The boss keeps a gun but I cant?!

[Bakeek]

Already I don't like the guy, and I've never met him.

Yeah, I thought he was really cool at first. Then after the first week of being there he kinda started turning into a jerk.

[Bakeek]

Thanks for all the great responses.

What pisses me off about the whole thing is that this guy (my boss) is a CHL instructor and then tells me I cant carry...what the heck?

Also, I didn't advertise anything about having my CHL. He asked all of us when we were in his office a few days ago, prior to this time all we ever really talk about is guns, weapons, etc. He specifically said that his gun in his desk was the only one needed...like he has to be the hero or something.

As a pilot, I am aware that there are many restrictions with carrying on the aircraft so obviously I leave it locked in the car on flights. But when I come to the office, the last thing I want to do is have to disarm myself when my boss is carrying. This a relatively new job for me, so this guy has been showing his true colors since about the week after we started with the company...looking like your typical control freak with a Marine Corp mentality. (nothing against Marines, I was prior service AF)

I think whenever he starts to notice that I don't come by the office at all unless I am flying he may ask why I stopped, I will tell him that its not worth disarming for.

I have had flying jobs that the company handbook says no firearms period but the owner of the company specifically told all of us that if we have our CHL, we can bring it anywhere the law allows us.

I wonder what motivated him to do that in the first place. Obviously, if he gathered all of you together before popping the question, it was planned. And what kind of CHL instructor would do that to CHL holders? Maybe he's not really a CHL instructor, and he's just some kind of blowhard. Already I don't like the guy, and I've never met him.

He was telling the new guys that moved here from other states if they were interested in getting their CHL that he would give them and their wives the class.

[jocat54]

The old saying comes to mind;

The boss ain't always right, but is always the boss.

I do understand where you are coming from though, but can't think of anything positive coming of it if you pursue the issue.

[Jumping Frog]

What pisses me off about the whole thing is that this guy (my boss) is a CHL instructor and then tells me I cant carry...what the heck?

If he is a CHL instructor, one would have to assume he knows full well what verbal notice is and the legal implications. Consider yourself legally notified.

[C-dub]

I have had flying jobs that the company handbook says no firearms period but the owner of the company specifically told all of us that if we have our CHL, we can bring it anywhere the law allows us.

The owner of a previous company, right, not this one?

Under the circumstances you laid out, I would have said, "No" when he asked. He has no right to know and you had no obligation to tell him. Now, my boss knows I have a CHL and wishes our company policy was such that I could carry. He does not have a CHL and isn't planning on getting one yet. He does not have the authority to allow me to carry and can only inform someone of the policy that is in the handbook.

[Bakeek]

What pisses me off about the whole thing is that this guy (my boss) is a CHL instructor and then tells me I cant carry...what the heck?

If he is a CHL instructor, one would have to assume he knows full well what verbal notice is and the legal implications. Consider yourself legally notified.

I have been notified, no doubt about that. However, I would think that if he says I can't carry then he shouldn't be able to either. How can you legally notify someone that they can not carry when you do at neither persons personal property? I understand that he may have the power and all, but it seems like a red flag almost that he can keep a deadly weapon and nobody else can.

To everyone that says I should have said no when asked about the CHL. First, when you have been talking to the guy for months about guns and weapons and the importance of being able to carry...you definitely feel like theres a common ground there. Heck, he has even invited me to shoot with him. Second, he didn't necessarily single me out with the no carry. There was a few others there, he said he had the only gun in the building needed and that it was a no carry area...then asked who had one. My apologies for not being more specific

One more question. If the company handbook does not say whether or not firearms are allowed if legally able to do so, does he even have the authority to tell me I can not carry? I would assume that it would be a slippery slope for him on the termination side, even in Texas, considering he has nearly bragged to everyone he keeps that gun in his desk. Just because my boss says I can't, doesn't mean jack since he is not the president of the company.

At the end of the day, it just feels sketchy that he can keep his on him but nobody else can. I tend to come from the mindset that a rule is a rule for everyone or nobody at all.

[apostate]

Don't shoot the messenger, but in Texas, your boss can end your employment for any reason not specifically prohibited by law, or for no reason at all. Neither carrying firearms nor insubordination are protected behaviors in employment law at this time. (AFAIK; IANAL; TANSTAAFL)

[Bakeek]

Don't shoot the messenger, but in Texas, your boss can end your employment for any reason not specifically prohibited by law, or for no reason at all. Neither carrying firearms nor insubordination are protected behaviors in employment law at this time. (AFAIK; IANAL; TANSTAAFL)

Oh I understand that, but I am just making a point that it seems like there would be some slippery ground.

