Shadyside hospital experience

[Xdm45]

Hello.
Don't message much on here but read all the time. Wanted to tell you guys about my experience at this hospital.. my grandmother needed to be admitted and we had to go through the emergency entrance. I was anaware that they had metal decectors. The security officer asked my to empty my pockest and if i had any weapons. I told him yes and that I had a ltcf. He took posession of my gun and my ltcf. Turns out my lctf expired 3 days ago. I informed of the 6 month grace period which he knew nothing about and radioed to find out if it were true. 5 min later 2 upmc cops show up an d basically tell me that that was not the case in Pittsburgh but weren't going to do anything about it.they said I was being honost and civil so they wouldn't jam me up. Asked me to lock it in my car. Overall they were very professional and the 2 that escorted me to my car were very nice even aplauding me for carrying. I just think that in a position were you may have to deal with kinds of things they should know the laws. And was wondering if i should have done anything differently. Thanks

[donotknowme]

If you're ok with it then you did fine.

I would not have given my weapon or ltcf to the guard.

[scruff]

How is the LTCF relevant if they wouldn't have let the gun in anyway? Do they have facilities to check weapons in lockers or something?

[Statkowski]

Big city hospital ERs - no weapons (think about gang bangers wanting revenge and stuff).

Their place of business, their rules.

Nope, no storage facilities either.

[wa3ra]

I'll point out that giving the gun to the security guard would be an illegal transfer.

Yes, Pittsburgh DOES honor the six months, whether they want to or not...it is state law, and I don't see any exceptions carved out for "cities of the second class". Of course, it's a defense...

[scruff]

Big city hospital ERs - no weapons (think about gang bangers wanting revenge and stuff).

Their place of business, their rules.

Nope, no storage facilities either.

That's what I thought. So why is a guard taking possession of a gun, rather than just turning the OP around?

[Xdm45]

I'm not complaining about the rules just unaware of them. If I would have seen a sign I would have just left it in the car. I'm not used to these big city hospitals. Lol. They didn't like the pocket knife, neck knife, or leatherman either

[Emptymag]

I've seen other accounts here of UPMC security offering to lock up a handgun while someone was there as a visitor/patient.
No, they don't have mandated lockers like a court house, but they are generally happy to secure it for you. Not that I'd feel comfortable with that since I have no idea what method of containment is used and it certainly varies per location.

When I worked there almost 20 years ago (parking attendant/valet) they never made a stink of it - just asked you to either leave it i your car, or let them lock it in their safe while you were there.
At that time, when someone got out of a car to use valet parking and said, "Hey buddy, there's a gun in the glove box", I would tell them "Thanks, I'll be sure it's locked, and park it where we can see it" and I'd tell nobody else about it. That, or I'd tell security about it and we would just park that car right on the driveway somewhere so we could have it in sight.

[Emptymag]

I'm not complaining about the rules just unaware of them. If I would have seen a sign I would have just left it in the car. I'm not used to these big city hospitals. Lol. They didn't like the pocket knife, neck knife, or leatherman either

For future reference, the only time you are likely to encounter a "checkpoint" or metal detector is when entering via a emergency room entrance and/or entering after regular visiting hours. (at which time the ER entrance is typically the only unlocked entrance and used for all people entering so they CAN check everyone)

During the day, you can walk right in most entrances. Nobody is checking anyone for anything.

[God's Country]

I'm assuming the OP offered the license.

Just for clarity.
The "grace period" as we like to call it, is technically an affirmative defense not a grace period. So provided an individual is not prohibited they can use an expired LTCF as a legal excuse or argument. It does not mean that they cannot be arrested or have their gun confiscated while the court sorts it out. Depends on how they want to handle it.

It's kind of a grace period if you don't get caught.