How many of you work in a gun-free zone?

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groverdill

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Since I work on a military base, guns are not allowed on the premises. :((You can find lots of online discussions as to why. Most blame Clinton, but that's not quite accurate.) So since I'm about to start carrying concealed, it kind of sucks that 5 days a week (more if I work overtime on the weekends) I will have to leave my firearm at home. I've never had any trouble before, but the world is getting worse by the day. I happen to live in PA, less than an hour from where that fatal road rage shooting occurred on the interstate a few weeks back. My drive to and from work would be a little more comforting if I could carry. I've looked around the area, and there's no where safe to keep my firearm in lock-up during work hours, then pick it up when I get off base. It would be nice if the base itself had a secure firearms lock-up just off the premises, but I'm guessing it's a liability issue. Hell, I'd even pay for such a service. (Million dollar idea, if anyone's listening.) I can't leave the firearm in the car either. They conduct random vehicle searches, sometimes with a dog, so there's no hiding it. I'm supposed to be relatively safe on the base (armed guards, fences, etc.), but it's the drive to and from work that has me thinking.

Who else works in a gun-free zone, and what do you do about it?

Mike
 
I feel your pain. I was disarmed, too, ironically, as a Soldier by the US Army despite allegedly being part of the most well-trained military in the world... apparently being a well-trained officer with a TS clearance isn't enough... and ironically, I bought the $50 state permit with no real testing other than a quick background check and could carry in most states... Life just makes no sense sometimes.

My solution. I left the military. I served and moved on. Not interested in working for an employer that values my life so little, and trusts me so little, as to not allow me to carry a gun that the state allows.

I had years ago considered starting a business to rented lockers outside of base for folks to put their guns in during work hours. I thought it through and don't think you could make a profit unless it was just a side business on an already profitable business... and even then you're bound to have NDs and ADs and perhaps even robberies with all those loaded guns coming and going... insurance would likely be high, and there might even be licensing requirements to hold guns for people, drawing FED scrutiny.

BTW, prepare for a REAL hassle if you get stationed somewhere and are forced to live on base and report all of your guns, or worse, get stationed somewhere that your guns aren't allowed ... more reasons it was no longer a good career for me. If you have more than a few guns, you'll likely draw some extra scrutiny, maybe be asked to lock them at the unit arms room, and registering all of them will suck. Oh, and if you are forced to move to non-free states, leave all your scary stuff behind...

I learned that the military doesn't care about the individual, and the individual has very few rights.

So, you either just accept it, or leave the military. The military is simply about total control, and is anti-gun.

FWIW, it's a very serious crime to be caught carrying a concealed weapon, or even having an unregistered weapon and/or loaded weapon on base, and even an unloaded weapon unless you are driving directly to/from the range during range hours. Random vehicle searches on base catch unregistered weapons regularly, and the consequences are not fun.
 
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Check around on the current rules. laws, etc. I got out of the Army around 1970 or so. Anyway, there was a 'rule' or whatever that you could apply to your CO to have your firearm. I had to lock it in the CO armory n duty, but I could check it out for range or carry use off base.
At that time, the CO gave me a written permit I had to carry whenever carrying. If the regulation is still there, you may be able to use it. As I recall, it was 'Shall Issue' based on good conduct, etc.
I'm kinda fuzzy on details, but that was 40 years ago.
 
I do as well, but in Florida we can leave them in our locked cars, which I do. I actually have two, a K-frame snubby in the center console and an LCP in another handy little cubbyhole out of sight in front of the shifter. If I need to stop at the store I put the LCP in my pocket.
 
I work in a gun free zone as well, but practically the entire state is a gun free zone, so it doesn't really matter. I'm not a huge fan of it, and if I do ever manage to wind my way through the annoying CC process in San Diego, I won't be thrilled to not be able to carry at work.
 
"Condition of Employment"

Who else works in a gun-free zone, and what do you do about it?
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Well, there isn't much you can do about it as it is a "Condition of Employment" and you agreed to this as well as the other terms. At our plant, you would not get arrested but worse, terminated. ..... ;)

At one of our monthly meeting, one of the guys was putting on his coat and his handgun fell to the floor. Everyone knew the rules and the plant manager took him aside and said; You know the rules and obviously for got to leave it at home, right?? The plant manager was willing to give him a pass. The fella said; no, I meant to bring it in. He was terminated on the spot. He was a valued and stupid employee .... :eek:

Be Safe !!!
 
Just to clarify, I'm a civilian that works on a military base. The rules are the same for civilian or active/retired military. I realize that other than finding a lock-up off base, there's no way to carry to/from work. I was searching for a magic solution from one of you folks.

Mike
 
I feel for you guys, I'd feel naked disarmed.
As far as carry is concerned I guess I'm lucky being a pawn broker for the past 26 years.
I open carry at work and concealed carry the rest of the time, so I'm armed most times.
 
I can leave mine locked in my vehicle and I do. If I choose to remain at my current job, I unfortunately have to accept it and leave it as is.

Don't like it, but its corporate America.
 
I work for a defense contractor that will not allow weapons on the premise. I do carry to work, leave it in the car until end of day, when I go home, I'm strapped.

Other than work I carry everywhere I go. I am licensed to carry in 3 different States.
 
I work in a psychiatric facility during the week and do mobile psych evaluations in local ERs on the weekend- most during the overnight hours. I will keep my firearm in the car, but it comes with me every time I go out.

To the OP: I really don't think you have an option that allows you to keep your firearm and your job. I would, however, look at the weapons policies to see if non-firearm defensive weapons are allowed (knives, tomahawks, pepper spray, baseball bat, etc) are allowed and could be stored in your car.
 
Yes, I work in a gun-free zone. As a teacher in a public high school, that's the way it is. Not happy about it, since I think school shootings would be deterred if a few of us carried (voluntarily, of course).

As I said to our school safety guy (a retired LE officer), the biggest danger is that sign out in front of the building announcing that the building is a weapons-free environment.
 
So, in a public school, if a parent is dropping off their child, are they permitted to have a loaded firearm locked in their vehicle?
 
Not according to my school district. Firearms are prohibited on school property, which includes vehicles on the premises.

Not that someone dropping off their kid has much exposure to enforcement, but folks working there would be unwise to have a firearm in their car. I don't know if that would hold up to a court challenge, but I don't want to be the test case.
 
I also work in a variety of gun-free zones. City hall, courthouses, etc. I am not prohibited from leaving the gun in the car, so I bought a car safe like this one. I used the cable to attach it to the car, lock my gun in it, and slide the safe out of sight.
 
Here in Tennessee it is legal for a teacher with a carry permit to have a gun locked up in their car on school property as far as the government is concerned. I believe that the law was called the "guns in trunks" bill or something like that. It basically allows for anyone with a carry permit to be immune from criminal prosecution for having a gun locked up in the glovebox or trunk of their vehicle. The downside is that the company, school, whatever the person works for can still legally fire them if it is found and is against their policy. The law really just protects against legal trouble.
 
I work at a state university,,,

Oklahoma State University to be exact.

I can not have the gun on my person while on university property,,,
But a recent law-suit (4-5-6 years ago?) made it legal to keep it in my car.

I use a small locked case very similar to the one Spats McGee posted.

I also carry a laminated copy of the pertinent page from the Oklahoma SDA handbook,,,
Just in case I run into another campus cop who doesn't know the law,,,
Some person saw me locking my little pistol in the case one day,,,
She called 911 and I was surrounded walking to my building.

That was kind of tense,,,
Staring at the muzzles of 3 rifles wasn't pleasant at all.

Aarond

.
 
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