Interesting Conversation at work

[rxer311]

I do not carry at work, however, I do carry everywhere else that it is legal to do so. After working for my company for 6 years my manager and I were talking about the election (it was election day) and he showed me his "I Voted!" sticker and asked me where mine was. I said, "I stuck it on my Holster!" and told him that I OC'ed to the polls that morning. To that he asked what I carried and then he shared with me his carry preference.

Fast forward 2 weeks and I was in the office of my companies director of operations when the company VP came in to the office. Apparently he heard through the grape vine from my manager that I carry. The VP asked, "you packing today?!" with a big smile on his face. Then before I could answer he said, "no, you don't have to show me!" I then told him that I do not carry at work. He left the office and I finished my conversation with the director of operations.

Later in the day he came down to talk to me and he was telling me about his pistol team and that him and a few other guys go shooting after work sometimes. He invited me to go with them next time.

He then asked me, "hey, have you seen the jackets that we give the delivery drivers to wear?" I told him I have seen them but asked why. He then started telling me about all the pockets it has and how great it was for concealed carry. He told me to go talk to the warehouse manager and make sure she gets me one of the jackets.

Apparently my boss, the VP, and the director of operations all carry and are all at least firearms enthusiasts to some degree.

Its just interesting how you can work along side people for 6 years and you not know much of anything about them. I really don't know if we have a company policy about carrying at work, but at least I know that all of my "higher ups" are all pro carry.

[TaePo]

This is good for you but a sad overall commentary.

Why is gun ownership and especially carry such a closeted activity?

I wonder how much discrimination would occur when you apply for jobs if they know you carry or are pro 2A? There are some exceptions, no doubt.

Does your company have a weapons policy and are they giving you the nudge-nudge, wink-wink? Or is there no policy (which would be super)?

You should find out unofficially from a trusted source (someone who carries and knows the policies).

Good Luck!

[myblacktruck]

It sounds like your place of employment just became alot nicer to work for

[afdcomposer]

Great story. Thanks for posting.

It's great to hear your higher-ups are level-headed folks who understand firearms.

[WitsBusa]

This is good for you but a sad overall commentary.

Why is gun ownership and especially carry such a closeted activity?

I'm not following why it is a sad overall commentary. How is it a closeted activity? What would be the impetus to flaunt it or announce to the world, "I'm carrying!" - especially in an employment environment when it is likely that there are likely to be diverse political viewpoints on the topic and different comfort levels.

[yeager484]

I'm not following why it is a sad overall commentary. How is it a closeted activity? What would be the impetus to flaunt it or announce to the world, "I'm carrying!" - especially in an employment environment when it is likely that there are likely to be diverse political viewpoints on the topic and different comfort levels.

I'll speculate that maybe he'd have been expecting firearm rules to be in some type of employee handbook

[XavierBK]

Are they hiring? Haha.

[TaePo]

I'm not following why it is a sad overall commentary. How is it a closeted activity? What would be the impetus to flaunt it or announce to the world, "I'm carrying!" - especially in an employment environment when it is likely that there are likely to be diverse political viewpoints on the topic and different comfort levels.

The bold is really what I find sad. Is voting a political viewpoint? Freedom of speech or religion? If there were no restrictions at the workplace, it could be discussed openly. You don't have to be carrying to state that you do carry when possible. It should be no big deal. (I have seen IT rules about no firearms sites. They already have rules about personal use and pornography; why are firarm sites a specific category?)

I live in a country county so people might talk guns or hunting at work. Do that at some places in Philly/Pittsburgh and you would probably have to talk to HR about someone complaining or security checking your car to be sure.

I have worked at places where I would not mention I owned guns, let alone carried sometimes. And that is an enumerated right which should not be considered 'strange' by others. They might not want to exercise that right but shouldn't find it strange others do. I don't attend religious services but I don't find it odd/strange that others want to.

[ungawa]

Sounds like you're not getting a Christmas bonus this year. Enjoy the jacket

[WitsBusa]

That's just the reality of a workplace.. management doesn't want "drama" in the workplace. Drama cuts down on productivity and is distracting. The reality is that a certain segment of employees thing a gun will jump out of someone's holster and shoot them..

would you feel the same way about exercising free speech? The first amendment protects someone's right to yell honkey-lips at me, or make other negative racial statements, but that doesn't necessarily make it productive for an employer to allow employees to exercise that right..

And for the record, i work in an office in a suburb of Philadelphia. I never proactively brought it up, but I've told my co-workers that I have a LTCF, and that I shoot various sidearms at the range when the topic has come up.. No one has ever hid under their desk or given me a hard time about it.. I think the uproar you are figuring would happen might be exaggerated.

The bold is really what I find sad. Is voting a political viewpoint? Freedom of speech or religion? If there were no restrictions at the workplace, it could be discussed openly. You don't have to be carrying to state that you do carry when possible. It should be no big deal. (I have seen IT rules about no firearms sites. They already have rules about personal use and pornography; why are firarm sites a specific category?)

I live in a country county so people might talk guns or hunting at work. Do that at some places in Philly/Pittsburgh and you would probably have to talk to HR about someone complaining or security checking your car to be sure.

I have worked at places where I would not mention I owned guns, let alone carried sometimes. And that is an enumerated right which should not be considered 'strange' by others. They might not want to exercise that right but shouldn't find it strange others do. I don't attend religious services but I don't find it odd/strange that others want to.