the range now, especially after I purchased a top drawer .22 target pistol for HER!

 

[Sgt.Murtaugh]

that's his problem, not yours. it's not any of his business

 

[dirtykid]

ScittieG59, I foresee a divorce-attorney on your horizon, couldnt imagine not having my wife cover my 6,alot of times when im yote-hunting i get so tunnel-visioned i miss some obvious movement which she picks out right away cause she's just there for the scenery !
The whole fam has to be aware of guns and their proper use/safety,EVEN IF you are the only one that carries ! what if you and attacker are struggling ? would she just stand there and wait for police ? sorry to get off subject but had to put in my .02 worth .

 

[dcdub]

Get that out of your head, dude. Do the legal thing without remorse. In NC, we have a duty to inform and a state trooper will enforce that. They don't play. If you hesitate and try to mention it to him quietly so that your bos/FIL won't notice...you're breaking the law AND you're making a guy with a gun who is already possibly nervous even more nervous. That's bad voodoo.

I think you misunderstood me. The thought of not telling an officer in the event that I was pulled over never crossed my mind.

Also, assuming you have all the paperwork to CCW, how would he find out even if you get pulled over? Why would you show him the ticket?

He's usually with me in the truck. I'm not worried about him seeing the ticket, I'm worried about him hearing me inform the officer I have a firearm on me, which we are obliged to do in NC.

Unless he has some very profitable business you are interested in, and have well founded designs on taking it over one day, I would likely seek employment elsewhere.

That's pretty much exactly the case, actually. I'm just riding out the storm...

And for those who replied to my comment about him being an extremely conservative Christian, I'm talking about a different kind of Christian, one of the types Sam1911 mentioned. But let's not go into that...

Thanks for the replies. I still have a lot to think about. If only you guys knew him, then you would really understand my predicament... He's unlike anyone I've ever know before...

I'm tossing around just carrying some pepper spray. I think most SD situations I might encounter while at work would occur on the road, which can usually be avoided with a little situational awareness and, of course, having a larger vehicle than 97% of people on the road, which we do.

 

[gym]

Everyone is different, it's your decision to make as you will suffer the consequences.

 

[-eaux-]

as Hank would say, "if you mind your business then you won't be minding mine."
i really don't get the train of thought that being a conservative Christian would predispose anyone to not defend himself or those under his charge from a violent threat.

 

[jon_in_wv]

+1 don't tell him.

+1 Being a Christian has NOTHING to do with believing in self defense/CCW. I'm a conservative Christian myself and I rarely leave the house unarmed. If EVERYBODY were Christians, I wouldn't need to.

 

[dcdub]

Read Sam1911's post above. I don't agree with it, obviously no one on this forum does either, but there are certain Christain sects that believe it is unacceptable to take a human life under any circumstances. That's not the issue anyway.

 

[9MMare]

(I did not yet read the entire thread)

For starters, does he have/is there a policy for employees regarding possessing weapons at work and/or while driving for work?

If not, IMO no you should not inform. You sound like it's assumed you are doing something wrong. If so, what would that be? If you have a carry permit and are following the laws (except for that accidental traffic infraction :-/ )....what's wrong?

(I dont know how it works in your state, but here it comes up when they run your plate. I've been pulled over 3 times since I had my permit and none of those times was a firearm mentioned. And we are under no obligation to bring it up.)

If your employer is bothered by it, explain that it is your normal everyday habit, like your cell phone, it's legal, and you had no reason to think that it would be viewed negatively. All that is honest, or may be slightly different for each individual.

And if you do have workplace guidelines against carrying, then IMO, you shouldnt be.


Note: Those 3 times I was pulled over were for 2: headlight out, 1: expired tabs ;-)