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I received my CHL earlier this year. I just changed jobs, to one where I will be visiting refineries and chem plants along the Gulf Coast on a fairly regular basis. I don't carry in the office, as this is against the rules where I worked. So I leave my carry gun secured in my vehicle, which is at the curb (not on company property) and in view of my office.

However, the plants have strict rules about firearms and they cannot even be in the vehicle in the parking lot outside the plant, let alone in a vehicle that is entering the plant. And this is where my dilemma is. It is hard for me to say from one day to the next where I will be. I got my CHL for a reason, so leaving my gun at home because I might be going out to a plant is not an option. But I can't really leave it at the office, either, if my day's business takes me out to a plant. To compound the issue, there will be times when I am visiting plants in other states. I'll be darned if I'll leave my gun in a hotel room.

I know there's bound to be a lot of you that face the same issue that I have. I'd like to hear how you've handled this. Do you just leave your piece at home, or do you roll the dice and take your gun discretely tucked away, perhaps even locked up, inside your vehicle in the parking lot at these plants?

If the parking lot is plant property, by Federal law you can't have a firearm even if it's outside the gate. It is Homeland Security related like inside the secure area of an airport.

All the plants down here are 30.06 posted anyway including the parking lot

So assuming you guys work in the plants, what do you do? Just not carry at all on the days you work at the plants? Carry in you car but park completely offsite? Which is very difficult to do. The SmartCarry thing is out, of course. I've been around these plants my whole life. Even if it were legal to carry inside, it is difficult to conceive of any circumstance in which I would discharge my firearm inside a plant, risking the safety of so many people.

Edit: looks like the SmartCarry suggestion got deleted

MoJo wrote:If the parking lot is plant property, by Federal law you can't have a firearm even if it's outside the gate. It is Homeland Security related like inside the secure area of an airport.

Really? What specific federal statute makes it an offense to carry a firearm on the premises of a chemical plant or refinery?

ScottDLS wrote:

MoJo wrote:If the parking lot is plant property, by Federal law you can't have a firearm even if it's outside the gate. It is Homeland Security related like inside the secure area of an airport.

Really? What specific federal statute makes it an offense to carry a firearm on the premises of a chemical plant or refinery?

That's one of those things that we hear claimed a lot, but never cited. Kind of like guns in commercial vehicles.

If there is such a law or CFR, I'd love to see the cite.

FAAPOD wrote:I received my CHL earlier this year. I just changed jobs, to one where I will be visiting refineries and chem plants along the Gulf Coast on a fairly regular basis. I don't carry in the office, as this is against the rules where I worked. So I leave my carry gun secured in my vehicle, which is at the curb (not on company property) and in view of my office.

However, the plants have strict rules about firearms and they cannot even be in the vehicle in the parking lot outside the plant, let alone in a vehicle that is entering the plant. And this is where my dilemma is. It is hard for me to say from one day to the next where I will be. I got my CHL for a reason, so leaving my gun at home because I might be going out to a plant is not an option. But I can't really leave it at the office, either, if my day's business takes me out to a plant. To compound the issue, there will be times when I am visiting plants in other states. I'll be darned if I'll leave my gun in a hotel room.

I know there's bound to be a lot of you that face the same issue that I have. I'd like to hear how you've handled this. Do you just leave your piece at home, or do you roll the dice and take your gun discretely tucked away, perhaps even locked up, inside your vehicle in the parking lot at these plants?

I have dealt with similar situations in the past and empathize completely with your situation. It makes you wonder whether that CHL was really worth it if it is subject to terms, conditions, infringements, etc.

I left my guns and ammunition at home, except for one or two occasions where I forgot about some ammunition in my vehicle.

Faced with 30.06 or equivalent policies, the proliferation of weapon screening and security guards tossing personal vehicles on whim (for my safety, of course ), I began paying more attention to improving my awareness, improvised and non-firearm weapons, good driving habits and manners, emergency medical self-care and unarmed fighting techniques. And as I see things, I need these skills and attributes anyway, with or without a gun.

That said, if an individual wants to carry a gun anyway for his own protection going to and from work, and his gun never discharges at work, I would be the last person to snitch on him, CHL or not. But if he does not have the awareness, unarmed fighting skills, etc dialed in first (or at least working on them), I consider his preparation is incomplete. So I would suggest first shifting your mindset to place greater consideration upon these things. After beginning to address these matters, I would next encourage supporting the NRA, TSRA, etc to push legislation rolling back restrictions on CHLees and where they can carry.

Avoid undue fixation upon/frustration over what is outside your control, and focus upon the correct general objective. That objective is not necessarily carrying a gun on your belt; the gun is only a means to an end.

Gun or not, stay safe.

If there is no chance that your vehicle is going to be searched, then a lockbox in the vehicle might be a good alternative. If your gun is in the lockbox, IMO (and IANAL) then you are NOT carrying under 30.06, you are transporting, so 30.06 loses its effectiveness. OTOH, if they are posted 30.06 and "NO GUNS" then you might have to rethink strategies entirely, as suggested above.

I do not wish to diminish your quandry; however, things could be worse. You could be one of the many 1,000's of CHL's and others across the country who do not have a job to not carry their weapon to.

Oldgringo wrote:I do not wish to diminish your quandry; however, things could be worse. You could be one of the many 1,000's of CHL's and others across the country who do not have a job to not carry their weapon to.

