Fired for having a carry permit?

[The Heretic]

I am still confused about where to post stuff like this so mods feel free to move it. The legal/political activism sub-forum would seem to be closed.

ANyway, not sure if there is any truth to this, and there is probably another side to it that we may never hear (unless the subject files a lawsuit, which it sounds like she won't) because it is a personnel matter, but here goes:

Social Services Worker Fired, Escorted Out by Cops for Having a Gun Permit—NOT a GUN

Fired (at least part of the reason, it seems the major reason) for having a carry permit - not a gun at work?

I have a suspicion that one time I (and another guy) was laid off was because I (and another guy) occasionally talked about firearm technical issues (not politics, but technical things), and I only did it very infrequently and in as neutral a manner as possible (I never mentioned I owned or shot guns, or talked politics, I just corrected incorrect assumptions/assertions other people made regarding firearms).

So I do think this is possible, just not sure that it was the actual case - I have known people to blame something other than the real reason for why they lost their job, and often the real reason isn't always known by the worker.

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[Tony617]

Multiple news outlets picked up this store as well.

WHAT?! Woman Allegedly FIRED For Having A Concealed Carry Permit- Gets Called A "Safety Risk"

 

[justcuz]

Virginia is an at-will employment state which means employers can let go of employees at will, without reason or notice.
The 8 states which do not have the exception are:
Alabama.
Georgia.
Louisiana.
Maine.
Nebraska.
New York.
Rhode Island.
Florida – three limited conditions can override an at-will agreement.

And squished in a paragraph at the bottom from the OP's cite:

"She also said she was given a written list of reasons why she was fired, which included her concealed handgun license, a performance requirement she said she corrected, (added by me: of course she did) and a complaint that she wore loafers during training."

 

[nwslopoke]

If they fire you and say it's because you are 40 years old, a woman or have a carry permit, that sounds like a clear discrimination case.

For me it doesn't matter if she was late for work every day or was bad with reports. They are abusing authority and crossed the line.

 

[4Freedom]

Would it be illegal for them to fire her for being Jewish or Catholic? If not, then it would not be legal to fire her for having a concealed handgun license. Her religion is protected by the 1st Amendment and her right to keep and bear arms is protected by the 2nd Amendment. Sounds like a serious civil suit in the works and the employer will be eventually having to pay up some serious compensation. That is, if justice still exists in our country and the Constitution is not just sitting in the National Archives museum for decoration.

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

I am not sure it they are a union shop or not Job Opportunities | City of Roanoke Job Opportunities

 

[Member 34319]

This type of stuff boils my blood.

Discriminate for any reason to a protected class, IE homosexual, minority, pregnant, etc, etc. There is a lawsuit and heads explode!

Discriminate against someone for doing something 100% legal, nothing.

This stuff had to stop, we need to get lawyers involved and start playing their games, sue for discrimination.

 

[Alexx1401]

I did a quick read and I'm sorry but I find this EXTREMELY hard to believe. Now if she was telling co workers about "guns" and such, maybe. The story that out of the blue 3 LEO's show up to walk her off? Sorry I just don't buy it.

 

[The Heretic]

I did a quick read and I'm sorry but I find this EXTREMELY hard to believe. Now if she was telling co workers about "guns" and such, maybe. The story that out of the blue 3 LEO's show up to walk her off? Sorry I just don't buy it.

I don't find it hard to believe that her permit may have factored into the decision to fire her - if the stated circumstances are true. I don't even find it hard to believe that her permit may have been the primary factor. I worked at a startup that had to take out a restraining order against someone who got fired and then started contacting employees via email, and then showed up at the workplace several times. Thereafter they seemed pretty edgy towards everybody, and this was the employer who let go myself and another guy who occasionally talked about guns. The way they let us go was rude and uncalled for too (called us into a room, let us go, locked down our computers, took our keys and boxed up our stuff) - so I think they were being overly cautious at best. Just to be clear - they later hired me back as a contractor, so it wasn't my work they had a problem with.

Saying you own guns, or even just know about guns, seems to make people in the workplace nervous.

To have 3 LEOs show up? That means someone is worried about safety.

 

[HB of CJ]

There must be one heck of a back story on this one. She needs to lawyer up fast.

 

[justcuz]

There must be one heck of a back story on this one. She needs to lawyer up fast.

The problem, in at-will states, the burden of proof is strictly on the individual fired to prove discrimination or extenuating circumstances, e.g., sexuality, age, religion, etc., participating the employee's termination.

This presumes the organizational HR kept documentation substantiating the employee's wrongful termination.

This stated, this individual has already publicly acknowledged she received an HR laundry list showing reasons, including performance issues, for her termination. This expected due diligence by any knowledgeable HR organizational personnel.

