CHL on ambulance (unknown state)

[The Annoyed Man]

My name is Omar J. De La Rosa. Stay safe and God bless.

Just a few questions, How can u carry in Texas and work on an ambulance when you have no idea where your next call will be (might be at a location that has 30.06 signage or another prohibited place)? What are you going to do with your gun? I've gone to the County jail and school Nurse Office many times to pickup patients, not to mention most hospitals have appropriate 30.06 signage.

That's a good point, but I want to address something else here.....

This thread started with a fairly new member with (now) 7 posts, beating up on another CHLer with some assumptions about his personality, etc.

THAT person had the courage to come here and both A) calmly, and B) rationally explain himself, without any bitterness or anger directed against the members here who skewered him—including against the other n00b whose unprovoked OP skewered him. Yeah, he carries a lot of knives and a taser. So what? Even though he rationally explained why he carries each one of the knives, and why he carries the taser, and even though that is a lot more knives than most of us carry—EMT/Paramedic or not—are we going to now start assessing another person's needs and then passing judgement on that need........as in: "why do you need more than 7 rounds in your magazine?" "You carry a BUG and 4 extra magazines? Why do you need all those nasty guns and ammo?" How many of you guys carry mace or pepper spray in addition to a tactical knife, a primary gun with more than one reload, and a BUG? Please. I though we were all beyond that.

There is the issue of possibly illegally carrying his firearm past known and compliant 30.06 signs, but none of us are there now, on the ground, with the guy whenever entering a building. For the record, the Baylor Surgery Center in Trophy club where my wife had her rotator cuff repair done is NOT POSTED.......and it's a BAYLOR facility. Believe me, I checked it thoroughly. I even left my gun in the car at first just to be safe. So while it is nearly axiomatic that hospitals will be posted, they are not required by law to be posted.....only by their management and insurance companies.

He has experienced persecution at work from the "friend of the boss" who talked the boss out of keeping him as a manager and promoting the friend instead. Now that promoted FOTB is making his work life miserable and dragging his reputation into Facebook discussions. And no, he doesn't have "takedowns and wigwags on his POV."

He may or may not be a perfect employee, but we don't know him, and we aren't qualified to judge him for that. Go back and READ Omar's post. There are a few things in there that one of us might do differently, but it is mostly right on:

I never said that I carry this stuff because "you never know". I "do know" and I have used almost all this equipment at one time or another for work or to defend myself or others.

I was a boy scout and I like being prepared.

I take responsibility for my own personal safety and protection and do not expect to be rescued by anybody.

I am an American and a Texan. I like being armed. I it is part of my heritage, culture, and religion. I believe it is a God given right to bear arms. And it is a right that good, honest, hard working men and women have paid the ultimate price in order for us to enjoy.

Any of you yardbirds see anything wrong with that? I didn't think so.

Sometimes it doesn't even pay to let other CHLs know that you are a CHL.

[howdy]

My name is Omar J. De La Rosa. Stay safe and God bless.

Just a few questions, How can u carry in Texas and work on an ambulance when you have no idea where your next call will be (might be at a location that has 30.06 signage or another prohibited place)? What are you going to do with your gun? I've gone to the County jail and school Nurse Office many times to pickup patients, not to mention most hospitals have appropriate 30.06 signage.

That's a good point, but I want to address something else here.....

This thread started with a fairly new member with (now) 7 posts, beating up on another CHLer with some assumptions about his personality, etc.

THAT person had the courage to come here and both A) calmly, and B) rationally explain himself, without any bitterness or anger directed against the members here who skewered him—including against the other n00b whose unprovoked OP skewered him. Yeah, he carries a lot of knives and a taser. So what? Even though he rationally explained why he carries each one of the knives, and why he carries the taser, and even though that is a lot more knives than most of us carry—EMT/Paramedic or not—are we going to now start assessing another person's needs and then passing judgement on that need........as in: "why do you need more than 7 rounds in your magazine?" "You carry a BUG and 4 extra magazines? Why do you need all those nasty guns and ammo?" How many of you guys carry mace or pepper spray in addition to a tactical knife, a primary gun with more than one reload, and a BUG? Please. I though we were all beyond that.

