TexasCHLforum.com

You know the ads on TV for Twix candy bars when a person
is asked a troublesome question? They chew on the Twix while
formulating an acceptable response.

Well, I had a Twix moment at work the other day, but this is how
I handled it.

There are some of you members who carry but you either work at home,
or are on the road by yourself, or everyone at work carries and you are
all cool with it.That's great for you guys.

But my situation is that I am forbidden to carry
at work, but I do anyway. I can get another job faster than I can get another
life. If I was ever "made", I would probably be fired immediately, not even a
onesy warning of "leave it in the truck from now on". If I ever had to draw and/or
shoot, I would definitely be fired. No 2 ways about that.

The only person at work who nows I'm CHL and I carry is another CHL who carries
a 4" XD40. He and I have strategized on where to stand if our place is ever robbed,
and how to engage the BG's so that any possible over-penetration or misses would
be captured by the walls or heavy equipment.

So I'm working with this new guy the other day. Out of the blue he asks me
"Do you have a gun?" My heart went to my mouth because our boss was standing
right next to us. I didn't want to lie and say "no", but I couldn't answer "yes" and
have the boss start grilling me and looking for my gun.

I used the old tactic of answering a question with a question, and one that was
meant to buy me some time and see why I was being asked this question.

"Why do you ask?" I replied.

He didn't press me for a direct answer but replied "Did you know Hillary Clinton
is working with the UN on a small arms ban that might disarm the US?"

I was off the hook and my secret was safe. He continued to tell me about this
issue while my PT111 was in my right front pocket and 2 extra mags were IWB. Wow!

Just wanted to share.

SIA

Maybe he has his CHL and yall can be like the 3 amigos from now on at work. Strength in numbers and whatnot

That would be great if he was also CHL, but at
this point I want to continue to keep as low a profile
as possible on gun issues.

The less people that know I carry, the better.

I'll tell you something kind of crazy though:
my fellow CHL at work used the bathroom,
disarmed, and other co-workers found his XD
sitting on a shelf in the throne room!!!

They said "That's cool you've got a gun! When I
turn 21, I want to get a CHL too!"

So he outed himself on being a CHL. But I think
he has remained mum on my CHL status. No one
has ever said a thing to me about me being CHL.

SIA

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:Out of the blue he asks me
"Do you have a gun?"

Whether I have it with me or not, my response to this is always "not on me, why?" He may be fishing for a new range buddy. Either way, it's none of his business whether I'm carrying at the moment unless there's a lethal force situation happening.

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:That would be great if he was also CHL, but at this point I want to continue to keep as low a profile as possible on gun issues.

Thats what I'd do. Let him keep on with the topic, giving you as much info and he's willing to share, untill he gives you enough to believe he is pro gun and can keep his trap shut or is a CHLer or whatever

I would lie. "No! What are you a kook?!!" "Guns are against the rules here!" "You better not have one!"

In such an anti-gun workplace, why would I want to get in a discussion with someone when I have no ideas on his views?

I got asked something similar a while back, I think she asked "DO you have guns?" and my response was "With me or at home?" She responded that she had heard that I teach courses about guns and she wanted some lessons. Much discussion after that, narrowing down her various meanings and nuances, but the initial question was a little surprising.

I have taken my boss and a co-worker shooting and done an informal class on safety for a co-worker whose kids are getting to the age that she worries about them handling what they are not supposed to. They currently have my only surviving copy of Eddie Eagle.

Presumably, all new hires are brought up to speed on the no guns policy before they start working ?

Yes?

If so, why on earth would he ask such a question in front of the boss?

Either he's dreadfully naive or potentially put up to the question by the boss...

Abraham wrote:If so, why on earth would he ask such a question in front of the boss?

That's why SIA's repsonse "Why do you ask?" was very appropriate.

If somebody asked me "do you have a gun?", I would think they really meant "do you own a gun?" and answer accordingly.

I think I would have responded "I sure wouldn't go deer hunting without one!"...then ask him are you a hunter?

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:Out of the blue he asks me
"Do you have a gun?"

I used to own lots of them, but someone told me something about "Brady" not liking them ... I think it was Marsha Brady, the cute one on the Brady Bunch probably .... Anyway I sold them all last year. I'm still waiting for her to call me.

So I'm working with this new guy the other day. Out of the blue he asks me
"Do you have a gun?" My heart went to my mouth because our boss was standing
right next to us.

My answer: "Why yes, I have a safe full of them. Would you like to go shooting some day?" I've answered the question and directed the conversation away from whether or not I am carrying at the moment, and I have not lied.

If asked directly, "do you have a gun on you," my answer would be "heck, that would be against the rules!" and let it go.

sorry ....can't resist!




" ...Looks all around slowly.... then (as seriously as possible) ......."Do I need one ?""

I would have said "Doesn't everyone?". If the next question was "on you now?", I would have answered "Certainly not here. Not allowed". From then on, answers would have been even more vague.

TX CHL 1997
CO CHP 2005