Are handguns allowed at work?

AdamantiteEnigma · Oct 30, 2014

because a gun man will hold fire until cop shows up... sweet.

Said no one, ever haha.

I've seen someone pull a weapon while on duty/on the floor to demand to be seen immediately. I've seen a patient pull a weapon to demand space. I've seen a patient pull a weapon because they didn't care for a particular staff member caring for them. I've even seen two guys pull weapons out and try to rob my old ED of it's schedule 2's. Thankfully, these are all situations that we have had protocols to deal with. Meaning they can be resolved with minimal or no violence (usually a takedown). I've been either the initiator, or participant in these situations when they occurred. I still have a ton of faith in the protocols, because I've seen them work. If I happened by some cosmic alteration to be armed when any of those situations happened, I'd still default to the protocols. Said weapon would not leave it's holster.

What I haven't seen is someone with actual intent on causing as much loss of life as is possible show up at an ED. And I wouldn't want to. Because protocols and negotiations are lost causes judging by viewing/reading occurrences in other settings.

Honestly, I don't know what I would do in a situation like that. Because I've never had the misfortune of dealing with it. I'd venture though that our hospitals are poor targets for that kind of shooter. Local PD responds with blinding speed when we have needed them as they are usually in the building anyway. My guess is that a person doing that would want an environment where they would encounter the least resistance. And an ED with officer so and so hanging out and hobnobbing with the staff just isn't it.

One could call me out of being hypocritical however. Because I'm not adamantly against the concept. I remember when my old hospital nixed the smoking patio and instituted a smoke free campus. We had 3 rapes, and two attempted that year. The staff were having to go and stand out on the street in the night to smoke. Oftentimes alone initially. That scared the bejesus out of me. We solved part of that issue by setting up groups to travel to and from a smoke break together. But after going through that at my workplace, and watching the practical (*shrug* guess they shouldn't have been smokers) apathy of administration - yes, I was all for my co workers having something to protect themselves.

Really I just think that anyone that's reasonably minded, sane, and level headed wouldn't let it be known that they have a weapon for self protection to begin with. But any situation involving a weapon I've witnessed in my career so far - they were all able to be handled by protocol and negotiation. Or a takedown if that was not working. They didn't actually want to shoot/stab/injure/kill the staff. They wanted attention. And they got it. Sad but true in my observations insofar.

tarotale · Oct 30, 2014

Said no one, ever haha.
I've seen someone pull a weapon while on duty/on the floor to demand to be seen immediately. I've seen a patient pull a weapon to demand space. I've seen a patient pull a weapon because they didn't care for a particular staff member caring for them. I've even seen two guys pull weapons out and try to rob my old ED of it's schedule 2's. Thankfully, these are all situations that we have had protocols to deal with. Meaning they can be resolved with minimal or no violence (usually a takedown). I've been either the initiator, or participant in these situations when they occurred. I still have a ton of faith in the protocols, because I've seen them work. If I happened by some cosmic alteration to be armed when any of those situations happened, I'd still default to the protocols. Said weapon would not leave it's holster.
What I haven't seen is someone with actual intent on causing as much loss of life as is possible show up at an ED. And I wouldn't want to. Because protocols and negotiations are lost causes judging by viewing/reading occurrences in other settings.
Honestly, I don't know what I would do in a situation like that. Because I've never had the misfortune of dealing with it. I'd venture though that our hospitals are poor targets for that kind of shooter. Local PD responds with blinding speed when we have needed them as they are usually in the building anyway. My guess is that a person doing that would want an environment where they would encounter the least resistance. And an ED with officer so and so hanging out and hobnobbing with the staff just isn't it.
One could call me out of being hypocritical however. Because I'm not adamantly against the concept. I remember when my old hospital nixed the smoking patio and instituted a smoke free campus. We had 3 rapes, and two attempted that year. The staff were having to go and stand out on the street in the night to smoke. Oftentimes alone initially. That scared the bejesus out of me. We solved part of that issue by setting up groups to travel to and from a smoke break together. But after going through that at my workplace, and watching the practical (*shrug* guess they shouldn't have been smokers) apathy of administration - yes, I was all for my co workers having something to protect themselves.
Really I just think that anyone that's reasonably minded, sane, and level headed wouldn't let it be known that they have a weapon for self protection to begin with. But any situation involving a weapon I've witnessed in my career so far - they were all able to be handled by protocol and negotiation. Or a takedown if that was not working. They didn't actually want to shoot/stab/injure/kill the staff. They wanted attention. And they got it. Sad but true in my observations insofar.

Tapdancing jesus where do you live Gotham city?

ThatBigGuy · Oct 30, 2014

OP, to answer your question without the accompanying shenanigans:

In Mississippi, it is illegal to carry a firearm into an establishment that has a "firearms prohibited" sign near the entrance. This includes those who have legitimately licensed permission to conceal and carry a firearm. So, it would be legal to carry in your hospital, assuming the coworker is properly licensed, unless the hospital has the proper signage posted.

