Question

[VoiceofReason]

This may have been covered before on this forum but if it has, I don’t remember seeing it.

I carry my Kimber in an ITP belt holster and my back up gun in a pocket holster. If I was in an accident or suddenly taken seriously ill, how would the fire department, paramedics or hospital emergency room personnel handle this? Does anyone know if this has happened to a CHL holder before?

[VoiceofReason]

If I were unconscious would they stop treating me and call a police officer to remove them?

If my wife were there, would they get a receipt from the police officer and give it to her?

[Dragonfighter]

If I were unconscious would they stop treating me and call a police officer to remove them?

If my wife were there, would they get a receipt from the police officer and give it to her?

In the DFD, we carried hard case pistol boxes. We would remove the pistol from the person, (policy would dictate not to attempt clearing it) I would clear it, secure it in the box. We would tell the responding officer we had one and a unit would follow us or meet us at the hospital. Sometimes, we would turn it over to a family member if appropriately identified and with the consent of the patient. Other times we would open the box together, verify the contents and then the officer would take it pending contact of family. That way we weren't trying to sort it out at an emergency scene and no one person would have possession of the weapon without a witness. Does this help?

Added in edit: We would not delay treatment to remove a weapon and wait for a police response either. We would case the weapon and wait at the hospital after the patient was in definitive care.

[seniorshooteress]

Certainly glad this question was asked as I had been wondering the same thing myself. But why would the police take your gun(s)? Seems like they should just be put with the rest of the patient belongings for a family memeber to take home. Most guns are in holsters so why not just take the holster off and not touch the gun at all. Oh yeah, I forgot, Guns just go off by themselves for no apparent reason.

[cubbyjg]

Certainly glad this question was asked as I had been wondering the same thing myself. But why would the police take your gun(s)? Seems like they should just be put with the rest of the patient belongs for a family memeber to take home. Most guns are in holsters so why not just take the holster off and not touch the gun at all. Oh yeah, I forgot, Guns just go off by themselves for no apparent reason.

I would assume this would be for legal and safety reasons. Maybe the person's family members do not know how to handle a gun and if something were to happen, that could possibly spell trouble. I would be a little more at ease if a peace officer cleared the weapon and then handed them the gun with the action open and the ammo in a separate bag or something. Anyone in law enforcement that can provide some information?

[VoiceofReason]

Thanks for the reply Dragonfighter. I would hope most FD’s have a policy like this. This question has occurred to me a couple of times while driving in Houston rush hour traffic.

Cubbyjg has a good point. If I were unconscious, I would prefer a police officer clear the weapons and give them to my wife. Even though there is very little chance of them going off the way I carry them, she is uneasy handling firearms. I have tried to get her to go to the range with me and shoot, but so far, no luck.

To answer Seniorshooteress’s question, both firearms come out of the holster quick and easy but getting the holster off of my belt or out of my pocket takes a little work.

[BAD17]

I know where I live we turn them ove to PD and they take custody over them until family member is available to take them. If you think about it if you were unconscious lets say having a heart attack the last thing your wife or children or family is going to be worried about is your gun. Thats why is is standard practice to turn them over to PD so they can give them back once everyone or everything has calmed down. Say after the medics have revived you and you are ok at the ER.

[seniorshooteress]

How many hoops do you have to jump through to get your firearms back once the PD has them? How many miles of red tape do you have to wade through? If I were in a situation that required me going to hospital via ambulance or otherwise, MY first thought would be for someone to take care of my gun(s) so when I was released from hospital wouldn't have to go through a bunch of hooey to get my property back. I have invested a good deal of money in my purchase of guns, holsters, etc, (as you/we all have) and just don't like the idea of, maybe, not getting my property back or taking an act of congress to retrieve.

[BAD17]

Well Shooteress the tiles that I have personally witnessed the PD or DPS officer will follow ambulance to hospital wait in front area by nurses station and when things have calmed down will go up the the family and ask who would like to take custody of the firearm. When someone rogers up they have them go out to their car and they hand it to them. If you have no family there to accept it then you go and claim it at the station. No red tape no mess.