Public Employers Prohibiting Concealed Carry

[ninjamedic2293]

Charles I know we have other, more pressing, priorities this session but as I am employed by a municipal government I was curious if the TSRA had ever considered pushing to prevent PUBLIC employers from restricting concealed carry. Most municipal government buildings are in higher crime areas relative to the surrounding area, local governments cannot legally prevent general citizens from carrying a concealed weapon on those properties however they can prevent a secretary from having a weapon in her purse to protect her on her way to her car? I for one would like to see legislation passed which would prohibit PUBLIC employers from passing any sort of rule or disciplinary action preventing their employees from carrying a concealed weapon in any place that a law enforcement officer or private citizen is not required to disarm. This would be much like the parking lot carry which is intended to apply to ALL employers except it has no impact on private property rights. Has this ever been discussed for placement on the TSRA legislative agenda? Are there any specific stumbling blocks? Thanks!

[lonewolf]

Interesting thought. I guess that while a city can't restrict CC in a park, it can prevent a city park worker from CC'ing on the job in the same park.....

[C-dub]

It makes no sense, though. It hurts my head just thinking about it.

[ninjamedic2293]

Mr Cotton do you have any thoughts on this issue? I am sure that trying to prevent irreparable damage from the OC advocates is taking up a majority of your time but I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

[quidni]

Along the same lines, the State of Texas reserves the right to restrict state employees from carrying with a state-issued permit while on the clock... ironic, isn't it?

[ninjamedic2293]

Guess Mr. Cotton is too busy with the holiday season for a reply but I would really like to see this on the agenda at some point.

[MoJo]

As a former municipal employee - - - they can fire you but they can't put you in jail for carrying.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Charles I know we have other, more pressing, priorities this session but as I am employed by a municipal government I was curious if the TSRA had ever considered pushing to prevent PUBLIC employers from restricting concealed carry. Most municipal government buildings are in higher crime areas relative to the surrounding area, local governments cannot legally prevent general citizens from carrying a concealed weapon on those properties however they can prevent a secretary from having a weapon in her purse to protect her on her way to her car? I for one would like to see legislation passed which would prohibit PUBLIC employers from passing any sort of rule or disciplinary action preventing their employees from carrying a concealed weapon in any place that a law enforcement officer or private citizen is not required to disarm. This would be much like the parking lot carry which is intended to apply to ALL employers except it has no impact on private property rights. Has this ever been discussed for placement on the TSRA legislative agenda? Are there any specific stumbling blocks? Thanks!

I'd love to be able to pass such legislation, but it has no chance. Even parking lot supporters in the House and Senate want to make sure that the parking lot bill makes it clear that employers can still prohibits guns inside the workplace. In addition to the example you gave, hospitals come to mind as another area where employees should be able to have a gun for the walk to and from their cars. Nurses and other personal working evening and midnight shifts are coming and/or going into deserted parking garages defenseless.

Chas.

[Purplehood]

Charles I know we have other, more pressing, priorities this session but as I am employed by a municipal government I was curious if the TSRA had ever considered pushing to prevent PUBLIC employers from restricting concealed carry. Most municipal government buildings are in higher crime areas relative to the surrounding area, local governments cannot legally prevent general citizens from carrying a concealed weapon on those properties however they can prevent a secretary from having a weapon in her purse to protect her on her way to her car? I for one would like to see legislation passed which would prohibit PUBLIC employers from passing any sort of rule or disciplinary action preventing their employees from carrying a concealed weapon in any place that a law enforcement officer or private citizen is not required to disarm. This would be much like the parking lot carry which is intended to apply to ALL employers except it has no impact on private property rights. Has this ever been discussed for placement on the TSRA legislative agenda? Are there any specific stumbling blocks? Thanks!

I'd love to be able to pass such legislation, but it has no chance. Even parking lot supporters in the House and Senate want to make sure that the parking lot bill makes it clear that employers can still prohibits guns inside the workplace. In addition to the example you gave, hospitals come to mind as another area where employees should be able to have a gun for the walk to and from their cars. Nurses and other personal working evening and midnight shifts are coming and/or going into deserted parking garages defenseless.

Chas.

I am interpreting PUBLIC Employers as being various levels of State government and on down. If that is indeed what the OP is proposing, I don't see why it couldn't happen. I don't think we are talking about PRIVATE employers here.

[anygunanywhere]

Charles I know we have other, more pressing, priorities this session but as I am employed by a municipal government I was curious if the TSRA had ever considered pushing to prevent PUBLIC employers from restricting concealed carry. Most municipal government buildings are in higher crime areas relative to the surrounding area, local governments cannot legally prevent general citizens from carrying a concealed weapon on those properties however they can prevent a secretary from having a weapon in her purse to protect her on her way to her car? I for one would like to see legislation passed which would prohibit PUBLIC employers from passing any sort of rule or disciplinary action preventing their employees from carrying a concealed weapon in any place that a law enforcement officer or private citizen is not required to disarm. This would be much like the parking lot carry which is intended to apply to ALL employers except it has no impact on private property rights. Has this ever been discussed for placement on the TSRA legislative agenda? Are there any specific stumbling blocks? Thanks!

I'd love to be able to pass such legislation, but it has no chance. Even parking lot supporters in the House and Senate want to make sure that the parking lot bill makes it clear that employers can still prohibits guns inside the workplace. In addition to the example you gave, hospitals come to mind as another area where employees should be able to have a gun for the walk to and from their cars. Nurses and other personal working evening and midnight shifts are coming and/or going into deserted parking garages defenseless.

Chas.

Nurses and other health care professionals are not only at risk on the walk to and from their cars.

Mrs. Anygun has been a nurse for over 40 years and can cite numerous assaults on nurses and other workers by, how shall I say this....scum. Few hospitals are protected by LEO. Most hospital security guards would make Barney Fife look like Rambo.

Of course, since most hospitals are posted 30.06 we know that no one carries firearms there. They are safe places to work.

Anygunanywhere

[Charles L. Cotton]

Guess Mr. Cotton is too busy with the holiday season for a reply but I would really like to see this on the agenda at some point.

Actually, I was busy amending a campus-carry bill, analyzing a parking lot bill, writing two other bills, and trying to practice law in between.

Chas.

[Purplehood]

Guess Mr. Cotton is too busy with the holiday season for a reply but I would really like to see this on the agenda at some point.

Actually, I was busy amending a campus-carry bill, analyzing a parking lot bill, writing two other bills, and trying to practice law in between.

Chas.

Slacker. Get back to work, please.

[ninjamedic2293]

I figured you just sat in a big office and pondered all day lol

[Scott Farkus]

I am interpreting PUBLIC Employers as being various levels of State government and on down. If that is indeed what the OP is proposing, I don't see why it couldn't happen. I don't think we are talking about PRIVATE employers here.

That is exactly my interpretation of the OP and yes, I'm confused as well. If anything, it dovetails nicely with the Parking Lot Bill, as state agencies are prohibiting their employees from even keeping their firearms in the state owned lots.

The state won't allow its agencies to prohibit the CHL holding public from carrying on state property but does allow its agencies to prohibit its CHL holding employees from doing so? This is preposterous and seems like it could be easily changed.

Full disclosure - this issue is near and dear to my heart: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=36144" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OldSchool]

Guess Mr. Cotton is too busy with the holiday season for a reply but I would really like to see this on the agenda at some point.

Actually, I was busy amending a campus-carry bill, analyzing a parking lot bill, writing two other bills, and trying to practice law in between.

Chas.

Slacker. Get back to work, please.

By the way, an early anniversary greeting to you, Charles -- six years on Wed. since you joined this forum?