You should report your coworker if your place of employment has the required prohibitive signage posted. It would be your duty as a law abiding citizen to make such a report. It's also the firearm's owner's duty to follow the law and know whether or not they can carry in your workplace. If they choose to ignore the law, they should expect to be caught sooner or later.

If the signage doesn't exist, but there is a policy prohibiting staff from carrying a firearm at your workplace, it's up to you to decide on whether or not you report the coworker.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2014

For those of you that state they carry regardless of signage prohibiting it: how would you respond if someone carried on your property after you requested them not to?
Sent from my iPhone.

Again, if it's concealed... how would I know?

allnurses Guide · Oct 31, 2014

Again, if it's concealed... how would I know?

lol that doesn't make a bit of difference to the question.

Sent from my iPhone.

CarryThatWeight, BSN · Oct 31, 2014

lol that doesn't make a bit of difference to the question.
Sent from my iPhone.

I think it does. I have a concealed handgun license. I have a purse that has a place for my pistol in it. It's really none of your business what's in my purse. I don't show it, take it out, etc. EVER. In my state, you are trained in CHL class that you are never to let anyone know you have a gun unless you are prepared to use deadly force. So yes, I think it does have something to do with your question. Now, I don't have children, and I would never have my gun in my purse if I was going to be around my niece or anyone else's children. Other than that, what's in my purse is my business, not yours.

allnurses Guide · Oct 31, 2014

So if you noticed a gun in my bag while on I was on your property you would just assume it was none of your business then?

Sent from my iPhone.

CarryThatWeight, BSN · Oct 31, 2014

So if you noticed a gun in my bag while on I was on your property you would just assume it was none of your business then?
Sent from my iPhone.

Yes, exactly. If you have crack cocaine in your purse, that's also none of my business. Or pot, Media magazines, whatever. Your purse, your business. Don't see how I could "notice" a gun in your purse though, unless I was rooting around in there. Concealed handgun purses have special compartments - they're quite handy!

vanessaem, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2014

I will never understand the gun culture, where some feel guns are playthings or coffee table trinkets or the need to pack heat everywhere I go because of some real or imaginary threat. I live in New York City. I've lived and worked in some of the worst neighborhoods and still never felt the need to carry a handgun, openly or concealed. Perhaps it's because of the strict gun laws in our state or the fact that we have actual law enforcement that we can depend on who will and can do their jobs without us having to take the law into our own hands. Carrying around loaded weapons everywhere is just not something people do here on a regular basis. In a city where people who don't know any better feel is full of crime and mayhem, people are still not paranoid enough to feel evil people will get them at any given moment and they should be ready to take them out.

What kind of society are we living in where people even feel the need to bring a gun into a church, let alone a hospital?

AdamantiteEnigma · Oct 31, 2014

Tapdancing jesus where do you live Gotham city?

I live in the Greater Metro Phoenix area. Previous to that I worked in Chicago.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Oct 31, 2014

I will never understand the gun culture, where some feel guns are playthings or coffee table trinkets or the need to pack heat everywhere I go because of some real or imaginary threat. I live in New York City. I've lived and worked in some of the worst neighborhoods and still never felt the need to carry a handgun, openly or concealed. Perhaps it's because of the strict gun laws in our state or the fact that we have actual law enforcement that we can depend on who will and can do their jobs without us having to take the law into our own hands. Carrying around loaded weapons everywhere is just not something people do here on a regular basis. In a city where people who don't know any better feel is full of crime and mayhem, people are still not paranoid enough to feel evil people will get them at any given moment and they should be ready to take them out.
What kind of society are we living in where people even feel the need to bring a gun into a church, let alone a hospital?

I don't think any responsible gun owner thinks of their gun as a "play thing" or "coffee table trinket." Carrying a weapon daily does not equate with losing respect for is as a powerful tool.

It's a good thing you don't feel the need to carry a gun openly in NYC, since there's no legal way for an average citizen to do that, there.

elkpark · Oct 31, 2014

I think it does. I have a concealed handgun license. I have a purse that has a place for my pistol in it. It's really none of your business what's in my purse. I don't show it, take it out, etc. EVER. In my state, you are trained in CHL class that you are never to let anyone know you have a gun unless you are prepared to use deadly force. So yes, I think it does have something to do with your question. Now, I don't have children, and I would never have my gun in my purse if I was going to be around my niece or anyone else's children. Other than that, what's in my purse is my business, not yours.

So you're saying that your carry permit overrules my right to know whether or not someone is bringing weapons onto MY PROPERTY, and set limits on that that I find acceptable and necessary? My property rights have no weight as far as you're concerned? That mindset is really scary and offensive to me.