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Original poster

USA- How many guns in the office?

28 replies

ArticFox · 24/02/2017 14:22

Moved to the USA, working in a office of around 100. After talking casually with people I now know of at least 10 employees who conceal carry a gun to the office on a daily basis.

This is legal in the state, and not against company policy.

Is this common practice across other American companies?.....it's not something that worries me just curious

OP posts:
RockNRollNerd · 26/02/2017 12:19

In my very limited experience yes - we had a guy who worked in our office that was in a conceal carry state. His rationale was why wouldn't he, what use was his gun at home if he was in the office.

It used to slightly play on my mind from time to time when I was sitting in an office with him I must admit but that's because I wasn't used to being anywhere near guns on a day to day basis.

I guess given the way the laws work over there companies in conceal carry states would have a hard time trying to enforce company policy that infringed upon their employees' rights.

To be fair another colleague over there had a bad experience when he fired someone in a previous employee, the employee flipped out, said he'd be back to kill them all and stormed off. They called the police who were waiting when this guy returned an hour later with a boot full of guns ready to carry out his threat Shock. My understanding was that everyone in the office was more than happy to sit upstairs with the doors locked and no-one was rushing to sort out the issue with their own guns which reassured me somewhat.

RockNRollNerd · 26/02/2017 12:20

fired someone in a previous company not in a previous employee Blush

cdtaylornats · 26/02/2017 23:17

No companies don't. I worked in the US for a while and the company I worked for had a strict no guns in the workplace except for security.

You could bring a gun as far as the car park.

Concealed carry permits let you carry in public places. Most establishments like bars don't allow guns.

Original poster
ArticFox · 28/02/2017 14:17

Thanks for the info.

My state has just repealed conceal carry so no need for the license now so I suspect more will carry.

Mine is normally left in the car, as it's uncomfortable to have in my waist band at my desk

OP posts:
flowery · 28/02/2017 15:34

DH works for a US firm and I asked him whether he thought people in their US offices bring guns to work. He gave me this look Hmm and said he would be astonished if they did.

Perhaps it's to do with where your workplace actually is? If where you work is a place where you feel so unsafe you need to bring a gun with you on your commute to work perhaps its a bit more understandable that lots of your colleagues have guns at work?

NewgatesKnockers · 28/02/2017 16:54

I've lived in the US for 25 years, and in six different states, and I have never heard of anyone bringing their gun to work.

HerRoyalNotness · 28/02/2017 17:04

I've never asked, I don't want to know.

My last company had a strictly no guns rule though. At DHs company they had a fired employee make threats about coming back to kill. They were having an all hands meetings and police were dispatched to prevent any incident. I still can't comprehend how people think the way to solve their problems is to take a gun and go shoot people.

Original poster
ArticFox · 28/02/2017 19:01

flowery

Our place of business is in a super safe area, the town and the wider area have a very low crime rate so no one feels threatened.

I do know of some other companies that have a no firearms policy.

OP posts:
flowery · 28/02/2017 19:23

"Our place of business is in a super safe area, the town and the wider area have a very low crime rate so no one feels threatened."

Great. Why are you bringing a gun in the car to work with you then?

elQuintoConyo · 28/02/2017 19:27

Good point flowery

Original poster
ArticFox · 28/02/2017 20:12

Honestly- no real reason other than I can.

OP posts:
flowery · 28/02/2017 20:59

Words fail me.

Well, I suppose you are at least being honest rather than hiding behind a claim that you 'need' a gun for protection!

Original poster
ArticFox · 28/02/2017 21:08

Personally I don't think many people need a gun for protection, as they live in towns and cities.

The only times I have needed one is when I have been out in the back woods and have definitely not been at the top of the food chain.

OP posts:
StumblyMonkey · 28/02/2017 21:21

I can't answer your original question but I used to work for an American company until recently.

One of the e-learning modules we had along with data protection was 'How to act in an active shooter situation'.

flowery · 28/02/2017 22:33

Why do you think so many people bring them to the office then OP?

elQuintoConyo · 28/02/2017 23:03

"Uncomfortable in my waistband" is beyond me - what if you went for a wee and accidentally shot yourself in the foof?

Guns scare the absolute hey-zoos out of me.

Original poster
ArticFox · 01/03/2017 01:37

elQuintoConyo

No chance of that happening, it's in a holster that sits inside the waistband

OP posts:
Original poster
ArticFox · 01/03/2017 01:39

I think it's a combination of reasons we a few are libertarians and a few are concerned with security.

OP posts:
SofiaAmes · 01/03/2017 01:42

It really varies State to State. I am in California and don't know anyone who brings a gun to work.

VimFuego101 · 01/03/2017 01:50

A few people at my office have concealed licenses (inc DH) but I don't think any of them carry at work. There's nothing in the company policies that says you can't, though.

user1471451355 · 01/03/2017 01:58

I'm surprised they discussed it - the whole point of carrying concealed is so that the general public isn't aware of it, at least to me it is. Just because someone doesn't know anybody who brings a gun to work doesn't mean nobody at their workplace does. Some people carry illegally, some people such as much of my family have the security clearance to carry where and when they please, including gun free zones, etc.

Pallisers · 01/03/2017 02:27

Honestly- no real reason other than I can.

I just love that the safety of the general public, including children, is at the mercy of a gun-owner who has a gun in her car "because I can". Still them's the breaks in the USA. And I have some comfort in knowing it is far more likely that the gun will be used to kill or injure the gun-owner and her family (poor things) and not anyone else.

Not only did my company not allow this, we didn't even have a training module on it as it was so unlikely. I live in Massachusetts and give thanks every day for it.

Original poster
ArticFox · 01/03/2017 03:36

Conceal carry license holders are statically less likely to commit crime.

Pallisers It sounds like you have already assumed that I am going to commit a crime because I have a gun with me?

MA does have very strict laws in comparison to my state.

User I am sure that many people carry against the policy's of there companies

OP posts:
Pallisers · 01/03/2017 03:48

Pallisers It sounds like you have already assumed that I am going to commit a crime because I have a gun with me?

No. I am assuming that you are carrying a potentially lethal weapon with you for no good reason other than "I can!" and considering how many deaths are caused by people doing stupid things with guns they are carrying because ... they can! I worry you might injure someone I love or even a stranger I care nothing about but who doesn't deserve to die because some idiot wants to have a gun to hand.

But I comfort myself with the thought that you are far more likely to injure or kill someone close to you - not me - with your playing with guns.

flowery · 01/03/2017 13:40

Presumably, if statistics are the important thing here, the group statistically least likely to either commit a hub-related crime or be involved in a gun-related accident are those who, you know, don't take a gun round with them for the hell of it?

The mind boggles as to why anyone would choose not to be a part of that group unless absolutely necessary.