Fellow Educators ?

[glock76]

I finally received my plastic and was wondering how those in public education handle securing their carry weapon.
I know from state law it is illegal to carry on school premisis, sporting events, school busses etc. but the parking lot is not considered premisis correct?

As long as there are not restrictions in a district's employee handbook an employee with a CHL should be able to posses a firearm in a vehicle in the parking lot of an educational facility??? (Secured)


I would at lest like to have access to my firearm if possible for the drive home or if I were to be running errands after work.

I have ordered the http://www.center-of-mass.com/, but I have also read a little on federal gun law and gun free zones. Does it not dictate that the firearm must be locked up and also unloaded?

I appreciate any insight/discussion and clarification.

[frankie_the_yankee]

I finally received my plastic and was wondering how those in public education handle securing their carry weapon.
I know from state law it is illegal to carry on school premisis, sporting events, school busses etc. but the parking lot is not considered premisis correct?

Correct.

As long as there are not restrictions in a district's employee handbook an employee with a CHL should be able to posses a firearm in a vehicle in the parking lot of an educational facility??? (Secured)

Also correct.

I would at lest like to have access to my firearm if possible for the drive home or if I were to be running errands after work.

I have ordered the http://www.center-of-mass.com/, but I have also read a little on federal gun law and gun free zones. Does it not dictate that the firearm must be locked up and also unloaded?

I appreciate any insight/discussion and clarification.

Federal law does not require guns to be unloaded or locked up if you have a CHL.

I hate to say it, but I believe you will find that all of this stuff is moot. I think pretty much every district will have a regulation prohibiting gun possession by employees anywhere on school grounds, including the parking lot.

[fizteach]

Not all districts have policy against employees having weapons in their vehicles. So far, mine only prohibits carry in premises, not on parking lots unless instruction occurs at those locations. I would advocate keeping a copy of your district's policy on your person in the event a dog alerts on your vehicle.

Semper fi,

Bob

[troglodyte]

Under the seat in the locked truck about 30 feet from my door. Truck is almost always in my range of sight. I park off the beaten path so it is not likely to be subject to smash and grab.

My school does not have a policy, my superintendent knows, and he usually carries a rifle behind his seat and parks in the parking lot across from the main entrance.

But no permission to carry during the day

I do have a more secure way in the console. I found a cable bike lock. It was intended to lock your seat to your frame on bikes with quick release seats. I then took one of the mounting bolts out of the console floor and screwed in an eyebolt. Prior to installing the eyebolt I drilled a small hole in the threads to run a cotterpin through. Then I crawled up under the truck, slipped on a lockwasher, tightened down a bolt, and slipped a cotterpin through.

Someone determined will still get the firearm but it will take a little more time.

[Tim the Teacher]

In my car behind the passenger seat (two seater) during the day.

[stevie_d_64]

I hate to say it, but I believe you will find that all of this stuff is moot. I think pretty much every district will have a regulation prohibiting gun possession by employees anywhere on school grounds, including the parking lot.

Everything Frankie said here is dead on the money in my opinion...

My only addition would be to never, under any circumstances (at anytime in your career) allow it to be known by ANYONE you work with in that school, or the district you work in to know anything about your CHL, interest in guns in general, or the arguments for or against this right...

Once that pandora's box is open, I just have a feeling its going to be a rough road to hoe...

Venus Pax, and the other teachers that participate in this forum should certainly sound off on this like Tim did here as well...

I am not a teacher, but my wife is nearly there in finishing her degree and certification here in Texas...And I have seen some of the "conditioning" that is being done to soften her stance on this and it fraps me to no end...

[sbb]

All schools in Pasadena ISD are posted 30.06 at the entrance to their parking lots and stadiums.

[Liberty]

All schools in Pasadena ISD are posted 30.06 at the entrance to their parking lots and stadiums.

Those signs have no meaning.

[JRG]

My 642 is always loaded and ready in my truck every day of school.

JRG

[Venus Pax]

A few other teachers on campus have told me that they keep a handgun under the seat, but I have never fessed up to anything.
All it would take would be for me to tick someone off one day (and I seem to be good at it anyway), and the offendee would be at the admin building ratting me out.
My gun remains my business.

[glock76]

"Employees, visitors, and students are prohibited from bringing firearms, knives, clubs or other prohibited weapons onto school premises (i.e., building or portion of a building) or any grounds or building where a school-sponsored activity takes place. To ensure the safety of all persons, employees who observe or suspect a violation of the district’s weapons policy should report it to their supervisors or call the Administration Office immediately."

Above is a cookie cutter statement found in many ISD handbooks across Texas.

Is this not a summary, paraphrase, of the state law? Would this necessarily prohibit possession by a CHL holder (in an automobile) in a district that publishes this?

[Liberty]

"Employees, visitors, and students are prohibited from bringing firearms, knives, clubs or other prohibited weapons onto school premises (i.e., building or portion of a building) or any grounds or building where a school-sponsored activity takes place. To ensure the safety of all persons, employees who observe or suspect a violation of the district’s weapons policy should report it to their supervisors or call the Administration Office immediately."

Above is a cookie cutter statement found in many ISD handbooks across Texas.

Is this not a summary, paraphrase, of the state law?

yes it describes fairly accurately where a CHLer may or may not carry on shcool property.

Would this necessarily prohibit possession by a CHL holder (in an automobile) in a district that publishes this?

unless one is parking their car in the buildings or in the middle of a pep rally or something. leaving a gun in in the car is fine.

[frankie_the_yankee]

"Employees, visitors, and students are prohibited from bringing firearms, knives, clubs or other prohibited weapons onto school premises (i.e., building or portion of a building) or any grounds or building where a school-sponsored activity takes place. To ensure the safety of all persons, employees who observe or suspect a violation of the district’s weapons policy should report it to their supervisors or call the Administration Office immediately."

Above is a cookie cutter statement found in many ISD handbooks across Texas.

Is this not a summary, paraphrase, of the state law? Would this necessarily prohibit possession by a CHL holder (in an automobile) in a district that publishes this?

As written, this does not appear to ban employees from having guns in their cars in the parking lot.

I would say the paragraph sums up state law pretty well.

[5111]

I have looked in both my school's teacher handbook as well as the district's employee handbook and have not found anything at all. However, in a training Powerpoint from our principal it said "No Weapons On School Property". I have not yet asked because I don't want them to say no.

[Boxerrider]

1911 condition 1 in a locked box in the locked truck visable from my classroom.
It's a faculty lot, and we don't have search dogs in this district. I agree with 5111 on not asking because I'm afraid it might get worse. If I'm ever confident enough in my administrators to believe they'll allow me to carry "on premises" then I'll ask, until then nobody else knows except for Dear Sweet Wife, who teaches on the same campus, has her own CHL, loaded pistol, lockbox . . .

I have worked where there were dogs but never had one alert on my vehicle. My plan then was to ask to speak to the officer without an administrator present. I'm willing to speak professionally to LEO about what I have and how it is stored.

No matter what you do you're accepting some amount of risk, you just have to look carefully at your situation and decide to what extent you are comfortable with. It already sounds like you're uncomfortable burying your head in the sand.

Enjoy!