Company policy bans posession of a gun

[Gentoo]

Is it legal for a company to ban Employee possession of any gun (handgun or otherwise) from keeping it in their car while on property such as a company parking lot?

This would be per a company policy that is in an employee handbook.

[RPBrown]

As of now, yes it is. Bills have been presented this session to eliminate this though.

If the lot is posted 30.06 its trespassing and you can be arrested. If its just policy, you can be fired.

[jdh2580]

Legal in the aspect of "Company Policy" meaning they can fire you for the infraction but there are no legal implications.

Charles has written a bill that is currently being debated that would allow parking lot carry meaning the company can not post 30.06 signs. I do not know how it would cover company policy.

At least that is my understanding. I am sure some of our more knowledgeable members will be along shortly to clarify for you.

[Gentoo]

Yes that was what I meant, legal as in they can fire you for violating company policy.

Both my wife and I work for such places, and frankly it makes having a CHL rather pointless. I am glad to hear that there is a bill looking to change this. What is the name of the bill, and is there anything a private citizen can to to try and help get it passed?

[LaUser]

If the company owns or leases the parking lot, then it has control over how it is used. It can ban firearms from your vehicle while it is parked on that parking lot. My employer bans all weapons of any kind from company property, including what is in your car.

Now, if current proposed legislation passes, that may change.

[stevie_d_64]

The trick these days to remain employed in the state of Texas is this...

Do not say anything, imply an interest, go on the internet at work to websites that promote, sell, blog or discuss gun issues pro, or con...

Texas is a right to work state, and they can fire you for any reason, even if you comb your hair on a side the boss dislikes...And there is no real repercussion for that...

If you are a CHL'er, then my suggestion all along, over the years, has been to get yourself an additional "lockbox" type safe in the vehicle that requires a key to open...Sure a combo can work, but I forget combos...

Even if you carry to work and leave it locked up in a vehicle, having it in the safe makes it near impossible to determine through a search, warranted or not, a little more insulated (in your favor)...

My thought is that if you at least "cave" and let them poke around in your vehicle looking for whatever, they cannot credibly make you open a "lockbox" that is secured in your vehicle that is locked itself...They can summize all they want about what might be inside it, but that is none of their business, and they have already pushed the envelope back too far in my opinion when they forced you to let them look in your vehicle in the first place, but you have made the effort to appease them...Anything beyond that is a bit too much, and I would just go ahead and clean out my desk and move on...

The parking lot bill in session this time would basically give you the opportunity to be insulated from being terminated for having a firearm in your locked vehicle while at work...But it doesn't insulate you for future disciplinary action for something else...It doesn't require you to purchase a gunsafe for the vehicle, but some of us have already gone that route and have personal ideas on how to avert scrutiny while at work to not draw attention to this issue and ourselves...

As much as I like to promote shooting sports and above all the right to keep and bear arms and self defense issues...Your place of employment is a powder keg with the fuse ready to be lit at the slightest inuendo...

If it passes or not, Many of us already have our system in place, and as long as it is not illegal, I have all my bases covered...

Just remember company policy is not the law, but they sure can make you pay for it...

Catch my drift???