Do not mention your CHL at work

[ejector]

Hi guys,

I made a big mistake last week, I received my CHL and being very proud of this event I mentioned it to two folks I work with in a cubicle environment.

Two days later I was pulled into a room with two big guys from corporate security - informing me that I was reported to have a gun license and there was a gun in my car. They didn't check my car (which I didn't have a gun in the car) but basically I had to read the company policy and verbally confirmed that I understand the policy. One of the security guys was really nice, he mentioned he was also a CHLer and he wished every Texan did the CHL program. They mentioned that they had a report and had to respond and I would have this issue recorded in my file.

If anything - learn from my mistake, if you get your CHL - don't mention it to your co-workers.

[stevie_d_64]

"D.A.D.T."

Sorry you got dragged through that muck...Glad you have your license...

BTW, You should be excited and proud...

[nitrogen]

Amazing.
In my mind, I took the conversation to a logical conclusion.
"HEY! THE STATE KNOWS I'M A GOOD CITIZEN, WITH NO FELONY CONVICTIONS, AND NO RECENT MAJOR MISDEMEANORS! I DON'T EVEN USE DRUGS TO EXCESS!" I'M GLAD YOU'RE PROTECTING THE REST OF THE OFFICE FROM A GOOD CITIZEN LIKE ME!!!!"

You should complain next time you see someone with a knife.

I'm somewhat luckier. At my office, people know i'm "the gun guy" and they assume I carry. I'll never confirm or deny it.

[Big Calhoun]

Hehe, I wonder if OP works for the same evil telco I work for.

I've mentioned it at work but only around others that I know are either fellow CHL holders, hunters, or have some other interest in firearms. When talking to those I don't know, mum is the word. Also being in a cubicle enviornment, my cube mate and I are very cautious when we talk guns. We have one gentleman that sits over the wall from us who is VERY anti. So needless to say, we've never had a discussion when he is around and in the office.

[KinnyLee]

Only people who knows I have a CHL are pro-guns and CHLer. Other knows I collect firearms and shoot as a hobbie, but no one every question me about it. Not to mention I carry two folders and OC spray on my keychain.

[AG-EE]

Agreed...DADT

A similar situation happened to me.

And because of it, when we bought our own building, they actually posted the parking lot 30.06 before they put the company name on the building I think.

[KBCraig]

They didn't check my car (which I didn't have a gun in the car) but basically I had to read the company policy and verbally confirmed that I understand the policy.

Here's the upside of that: unless the written company policy exactly matches the 30.06 language, you're not legally barred from carrying or keeping a gun in your car. (I'm basing that on a strict reading of what ejector wrote: that he was required to read the policy, and then verbally confirm that he understood what he'd read.)

One of the security guys was really nice, he mentioned he was also a CHLer and he wished every Texan did the CHL program.

If he really understands the law, he may have been deliberately giving you an "out", without being able to say so out loud.

They mentioned that they had a report and had to respond and I would have this issue recorded in my file.

You should check which file, so that you can record a response explaining that you did not have a handgun on company property. (By "which file", I mean your official personnel file, or just a security department file. The response would be either to HRM, or to the director of security, and in both cases request that your response be kept in your file. You should also cc: your supervisor or department head.)

Sorry you had such a bad experience.

Kevin

[GlockenHammer]

Sorry you had to find out the hard way. Once the secret is out, there is no undoing it. I hope others can learn from your mistake. I have seen many folks who have suffered unfairly simply because they have made it known.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Popshot]

You may have heard the line, "Concealed means concealed". That applies to the firearm, but also to the fact that you have a CHL. Generally speaking, the fewer people know this about you, the better. This is even more true in the workplace.

[Venus Pax]

It's really sad that people are so paranoid.

[Right2Carry]

They didn't check my car (which I didn't have a gun in the car) but basically I had to read the company policy and verbally confirmed that I understand the policy.

Here's the upside of that: unless the written company policy exactly matches the 30.06 language, you're not legally barred from carrying or keeping a gun in your car. (I'm basing that on a strict reading of what ejector wrote: that he was required to read the policy, and then verbally confirm that he understood what he'd read.)

One of the security guys was really nice, he mentioned he was also a CHLer and he wished every Texan did the CHL program.

If he really understands the law, he may have been deliberately giving you an "out", without being able to say so out loud.

They mentioned that they had a report and had to respond and I would have this issue recorded in my file.

