Are handguns allowed at work?

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I witnessed a nurse employed at our hospital showing a handgun she keeps in her locker to several reps Who were visiting in our department.

I am a little concerned and was wondering what the policy is on guns inside the hospital facility in the state of Mississippi. Can anyone advise me on what to do?

Specializes in CVICU.
Handgunlaw.us

sjalv, In your state of OK, the no weapons signs do not carry the weight of the law. If a person is spotted carrying a weapon in a business and refuses a request to leave, said person can be charged with third-degree trespassing and fined a maximum of $250.

You are correct and, as a result, I have edited my original post.

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You are excused. This thread has gone on to discuss the legal right to carry VS the hospital policy. Far from a smart mouth response.. we are discussing MY legal right to carry a concealed weapon... as opposed to hospital policy.

Oh my goodness! What is your problem? I commented my personal opinion on a thread and I NEVER referred to you and you just came for me! You are free to state your opinion (just like I did) but don't get smart with me. Just make your comment and carry on....

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
I have to ask, where do some of these people posting live? From the sounds of some posters parts of America are more lawless than Mogidshu and Kobani combined.

I agree with Americans' right to own a firearm (with restrictions…but I don't want to get into that). Anyway, when I reach the point where I will only feel safe walking to work with my firearm (and, no, I don't own one, and I probably never will), then I am moving--no questions asked.

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Specializes in Critical care.

In MS, in the absence of the carrier possessing a special enhanced permit to carry, business owners CAN prohibit carrying on their property if they posted a sign not more than 10 ft from entrances that reads "the carrying of pistols or revolvers is prohibited". OP, does your hospital comply with the required verbiage?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
In MS, in the absence of the carrier possessing a special enhanced permit to carry, business owners CAN prohibit carrying on their property if they posted a sign not more than 10 ft from entrances that reads "the carrying of pistols or revolvers is prohibited". OP, does your hospital comply with the required verbiage?

Unless you're talking about another MS law, the requirement that a sign be posted within 10 feet from entrances is for public buildings (courthouses, schools, etc) not private property. Private property owners, including hospitals, can trespass someone for breaking their rules even though those rules may not have been posted at the entrance, the reason why there are specific posting requirements for public buildings is that violating that rule isn't just subject to a trespass order, it's subject to felony criminal charges.

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There are certain areas that concealed carriers aren't allowed to carry. Most government buildings (from city to county to federal) will not allow a concealed carry license holder to carry. With federal buildings, it's typically a felony. With city/county government, the charge varies by state.

Business owners have the right to ban concealed weapons from their places of business should they want to. If you're caught, it's typically trespassing, but that charge again varies by state. However, if you're carrying a concealed weapon correctly, who's going to know?

Do I think nurses should work armed? No. Based on the nature of our work, I don't think that's safe. It'd be too easy for a weapon to fall into the wrong hands. But honestly, the way shootings have been in the US lately, I wish security was better in US hospitals.

As far as the nurse in this story, her first mistake was displaying her weapon. If she's licensed to carry concealed, she should know way better. It's her prerogative to carry concealed on the hospital grounds if she's licensed, though she's certainly subject to the consequences based on hospital policy as well as the consequences of keeping her weapon in an unsecured area like a locker while she's away. If she's not a licensed concealed carrier, well... :facepalm:

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Specializes in Critical care.
Unless you're talking about another MS law, the requirement that a sign be posted within 10 feet from entrances is for public buildings (courthouses, schools, etc) not private property. Private property owners, including hospitals, can trespass someone for breaking their rules even though those rules may not have been posted at the entrance, the reason why there are specific posting requirements for public buildings is that violating that rule isn't just subject to a trespass order, it's subject to felony criminal charges.

I see. I was referring to: MS statute 45-9-101 (13) License to Carry Stun Gun, Concealed Pistol or Revolver(13) In addition to the places enumerated in this subsection, the carrying of a stun gun, concealed pistol or

revolver may be disallowed in any place in the discretion of the person or entity exercising control over the

physical location of such place by the placing of a written notice clearly readable at a distance of not less

than ten (10) feet that the "carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited."

I didn't see where the persons or entity referred to above were specifically public sector only.

However, as with most official legal statutes read by laymen such as myself, these waters be muddy.

Here is an official opinion published by the MS Atty. General in response to specific inquiries:

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/MSAGOpinionCCWEndorsement.pdf

There seem to be a patchwork of statutes pertaining to the newly enacted (2013) open carry laws, "regular" concealed carry, and enhanced concealed carry that on my brief glance seem convoluted and incohesive.

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Dang I wish I got this much feedback on a question I had about my resume or being a new nurse!

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Dang I wish I got this much feedback on a question I had about my resume or being a new nurse!

Well, if I suppose you were asking if you could carry your gun to an interview, you might've gotten more replies! ;)

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

Do I think nurses should work armed? No. Based on the nature of our work, I don't think that's safe. It'd be too easy for a weapon to fall into the wrong hands. But honestly, the way shootings have been in the US lately, I wish security was better in US hospitals.

I think this is a fairly accurate summary. Not many people have a functional understanding of handling weapons as tools and not as "the Magic Wand"(including Mil and LE). Security is present to confine the non-intentioned offender and/or to talk down the offender lacking a clear expressive plan.

"Swift and Certain" is a foundational Corrections theory that fell out of favor in the 60s. It does, however, seem to have the most consistently repeatable and generalizable outcomes (vs. "rehabilitaion" or "re-socialization"). Its present iteration: "Swift and Certain" Sanctions in Probation Are Highly Effective: Evaluation of the HOPE Program | National Institute of Justice

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Mainergal2000----Not that I am advocating having weapons at work, however, have you ever thought that some of the public who come to visit patients are a bit shady and could cause some type of terrorist act?? Drug users are looking for drugs when they come into a hospital even if just there to visit, and perhaps if they pulled out a gun and demanded drugs the nurse with the gun in her locker could at least provide some sort of distraction while the geriatric security people tackle the person!!! Paranoid!!! Sometimes it is reality!!

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There is something about humans that make us fear the unlikely. We fear flying, but not smoking. People fear Ebola, but skip the flu shot. Obesity kills more people than shooting sprees.

From my observation, most of the gunshot wounds at work I see are self-inflicted.

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