I actually am not very fond of that law FWIW. I think of it as the "good 'ole boy" system, if we like him he can stay. If we don't, then screw him. Its important to protect employers but when you don't protect the workers, thats not healthy for the economy either. Definitely need some revisions to that law.

[C-dub]

I have been notified, no doubt about that. However, I would think that if he says I can't carry then he shouldn't be able to either. How can you legally notify someone that they can not carry when you do at neither persons personal property? I understand that he may have the power and all, but it seems like a red flag almost that he can keep a deadly weapon and nobody else can.

To everyone that says I should have said no when asked about the CHL. First, when you have been talking to the guy for months about guns and weapons and the importance of being able to carry...you definitely feel like theres a common ground there. Heck, he has even invited me to shoot with him. Second, he didn't necessarily single me out with the no carry. There was a few others there, he said he had the only gun in the building needed and that it was a no carry area...then asked who had one. My apologies for not being more specific

One more question. If the company handbook does not say whether or not firearms are allowed if legally able to do so, does he even have the authority to tell me I can not carry? I would assume that it would be a slippery slope for him on the termination side, even in Texas, considering he has nearly bragged to everyone he keeps that gun in his desk. Just because my boss says I can't, doesn't mean jack since he is not the president of the company.

At the end of the day, it just feels sketchy that he can keep his on him but nobody else can. I tend to come from the mindset that a rule is a rule for everyone or nobody at all.

There could very well be different rules for management. A company is not a democracy. Not all the rules are the same for everyone. He may not have the authority to speak for the company. That is one reason I suggested asking someone higher up. You don't have to mention your immediate boss at all. Keeping him out of it would be better for all.

Your boss is a jerk, plain and simple. Sorry.

[WildBill]

He sounds like a sneaky ba... uh....jerk to me.
Already I don't like the guy, and I've never met him.

Your boss is a jerk, plain and simple.

It took 22 posts to arrive to the same conclusion I came to after reading the original post.

[Bakeek]

I have been notified, no doubt about that. However, I would think that if he says I can't carry then he shouldn't be able to either. How can you legally notify someone that they can not carry when you do at neither persons personal property? I understand that he may have the power and all, but it seems like a red flag almost that he can keep a deadly weapon and nobody else can.

To everyone that says I should have said no when asked about the CHL. First, when you have been talking to the guy for months about guns and weapons and the importance of being able to carry...you definitely feel like theres a common ground there. Heck, he has even invited me to shoot with him. Second, he didn't necessarily single me out with the no carry. There was a few others there, he said he had the only gun in the building needed and that it was a no carry area...then asked who had one. My apologies for not being more specific

One more question. If the company handbook does not say whether or not firearms are allowed if legally able to do so, does he even have the authority to tell me I can not carry? I would assume that it would be a slippery slope for him on the termination side, even in Texas, considering he has nearly bragged to everyone he keeps that gun in his desk. Just because my boss says I can't, doesn't mean jack since he is not the president of the company.

At the end of the day, it just feels sketchy that he can keep his on him but nobody else can. I tend to come from the mindset that a rule is a rule for everyone or nobody at all.

There could very well be different rules for management. A company is not a democracy. Not all the rules are the same for everyone. He may not have the authority to speak for the company. That is one reason I suggested asking someone higher up. You don't have to mention your immediate boss at all. Keeping him out of it would be better for all.

Your boss is a jerk, plain and simple. Sorry.

Yeah no kidding he is. The interview was so awesome, he went on and on about how its "like a family". Definitely haven't been getting that feeling.

[C-dub]

He sounds like a sneaky ba... uh....jerk to me.
Already I don't like the guy, and I've never met him.

Your boss is a jerk, plain and simple.

It took 22 posts to arrive to the same conclusion I came to after reading the original post.

Several others also hit the mark. I was finally chiming in.

[Bakeek]

He sounds like a sneaky ba... uh....jerk to me.
Already I don't like the guy, and I've never met him.

Your boss is a jerk, plain and simple.

It took 22 posts to arrive to the same conclusion I came to after reading the original post.

Wise man!

[C-dub]

Yeah no kidding he is. The interview was so awesome, he went on and on about how its "like a family". Definitely haven't been getting that feeling.

A lot of families are dysfunctional.