Considering trying to get a city policy modified to allow CC

[exbellicus]

I am a city employee and CHL holder. I am in the beginning stages of researching how to go about trying to get the city policy changed to allow employees with a CHL to carry while at work. I know very little about the workings of city government and the process behind something like this. Hoping to get some tips from you guys on who to talk to, how to present evidence and reasoning, helpful links, or anything else!

So far I have found that the city of The Colony (north of dallas) considered this back in February of this year.
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/02/20/the- ... arry-guns/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is how the current policy reads

Firearms and Lethal Weapons, Possession of.
Except for employees commissioned by the City of Farmers Branch as police/peace officers, City employees are prohibited from possessing firearms while on duty or in any City building or City vehicle, regardless of whether the employee possesses a Texas handgun license. However, employees with a valid handgun license may retain the licensed handgun in their personal vehicle parked on City property during their duty hours, or before reporting to or after departing from duty. (Terms used are as defined in Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code.)

[MoJo]

Good luck, being a former city employee myself (Beaumont) reversing changes to policy such as allowing concealed carry are "hot button" issues. Face it, the majority of city policy makers in most cities, are of a strong liberal bent. They go for the "warm fuzzy feelings" rather than the really practical cold hard facts. Keep us posted on your campaign.

[Blindref757]

I would think you would need to take a few city councilmen out to lunch and explain your thinking and get a feel for their support.

[WildBill]

I would think you would need to take a few city councilmen out to lunch and explain your thinking and get a feel for their support.

That might be a good approach.

[Dirthawking]

Can I point out a flaw in their thought process about keeping a weapon in a personal vehicle.

[KRM45]

I notice you're a Fire Fighter. Perhaps start small and work on getting the FD permission to carry. You may cite the shooting in NY where responding FF were shot in an effort to prevent them from rendering aid. You could make an argument that you and your FF coworkers are more likely to be put in harms way.

short of that, there is always arson investigator school and the police academy...

[Scott Farkus]

Can I point out a flaw in their thought process about keeping a weapon in a personal vehicle.

That's a state law that was passed recently (2011, I think). They (cities) can no longer prohibit you from keeping weapons in your personal vehicles that are parked on city property. Trust me, virtually all of them would if they could, and I suspect a large number of them still try.

Good luck getting them to extend that to licensed carry while at work. It will likely take another act of the Legislature for most of them to budge.

[txglock21]

I am also a city employee that cannot carry while at work. This is a subject that has burned my behind for years. Any "Joe" off the street with a chl (or not) can walk right into my building and/or office, but I cannot! I've un-officially talked with some high ranking individuals and the main reason I get back is liabilty on the citie's part if their employee shoots someone while on the job. To which my response is to have the employee sign a waiver talking full responsibility and releasing the city of any responsibility.( Ensert crickets chirping here.) I'm afraid its going to take some kind of tragity within the city to get them to change the policy. Good luck to you with your efforts!

[TomV]

Typically, it's the city manager who makes these policies. I think that's who you need to appeal to.

Good luck to you. I'm a Plano employee who would love to be able to carry. If one city gets the ball rolling hopefully many other will follow.

[Deltaboy]

Good luck we still can't carry at School but we can keep them in our vehicle per District policy.

[EEllis]

To which my response is to have the employee sign a waiver talking full responsibility and releasing the city of any responsibility.( Ensert crickets chirping here.)

I'm on your side but you do realize you can only wave liability in regards to yourself. You might not sue if you shoot someone. I can't think of why you would but who knows, but nothing you sign or do can keep someone from suing the City if you are involved in a shooting while at work.

[txglock21]

To which my response is to have the employee sign a waiver talking full responsibility and releasing the city of any responsibility.( Ensert crickets chirping here.)

I'm on your side but you do realize you can only wave liability in regards to yourself. You might not sue if you shoot someone. I can't think of why you would but who knows, but nothing you sign or do can keep someone from suing the City if you are involved in a shooting while at work.

Good point. I doubt my employer will ever change unless forced to by the state, such as having to let us be able to keep in our personel vehicles. Baby steps I guess.

[jmra]

To which my response is to have the employee sign a waiver talking full responsibility and releasing the city of any responsibility.( Ensert crickets chirping here.)

I'm on your side but you do realize you can only wave liability in regards to yourself. You might not sue if you shoot someone. I can't think of why you would but who knows, but nothing you sign or do can keep someone from suing the City if you are involved in a shooting while at work.

Good point. I doubt my employer will ever change unless forced to by the state, such as having to let us be able to keep in our personel vehicles. Baby steps I guess.

The liability issue is the biggest hurdle. One that many organizations will never see past.

[EEllis]

The liability issue is the biggest hurdle. One that many organizations will never see past.

It is a legitimate issue. One possibility is to carry liability insurance that would cover the organization you work for. Much like if you use your personal vehicle a company might mandate that you have certain min coverage.

[srothstein]

I don't see it as a legitimate issue at all. An employer can only be held liable for the actions of an employee under certain circumstances, such as a failure to train, failure to supervise, etc. If the employee is not acting within the constraints of their job, it is very hard to hold the employer responsible.

All an employer would need to do is write a reasonable policy that says that employees are not to use the weapon to defend the business or other workers in case of a crime and not to have the weapon out during business hours. I know it makes it kind of silly to allow carrying then, but if the policy included that they wanted the carrying to prevent criminals from breaking in the cars to get guns, the business would be fairly well covered. The bad news for us would be that they would need to enforce the policy if someone broke it, but liability is actually not that difficult an issue, IMO.

Obviously, the lawyers on the board would know more about this than I do. This is based on my one course in business law for a college degree.