This is a moronic post (at best) to this thread. While of course I am thankful to have a job to go to, when so many do not, I did not ask for nor do I require your wisdom on the matter. If you don't have anything constructive to add to the conversation at hand, feel free not to add anything.

To the others who have responded and provided something of value, thank you.

FAAPOD wrote:

Oldgringo wrote:I do not wish to diminish your quandry; however, things could be worse. You could be one of the many 1,000's of CHL's and others across the country who do not have a job to not carry their weapon to.

This is a moronic post (at best) to this thread. While of course I am thankful to have a job to go to, when so many do not, I did not ask for nor do I require your wisdom on the matter. If you don't have anything constructive to add to the conversation at hand, feel free not to add anything.

To the others who have responded and provided something of value, thank you.

Merry Christmas!

I have to go in plants in pasadena so my vehicle gets a poor search job done on it so leaving in the car is an iffy option. I dont recall if they are properly posted but they are posted in some form. What about getting a lockbox under the seat and if they ask about it just play embarassed and tell them you lost the keys or something? Assuming not proper 30.06. The searches happen only at Shell and itsnt actually accomplishing anything but I guess they feel good about it. Other plants make me park outside and walk in so ok to stash in the car there. Not to go offtopic but the security at Shell is downright silly. They wont let 2 people go thru the gate together in a vehicle even after signing in and searching. 2d person has to get out and walk about 75 yds inside the gate then get back in the vehicle, really sucks when it is raining. No possible idea what purpose that serves.

FAAPOD:

Sir, I realize that you are somewhat stressed about the prohibitions
on your carry options and are looking for alternatives.

Your posting count indicates 26 posts.

Let me make you aware that although we on the forum have differing
opinions on politics, self defense tactics, and weapons choice, we strive
to be agreeable in our posts.

Your above remarks to Oldgringo border on a personal attack and is out
of character with our discourse on this board.

Thank you.

SIA

FAAPOD wrote:I received my CHL earlier this year. I just changed jobs, to one where I will be visiting refineries and chem plants along the Gulf Coast on a fairly regular basis. I don't carry in the office, as this is against the rules where I worked. So I leave my carry gun secured in my vehicle, which is at the curb (not on company property) and in view of my office.

However, the plants have strict rules about firearms and they cannot even be in the vehicle in the parking lot outside the plant, let alone in a vehicle that is entering the plant. And this is where my dilemma is. It is hard for me to say from one day to the next where I will be. I got my CHL for a reason, so leaving my gun at home because I might be going out to a plant is not an option. But I can't really leave it at the office, either, if my day's business takes me out to a plant. To compound the issue, there will be times when I am visiting plants in other states. I'll be darned if I'll leave my gun in a hotel room.

I know there's bound to be a lot of you that face the same issue that I have. I'd like to hear how you've handled this. Do you just leave your piece at home, or do you roll the dice and take your gun discretely tucked away, perhaps even locked up, inside your vehicle in the parking lot at these plants?

It depends on your willingness to face the consequences of your carry and/or having a firearm in your vehicle being discovered. Absent a 30.06 posting, I'm not aware of a criminal sanction for carrying or possessing a firearm in your vehicle on the premises of a chemical plant or refinery in Texas. There are all sorts of "rules" enforced by companies on their employees/vendors/contractors. Few have the force of criminal law. It depends on the likelihood and thoroughness of a vehicle or personal search.

I work regularly as a vendor/contractor for the US government as well as various Aerospace and Defense companies. In the case of (US) government property, I avoid carrying or entering the property with a firearm when it is illegal under federal law (and it usually is). In the case of A&D or other commercial customers, I first avoid breaking state law (which in Texas means ignoring a VALID 30.06 notice or other statute). I then consider the likelihood of being discovered. Some companies have metal detectors. Others have non-compliant signs, some of which insist that they inherit their authority from the US President himself...

Then I have to gauge my actions by how secure I feel vs. the risk to being "outed". I like my job and would likely be fired if discovered "carrying" at work, even if it wasn't illegal. I travel out of state frequently for work and I have permits and/or reciprocity for a number of these locations. However, I usually don't consider carrying due to the hassle of checking firearms at airlines and the increased risk of discovery of my carry status during travel.

So..the answer to my similar carry quandary is that I usually consider carrying a handgun in the glove box of my car unless prohibited by state/federal law. I usually don't consider carrying inside the building/offices if I know their "rules" prohibit carry, even if it isn't illegal. Just too many chances to get caught at most of the places that I work.

If I am asked to have my vehicle searched by a private company and/or their security, I will refuse and/or immediately leave the property. At that point they will either have to break into my car or call the police. The police will generally only enforce criminal statutes, so unless I have broken any...well I should be OK. Consent search by the cops..no. That leaves probable cause or warrant.

I don't know how strict these plants and refineries are, but I've worked at numerous companies' DoD "security clearance required" facilities and even most military and some "other" agencies. The parking lots and garages are moderately secure and you wouldn't get in there with truck bomb, but the buildings are where you would get caught carrying. If I were working at chemical plants, factories, refineries...I'd probably bolt one of those quick opening handgun safes under my seat and if it were somehow discovered, say it was where I kept my cash/valuable and refuse to open it, though I don't think it would come to that.

Best of luck...

-Scott