There is the issue of possibly illegally carrying his firearm past known and compliant 30.06 signs, but none of us are there now, on the ground, with the guy whenever entering a building. For the record, the Baylor Surgery Center in Trophy club where my wife had her rotator cuff repair done is NOT POSTED.......and it's a [i]BAYLOR[/i] facility. Believe me, I checked it thoroughly. I even left my gun in the car at first just to be safe. So while it is nearly axiomatic that hospitals will be posted, they are not required by law to be posted.....only by their management and insurance companies.

He has experienced persecution at work from the "friend of the boss" who talked the boss out of keeping him as a manager and promoting the friend instead. Now that promoted FOTB is making his work life miserable and dragging his reputation into Facebook discussions. And no, he doesn't have "takedowns and wigwags on his POV."

He may or may not be a perfect employee, but we don't know him, and we aren't qualified to judge him for that. Go back and READ Omar's post. There are a few things in there that one of us might do differently, but it is mostly right on:

I never said that I carry this stuff because "you never know". I "do know" and I have used almost all this equipment at one time or another for work or to defend myself or others.

I was a boy scout and I like being prepared.

I take responsibility for my own personal safety and protection and do not expect to be rescued by anybody.

I am an American and a Texan. I like being armed. I it is part of my heritage, culture, and religion. I believe it is a God given right to bear arms. And it is a right that good, honest, hard working men and women have paid the ultimate price in order for us to enjoy.

Any of you yardbirds see anything wrong with that? I didn't think so.

Sometimes it doesn't even pay to let other CHLs know that you are a CHL.

Did you say.......Baylor

[chrish20202]

That's a good point, but I want to address something else here.....

This thread started with a fairly new member with (now) 7 posts, beating up on another CHLer with some assumptions about his personality, etc.

I went back and reread my original post and I think Annoyed Man has a very good point. I had no idea which state this occurred in nor did I expect anyone related to the issue to ever see this forum (lesson learned for me). I should have left "I'm guessing this is the type guy that has one of those CHL badges and car door magnets!" out of the post and agree it was inappropriate. For that I apologize to Omar and the group as well.

The reason I posted this is because it posed an interesting delima that, as a Paramedic on an emergency ambulance for more than 30 years, I can't see the feasibility of a CHL on an ambulance (for the reasons I asked). While I fully support (and practice) CHL/2nd Amendment, I just can't see carrying a firearm on an ambulance. While working a critical patient, I'm not sure that I certainly won't have situational awareness (that's what my partner, FD, PD is for), might not be able to keep it concealed and not real sure I can ensure the security of it as well as I'd like.

With apologies,
Chris

[The Annoyed Man]

Did you say.......Baylor

I did indeed: http://baylortrophyclub.com/. We got there at 4:45 a.m. Not having ever been there before, I just assumed that it was posted, since all the other Baylor facilities I've ever heard of seem to be posted (Baylor Grapevine certainly is), and I left my gun in my car. As we went in through the west entrance, I scanned carefully for 30.06 signs and saw none. After my wife went into the OR, I went back outside and double-checked. No sign. So I went back to my car and retrieved my gun and carried it back inside. When it was time for her to go home, I drove my car around to the east entrance which is where they discharged her to my care. I carefully scanned the east entrance, and no sign.

[The Annoyed Man]

The reason I posted this is because it posed an interesting delima that, as a Paramedic on an emergency ambulance for more than 30 years, I can't see the feasibility of a CHL on an ambulance (for the reasons I asked).

Takes a good man to 'fess up.

