To carry on a work business trip or not

[Big Bronze Rim]

Tomorrow I am traveling to Detroit, MI (with whom we have reciprocity) for three days and will be traveling around the Detroit metro area for job related training. Now, my company has a no firearms policy and as such, we are not able to carry at work or work events. I am traveling with two other employees. One is a conceal carry holder and I don't think he would care but the other person I do not know at all and thus, do not trust.

My question is this - I would really like to take my weapon with me ( I am aware of the hassle with this alone dealing with the TSA) and would like the security of having it with me in an unknown, questionable area. However, I am pretty sure though, that my companies policy would discourage me carrying while on a business related trip ( I wouldn't be carrying into the building that we will be at during the day, just everywhere else). Also, I am hesitant to go through the motions of checking in the weapon with two other employees present and don't want them running their mouth that I took a weapon.

What would you do in a situation like this? Take the weapon and don't worry what other people think?

I hate being unarmed but don't want to lose my job due to a jabber jaw either.

[RoyGBiv]

Fly separately??

The other thing to worry about is leaving your weapon in a hotel room... Hopefully they have a safe? Hopefully the safe is actually bolted to something (I've seen many that could be picked up and carried away easily)...

Tough choice.... Detroit unarmed...

Any chance it would be appropriate to talk with the owner about it..??
"Hey Joe, since you've been nice enough to send me to Detroit, would you mind if I took my gun"?

[Medic624]

Ooooh, this ones a bit tough... I cant say I wouldn't have the same issues as you given the situation.

Of all the tag signatures I've read on forums one that stick out said something like... Carry 24/7 or guess correctly...
That being said, if you have the opportunity to check in without your co-workers present I would probably take mine because concealed means just that...and if the co-workers don't have a clue... but the risk of losing my job and my families means of support....hmmmmm I guess it comes down to how much ya want to take the risk and how alone you can check in before getting on the plane...

What about a big ol' knife in your checked luggage... Sure it's usually no good bringing a knife to a gun fight but it is an option.

Detroit ... and, unaware of your surroundings?!?

Probably not much help...

[karder]

Can you go to the airport an hour early and check in before your travel companions arrive? You would still have to pick it up when you get there, but that could be done a lot more discretely.

[WildBill]

Can you go to the airport an hour early and check in before your travel companions arrive? You would still have to pick it up when you get there, but that could be done a lot more discretely.

What about on the way back? I guess he could do the same if they weren't sharing a vehicle.

[Texas Size 11]

Tough call...I don't trust anybody at my office to keep their yap shut. I would have to leave it at home. I don't know what size company you work for, but I could see that turning into a HR nightmare for you if one of them opened their mouths.

I work for a big bank and I wonder if I should even carry into a branch when I am not at work to go deal with my money. My account shows up as an employee account and I would accidentally expose myself with my luck and the wrong person would see. That hasn't stopped me from carrying, but the though crosses my mind.

Loose lips sink ships...never underestimate the power of stupidity - insert other cliche here.

I'd be curious to what you decide to do.

[WildBill]

Tough call...I don't trust anybody at my office to keep their yap shut. I would have to leave it at home. I don't know what size company you work for, but I could see that turning into a HR nightmare for you if one of them opened their mouths.

I work for a big bank and I wonder if I should even carry into a branch when I am not at work to go deal with my money. My account shows up as an employee account and I would accidentally expose myself with my luck and the wrong person would see. That hasn't stopped me from carrying, but the though crosses my mind.

Loose lips sink ships...never underestimate the power of stupidity - insert other cliche here.

I'd be curious to what you decide to do.

I agree with your statements, but he is much more likely to get "exposed" by going through the TSA requirements than getting "exposed" by someone actually seeing the gun.

[bkj]

First know the Michigan laws

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/michigan.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Are there other laws in Detroit?

[kjolly]

I recently did a trip to our Dallas office where we were moving to a new building. As a memmber of the IT team we worked 14 hours a day in a seedy looking part of town. My companies policy is no firearms and I elected not to carry as the income from the job is important to buy more guns.
Saw a parked truck being stolen and called 911. Ran into very afressive pan handlers and walked some bad looking streets in the dark early morning hours when returning to the car.

[Keith B]

First know the Michigan laws

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/michigan.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Are there other laws in Detroit?

Michigan has state preemption (like Texas) and municipalities (Detroit) cannot enact ordinances that override the state law.

As for the OP, while Detroit is one of the places you probably need your CCW most, I would be leery of being outed due to TSA checks and other potential for being seen. Unfortunately, if I were worried about this and potentially losing my job over it, I would choose not to carry.

[thr_wedge]

Ahh Detroit. Used to live there, still root for the teams. Risk of losing your job sounds pretty high, or you wouldn't be asking. Risk in Detroit...probably the same as any other big city. The bad areas are easier to spot than some cities (if there is a row of abandoned houses and a couple are on fire you are in the wrong area...I wish I was joking. In the 80s devil's night had a 6pm curfew!)

If you can get through check in / check out on your own that sounds like the only way you can do this without getting hit with various HR policies and possibly losing your job.

[rm9792]

What difference does work make on your hotel and flight? Are you staying at company facilities? If you are at a third party hotel and using public transportation to fly then company policy should be irrelevant. No way I would go to detroit unarmed. You might have to leave it at the room while at your work events but are on your own time after that. Company has no say whether you carry to the mall or at Hooters for dinner. Concealed is concealed, just like at home. I agree with others that your weak link is check in at the airport. Arrive early (always prudent) and if you guys leave MI together then when they are inline just go to the bathroom or other reason to leave the line then let a few people get in there behind them then get back in the line at the end. Most counters I have been to are pretty well seperated so even if they are up there they should not notice. Ifthe agent next to your buddy is open then let the person behind you go while you "search" for your ticket or wallet.

[ScottDLS]

What difference does work make on your hotel and flight? Are you staying at company facilities? If you are at a third party hotel and using public transportation to fly then company policy should be irrelevant. No way I would go to detroit unarmed. You might have to leave it at the room while at your work events but are on your own time after that. Company has no say whether you carry to the mall or at Hooters for dinner. Concealed is concealed, just like at home. I agree with others that your weak link is check in at the airport. Arrive early (always prudent) and if you guys leave MI together then when they are inline just go to the bathroom or other reason to leave the line then let a few people get in there behind them then get back in the line at the end. Most counters I have been to are pretty well seperated so even if they are up there they should not notice. Ifthe agent next to your buddy is open then let the person behind you go while you "search" for your ticket or wallet.

My company has a policy against carrying while traveling "on business". For purposes of criminal law, it is irrelevant, but if I were caught violating it I could be subject to termination. Theoretically, in an at will employment state, a company could dismiss you for having a firearm at home... It would seem to limit their list of possible employees though.

[WildBill]

What difference does work make on your hotel and flight? Are you staying at company facilities? If you are at a third party hotel and using public transportation to fly then company policy should be irrelevant.

It makes a difference because the company will make the hotel and flight reservations and he will be traveling with people that he works with who may tell people at work that he has a CHL and carries a gun. He will rent a car using company money and be on company business and that probably would be again company policy. That was one of his primary concerns. IMO, if he were travelling by himself then he probably wouldn't be concerned or have any issues. It may not be legal or "right", but perceptions that employers may have of certain employees can be a tricky matter.

[GhostTX]

When I travel, this is how I view it:
When I'm representing the company or acting on the company's behalf (customer visitations, sales, etc), I view that as "working" for the company and I don't carry.
If I'm out for training, that's personal development for the company, but I am not "working", and I carry.

In both cases, once I've returned to the hotel, I'm on my own time, and carry.