You should check which file, so that you can record a response explaining that you did not have a handgun on company property. (By "which file", I mean your official personnel file, or just a security department file. The response would be either to HRM, or to the director of security, and in both cases request that your response be kept in your file. You should also cc: your supervisor or department head.)

Sorry you had such a bad experience.

Kevin

The problem here is that yes the wording might not match 30.06 and technically he could carry or leave the gun in his vehicle. While that would prevent criminal charges from being filed, it will do absoutely nothing to prevent the company from FIRING HIM FOR VIOLATING COMPANY POLICY. I think giving out this kind of information without reminding people they can still be fired for violating company policy is irresponsible.

[KBCraig]

The problem here is that yes the wording might not match 30.06 and technically he could carry or leave the gun in his vehicle. While that would prevent criminal charges from being filed, it will do absoutely nothing to prevent the company from FIRING HIM FOR VIOLATING COMPANY POLICY. I think giving out this kind of information without reminding people they can still be fired for violating company policy is irresponsible.

All the threads about CHL at work are full of reminders that you can be fired for any reason, or for no reason at all. Yet another reminder about "company policy" is not needed, because when it comes to getting fired, there doesn't have to be a policy violation (nor even a policy).

Perhaps you missed the point of my advice: to place a response in the record making it clear that he was not, and had not been, carrying a handgun in violation of company policy.

[seamusTX]

All the threads about CHL at work are full of reminders that you can be fired for any reason, or for no reason at all. Yet another reminder about "company policy" is not needed, because when it comes to getting fired, there doesn't have to be a policy violation (nor even a policy).

I think the difference is that if you are fired for cause, you don't get unemployment compensation.

If you are fired because the boss is in a bad mood that day, you are eligible for it.

It might also make a difference down the road, if you need to use that employer as a reference. However, I've heard that most employers now will only verify that you worked there between certain dates.

- Jim

[lrb111]

Hi guys,

I made a big mistake last week, I received my CHL and being very proud of this event I mentioned it to two folks I work with in a cubicle environment.

Two days later I was pulled into a room with two big guys from corporate security - informing me that I was reported to have a gun license and there was a gun in my car. They didn't check my car (which I didn't have a gun in the car) but basically I had to read the company policy and verbally confirmed that I understand the policy. One of the security guys was really nice, he mentioned he was also a CHLer and he wished every Texan did the CHL program. They mentioned that they had a report and had to respond and I would have this issue recorded in my file.

If anything - learn from my mistake, if you get your CHL - don't mention it to your co-workers.

Did you mention in the United States you have the right to know your accuser? Did you ask if the person "with an obvious agenda to defame you" in the workplace has been investigated for lying?


edited for fat fingers

[jimlongley]

Did you mention in the United States you have the right to know your accuser? Did you ask if the person "with an obvious agenda to defame you" in the workplace has been investigated for lying?


edited for fat fingers

Shortly after 9/11 I got "called in" by my boss and an HR person to discuss a situation that was occurring at work. A call taker with a name very similar to "Usama bin Ladin" had filed a bunch of complaints against a variety of people alleging harassment, civil rights violations, and whatever else he could shotgun (my personal feeling is that he was a malingerer right from the start and was trying to avoid being fired for his performance problems, but that's a whole 'nother thing.)

Anyway, I was not directly accused or identified, I was just one of the same level and category of engineer as those he accused or so they said. The interview consisted of multiple questions about the HR part of the employee manual and whether I would participate in such nasty things as organized or ad hoc harassment of fellow employees based on their ethnic origin or anything else.

The HR 'broad', for the lack of a better 'B' word to call her, kept pounding at me, asking the same stuff over with different words, and I was getting pretty upset because they had told me there were no direct charges against me, so when she pointed out, once again, that doing this and that was a firing offense and a misdemeanor, I told her that I had a CHL and that being convicted of a misdemeanor would cost me that, and that I didn't consider him (the call taker) to be worth risking that loss for.

The HR person got this really shocked look on her face and started in on a diatribe about no guns being allowed, etc, etc, etc. I told her that I followed HR guidelines and didn't possess guns on the job, etc, etc, etc.

After the inquisition nothing further was said about it, but when layoffs came a couple of months later, I was on the chopping block and people junior to me stayed, and I think the fact that I had a CHL got me on the list. Never should have said anything.

BTW, two people who I know were involved in harassing that call taker were not laid off, although he was.

Also BTW, since I had been secretary of the company gun club it was pretty well understood that I had some involvement with guns, and there were several of us CHLs who were known to each other and others knew just because that's the way that kind of information gets out.