I get where you're coming from, and yes, it would be impractical, possibly bordering on illegal if he carried into the wrong place. If that little "carry pouch" or whatever it was that Omar called it has a belt clip instead of a belt loop, then maybe he can unobtrusively disarm and stick the pouch under the front seat before coming around the rig to the rear and helping to unload the patient. If he's in the back, it's easy enough to unclip and stow that pouch in one of the nooks and crannies inside the RA before getting up and opening the back door. I don't know. I worked in a large west coast ER for several years back in Commiefornia, so I can well appreciate the logistical complications AND the sense of breathing freer in Texas than in a lot of other states. What I do know is this: the ER I worked in was in a town that had (like lots other cities) a less-than-desirable sector from whence originated most of our GSW base-station calls......and we saw LOTS of GSWs. One of my paramedic friends was shot in the elbow by some kid in that district when he was cruising up the street in his RA at night, looking for the address of a call he was responding to. It was a hot night, and he had the driver's side window down with his left arm resting on the bottom of the window frame, elbow sticking out. Get that? They randomly tried to shoot the medics! I don't think the shooter was trying to hit my friend in his elbow. I just think the shooter was a bad shot. A few inches higher up, and my friend collects a round in his chest, neck, or head.

So I don't blame Omar one tiny little bit for wanting to carry on the job, and if I were in his shoes, I would try to find a way to make it work. Personally, I think that an alloy or scandium J-Frame in an ankle holster would be a better deal than a .32 ACP, but who am I to call that .32 the wrong choice for what he is trying to accomplish? I have a friend at church who used to work in the metroplex as a paramedic, and he carried a .32 also. Not MY gun/caliber of choice, but better than NO-gun/0.0 caliber. OTH, it would be a lot harder with an ankle holster to disarm if necessary to remain compliant with the law.

[ojdelarosa]

Do you have a CHL?

If you do, you can review your CHL handbook.

If not, try to take a CHL course, or you can even just carefully review the Texas Health & Safety code of the Texas Constitution.

No matter what method you choose, they all explain how to properly, safely, and legally handle those kinds of situations.

[chrish20202]

Do you have a CHL?

If you do, you can review your CHL handbook.

If not, try to take a CHL course, or you can even just carefully review the Texas Health & Safety code of the Texas Constitution.

No matter what method you choose, they all explain how to properly, safely, and legally handle those kinds of situations.

I do have a CHL. I'm still unsure how a medic can feasibly carry legally. For instance, you get sent to a medical call. You and your partner take the stretcher with your kits into a mall, which is NOT posted> So far so good, then you find your patient is in a big box store that IS legally posted. Your ambulance is too far away to justify going back. What do you do? Can't give the gun to anyone, cuz then it's not concealed. Carry it anyway and risk, in addition to other things, your EMTP certification.

[ojdelarosa]

I can see at least two solutions to this situation that I would try but they are a mater of prudent pre-planning, constant situational awareness, stealth, sleight of hand and most importantly high proficiency, training, and familiarization with all the aspects of your specific CCW.

It is probably best for you to consult your CHL handbook text or the Tx Health and Safety Code that way you get it from the source rather than relying on whatever I say.

Your rock solid understanding and familiarization with the law can be your best ally.

I am just a CHL holder. I am not an instructor or a trainer and I am not a Texas attorney either.

I don't want to get into "how to" type stuff because I don't want you or anybody reading this to misunderstand me or any methods I describe and end up injured, facing legal action, or worse.

In addition to consulting the text, I highly recommend investing in extra training and education geared towards your specific concerns or scenarios.

Consulting a TX CHL trainer/instructor as well as a good pro-gun attorney with experience in Texas CCW matters would be ideal.

Train and study and then study and train. Being a CHL is a never ending evolution of learning and training. Even those of us with decades of experience can always get better and learn something new if we wholeheartedly apply ourselves.

I have full faith that if you search diligently you will find the solutions to your posed scenario.

If you are wondering where to start, try giving the NRA a call. They are very helpful.

Stay safe and God bless.
Omar.