Finally, since the individual has already made public pronounces about her plight, I have difficulty believing any employment attorney would represent her on a contingency basis. Therefore, a go-fund-me might provide sufficient $$$ but it would be quite costly on even a minimum $150/hour lawyer fee.

 

[justcuz]

Personal experience from the people's republic of Boulder:
HR person of nationally recognized company got wind of company employee(s) might have or do have or could have firearm permits and might/have/could be leaving their firearms in their vehicles in the company's parking lot while doing engineering activities.

Due to my mgmt position, I heard about her plan to call the local sheriff to have them bring those employees to their cars in the parking lot and search them for "unauthorized" firearm(s) in the near future.

After I picked up my jaw, while I didn't personally call but instigated several discrete phone calls to the section's HQ were made by several in the section's mgmt staff, the section's VP then got a phone call from the national president telling the VP either fire her or get her silly crap under control since there is no law being broken and since the facility and parking area wasn't the company's but a rental she was opening the company open for an easily won 2A law suit against the company.

You know, the HR lady was quite contrite for almost a year as her power was stripped away by the VP with the threat of termination from her presumption about stupid thought processes.

There were quite a few employees who parked on the street and walked into work instead of using the lots next to the building.

 

[EPS]

My work tried to say we could not bring guns to work and leave them in are car in there parking lot lol we all told them try and stop it

 

[4Freedom]

Concealed means concealed.. Do they have metal detectors? The way I look at it is if I have to pull my gun and (God forbid) use it on someone, I will have much bigger problems to deal with than just losing my job. SO, who cares if I carry my gun concealed with me? It's there to protect myself and potentially protect my workmates. I will keep it concealed and not tell a soul unless I have no other choice.

 

[Alexx1401]

My work tried to say we could not bring guns to work and leave them in are car in there parking lot lol we all told them try and stop it

I have seen this a few times at companies. The idea being it's their parking lot so they can write the rules. One of these I worked at I carried a gun at work. I did not feel I needed to tell anyone about it. When some would ask me about a gun in the car I would say "it's their parking lot so they set the rules" and shrug. I of course had another gun in the car. I never saw them search anyone's car. The one I had in my car they would have had to know where it was to find it if they did search. Almost every time someone gets into a "jam" at work over guns it's their mouth that got them. They just can't stop from telling others about it.

 

[4Freedom]

If your company policy is to search the cars of employees, it is time to find a new job. That is just my feeling. I'm not working for a company that doesn't understand the concept of the personal space and privacy of its employees. Screw that..

 

[EPS]

I have seen this a few times at companies. The idea being it's their parking lot so they can write the rules. One of these I worked at I carried a gun at work. I did not feel I needed to tell anyone about it. When some would ask me about a gun in the car I would say "it's their parking lot so they set the rules" and shrug. I of course had another gun in the car. I never saw them search anyone's car. The one I had in my car they would have had to know where it was to find it if they did search. Almost every time someone gets into a "jam" at work over guns it's their mouth that got them. They just can't stop from telling others about it.

Well my work went as far as putting up signs that said gun free zone LOL UNTIL WE POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT .that that made them a easy target .and that because we worked odd hours .FACT we will probably never need a gun at work but THE CHANCE THAT WE WILL NEED IT COMING TO WORK OR GOING HOME FROM WORK .is high if I stop for gas at 03:00 your sign is not going to help me

 

[EPS]

If your company policy is to search the cars of employees, it is time to find a new job. That is just my feeling. I'm not working for a company that doesn't understand the concept of the personal space and privacy of its employees. Screw that..

This will never happen at my work but as a truck driver we have a different parking lot that is inside the gates and is under camrac surveillance because we are gone overnight so our car parking lot is under surveillance and locked gate

 

[4Freedom]

This will never happen at my work but as a truck driver we have a different parking lot that is inside the gates and is under camrac surveillance because we are gone overnight so our car parking lot is under surveillance and locked gate

Well, having a company that will protect your vehicles from theft is what I consider a positive perk of working there. However, if they use that to spy on you or use it as a way to infringe upon your privacy that defeats the purpose of monitoring the employee vehicles. Companies should protect and respect their employees (assuming they perform well), not treat them like criminals.

 

[justcuz]

If your company policy is to search the cars of employees, it is time to find a new job. That is just my feeling. I'm not working for a company that doesn't understand the concept of the personal space and privacy of its employees. Screw that..

i presume you are not familiar with 'at will' concepts or private enterprise authority and UT is one of the few states I am aware of where employers do not have the authority to ban firearms in employees vehicles...Mormon church parking lots, yes, employer parking lots no.