TexasCHLforum.com

So... I just found out that my work has a no weapons policy! It states that no employee can be in possession of any weapon that may impart harm on another. including knives. Personal searches may be conducted at any time. Even vehicles... if any weapons are found, they can terminate employment immediately. They will consider any weapon found to be intended for use.
Here is the weired part, i usually empty my pockets so my keys and things won't rub the arm on my chair. my boss has seen my swiss army knife sitting on the desk many times and has said nothing to me about it.
There is no signage at all. there are 2 parking lots. One is inside the gated area (where I park) the other is located adjacent to two public roads.

My questions:
-- Can I carry licensed?
-- Should I just leave the weapon in the vehicle concealed and hope they never search my vehicle?
-- Should I park in the other lot that is not gated?
-- Can an employer legally search my vehicle? or me for that matter?

cagstorm wrote: 1) Can I carry licensed?
2) Should I just leave the weapon in the vehicle concealed and hope they never search my vehicle?
3) Should I park in the other lot that is not gated?
4) Can an employer legally search my vehicle? or me for that matter?

My answers:

1) Legally? With the way you describe it? Yes you can legally carry. But don't get caught. You could/would be fired if caught
2) I'm not a fan of off body carry, but a gun in the car is better than a gun at home. Although they could search it with a dog while you were inside working...
3) I don't think this makes much of a difference
4) You can tell them no - but expect to get fired.

Personally, I was in a similar situation. I carried every day after I got my CHL and never thought twice about it. Even went to the range over lunch a time or 10.

-- Can I carry licensed?
If the notice you got didn't comply with the requirements in 30.06 (the written notification you got didn't match the language in 30.06) OR if you were not orally notified, you can carry licensed without worry of criminal trespass charges.

They can fire you anyway, though.
-- Should I just leave the weapon in the vehicle concealed and hope they never search my vehicle?
If the parking lot isn't posted with a proper 30.06 sign, or you weren't orally notified that you can't keep a gun in your car, you can keep your gun in your car without worrying about charged with criminal trespass.

Again, they can still fire you.
-- Should I park in the other lot that is not gated?
Doesn't really matter.
-- Can an employer legally search my vehicle? or me for that matter?
Depends. Most likely, your employer will ask for your permission to search. If you deny permission, you'll probably be fired.
Some companies will have you sign away your rights, so they can search anyway.

It's up to you how far you want to take this. If risking your job to protect your life is worth it, then do so.

have yet to have a job that pays me enough to think that my life is of equal or lesser value... until i do, i'll be carrying.

I'm curious, does the gated parking lot also have a security post that you must enter through?
I ask because I vaguely remember something about not being able to have a weapon in any parking lot that was gated and was only enter-able via manned security checkpoints. That's what kept me from being able to keep one in the car when I worked for Lockheed.
But darned if I can find it...

kauboy wrote:I'm curious, does the gated parking lot also have a security post that you must enter through?
I ask because I vaguely remember something about not being able to have a weapon in any parking lot that was gated and was only enter-able via manned security checkpoints. That's what kept me from being able to keep one in the car when I worked for Lockheed.
But darned if I can find it...

That was from a parking lot bill that never made it out of the legislature alive. Gated parking with security would allow a company to ban firearms in its parking lot(s). But, again, none of the parking lot bills passed.

Thanks for the clarification!
I knew I had seen it somewhere, and very glad to find out I will never see it again

I noticed how you mentioned a gated and non-gated side. If you're talking about Lockheed-Martin in Fort Worth, forget it. It's considered federal property.

Concealed is concealed.

austin wrote:Concealed is concealed.

??

Lawbreakers are criminals. Employees who violate policy are EX-employees.

??

Meaning if it's concealed and you keep your mouth shut, no one will know.

Mike1951 wrote:??

Meaning if it's concealed and you keep your mouth shut, no one will know.

Yeah, I know Mike.....I guess I am just tired of that suggestion on every gun board that you should go ahead and violate law/policy simply because 'no one will know'.

txinvestigator wrote:I guess I am just tired of that suggestion on every gun board that you should go ahead and violate law/policy simply because 'no one will know'.

It will be concealed until you faint or fall and knock yourself out at work and the paramedics are called.

- Jim

Just a thought...(Here we go!!!)

As PC as most major companies are in regards to non-discriminating policies that do not allow discrimination based upon age, gender, sexual preference, religion, et. al.

Seems to me this is a discriminatory practice to not allow a person to choose to defend themselves with any means they choose to do so with???

Now granted, if the line was drawn in the parking lot of the businesses in question, I think thats a fair line, to a point...Thats why the employer parking lot bill was introduced last legislative session...Almost got it through, but it was fought and successfully delayed where it died in calendars committee...

I think in 2009, this one will be re-inroduced and make it at that time...

I think most of us would see this as a good compramise in most employment situations...I would...

The whole discriminatory thing was just another one of those "steve-isms" that bring out a little snicker in me...

The parking lot issue interests me. It's another example of public access private property issues. If the parking lot is accessable to the public, I think it's reasonable to have a gun in your car as it is legal according to the State of Texas. If the parking lot is not accessable to the public, then all bets are off. Just my opinion based on the idea that private property owners relinquish certain rights when they open their property up to the public.