How to convince your employer to allow CHL carry

[Texasdoesitbest]

My employer does not know I have a CHL (or soon will be having one its on its way to me). Do I have to ask him if I can carry while working or can I carry and if he finds out and tells me not to then obviously listen? We dont have a 30.06 sign and we would never as we are a defense criminal law practice. We actually defend people with CHL or UCW related charges. I dont think the firm partner will mind but I'm just wondering if it has to be disclosed before carrying. I'm also aware that the "castle doctrine" for lack of better terms, allows me to carry in place of employment.

Thoughts?

If you have an employee handbook that says 'no firearms', then you would be breaking policy and could be fired. If they have told you verbally or have written notification in the handbook in the form of Texas Penal Code 30.06, then you would be breaking the law without permission from the owner/partner.

Keith, thanks for the reply. We have no employee handbook or employee policies, no bylaws. Its more of a "family oriented" law firm. I guess ideally I can ask since we have a great relationship boss and me. Been working for him for 10 years but still, I'd like to know if I need to let them know beforehand or carry and if I'm told something then obviously abide by whatever it is I'm told. What would you do?

[Keith B]

Keith, thanks for the reply. We have no employee handbook or employee policies, no bylaws. Its more of a "family oriented" law firm. I guess ideally I can ask since we have a great relationship boss and me. Been working for him for 10 years but still, I'd like to know if I need to let them know beforehand or carry and if I'm told something then obviously abide by whatever it is I'm told. What would you do?

That's a question no one on the forum can answer. Since we don't know your individual situation and your relationship, then any answer here would be invalid.

I suggest you do what you feel is right for your situation.

[treadlightly]

My employer doesn't allow weapons on company property, but I'm a teleworker. I pay for the roof over my head, the phones, the broadband, the property taxes, the building insurance. water, electricity, and the company name isn't on the building.

I carry at work. Sometimes I dry fire practice at lunch.

As far as trying to convince an employer to allow lawful carry at work on company property, I'd only try if I had a solid friendship with the employer. Otherwise, it would probably be like teaching a pig to sing.

Nobody would enjoy the music. Worse, it would annoy the pig.

Walk softly, and call 911 if you need somebody to carry a big stick for you. You're probably in one of those ghastly "it is what it is" situations.

[mr1337]

Keith, thanks for the reply. We have no employee handbook or employee policies, no bylaws. Its more of a "family oriented" law firm. I guess ideally I can ask since we have a great relationship boss and me. Been working for him for 10 years but still, I'd like to know if I need to let them know beforehand or carry and if I'm told something then obviously abide by whatever it is I'm told. What would you do?

It really depends on your employer and how you want to handle it. If you ask him if you can carry at work and he tells you "no" (verbally), he has given you effective notice under Texas Penal Code 30.06, and thus any future carrying there would be a criminal offense.

However, if you don't ask and there's no legal signage, you're not committing any crimes. If you get caught, you would have to explain yourself and potentially be reprimanded (possibly terminated) depending on your employer's views on guns and gun rights.

It's really up to you, but a lot of people are in the boat of "concealed is concealed" - meaning if you keep it concealed properly, no one will ever know except for you.

[Vol Texan]

Keith, thanks for the reply. We have no employee handbook or employee policies, no bylaws. Its more of a "family oriented" law firm. I guess ideally I can ask since we have a great relationship boss and me. Been working for him for 10 years but still, I'd like to know if I need to let them know beforehand or carry and if I'm told something then obviously abide by whatever it is I'm told. What would you do?

I would find a way (on a weekend say off, of course) to take him shooting. It's amazing how much easier it is to influence them on this subject when they have a gun in their hand.

May work, may not, but if I were going to try, this is how I'd want to do it.

[WildBill]

Keith, thanks for the reply. We have no employee handbook or employee policies, no bylaws. Its more of a "family oriented" law firm. I guess ideally I can ask since we have a great relationship boss and me. Been working for him for 10 years but still, I'd like to know if I need to let them know beforehand or carry and if I'm told something then obviously abide by whatever it is I'm told. What would you do?

I would find a way (on a weekend say off, of course) to take him shooting. It's amazing how much easier it is to influence them on this subject when they have a gun in their hand.

May work, may not, but if I were going to try, this is how I'd want to do it.

Probably the best way to educate people who don't have experience with firearms or shooting.

[apostate]

Punishment? You bet. Your fired on the spot, no ifs ands or buts. At some point in your employment life you will have gotten to the point where your current job is worth retiring from. When your fired much of that is history. Its all about the consequences for choices made.

I agree wholeheartedly that it's all about consequences of choices made. Every job I've had so far was worth leaving for something better. Some sooner than others. None were worth dying over. I act accordingly.

[jimlongley]

Two things,

First, I am sure that I was selected for layoff from Alcatel over a person with less seniority (I did his intake interview), less experience, and nowhere near my job performance ratings, due to the fact that HR knew that I owned guns. The short back story is that the private security company they contracted to ran a check on me after I objected to one of their personnel parking a personal vehicle in a fire lane and called the cops. I got a notice that my CHL record had been accessed by them. A little while later HR called me in for an interview about the situation and the HR kid basically stated that she did not feel safe with me owning guns, which I countered brilliantly, both to her and her boss, who I complained to about her and the access to my records that she obviously used. Nothing more until more than a year later when layoffs happened, and I was one of the first out the door.

Second, when I worked for TSA (!) several of us CHL holders went on a campaign to get TSA to at least allow us to carry to our lockers. Instead they put up the 18USC930 sign on the door of the break room.

[winters]

My company is out of NJ so you know how anti gun they are. Our company policy is no guns on company property, parking lots,cars, company paid for rental cars. I carry in my car and on trips im driving a rental car and just keep my mouth shut about it.

[Abraham]

Just a friendly reminder regarding the "concealed is concealed" idea, because sometimes you may not realize you're unconcealed. Cover garment blows up or gets snagged or ...?

In the past, just as I stepped out of my truck, my Glock 19 crashed to the ground as the retaining screws on my very high priced holster had over time backed out...

The unexpected hug is another one of those things that can happen and the hugger looks in shocked surprised at the huggee.

I once had a woman in a store start to fall, I grabbed her just before she would've gone down and in so doing she grabbed onto my OWB pistol with one hand.

I could on, but won't go one.

I'm sure you get my drift.

Don't blindly beleive "concealed is concealed" is a perfect idea. It isn't. It sometimes fails...

[WildBill]

Don't blindly believe "concealed is concealed" is a perfect idea. It isn't. It sometimes fails...

[jimlongley]

BTW, back in the day, my father and fellow telephone company employees shot on a range in the basement of the main building in Albany NY.

[hillfighter]

I would rather carry a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.