just wanted to ask a question

[Guest looneeetunes]

i was going to see if you guys might know the answer to a question that has been leering over my head. i work for a local municipality.if i carry to and from work and leave it locked in my car during my work hours, being that this is government property would i be in violation while gun was in my car???? nothing in the employee handbook about firearms.. the reason i thought there would be a possibility it is legal, here in blount county where i live the courthouse had recently filed a petition with the mayor and board of alderman to ban guns from the courthouse, e.g regester of deeds office,clerks office, other places in the building. of course court is off limits, but the other areas werent, as i had presumed they would be. no postings where i work and like i say employee handbook has nothing on firearms.would this be part of the parks carry law should it pass???

also blount county is not where i work, just where i live, hate to be specific what municipality it is,lol as to plead the 5th and all that

also one of those things you hate to ask them, might be better to plead stupidity, rather than to ask for forgiveness

[Guest TNDixieGirl]

The way I understood them to tell me in my permit class, it's a violation to carry in any government or federal building. Did I misunderstand that?

[DaveTN]

also one of those things you hate to ask them, might be better to plead stupidity, rather than to ask for forgiveness

The opinions of only three people matter here… the Police Officer that will respond if a call is made concerning your situation, the prosecutor for your county if you are arrested, and your boss (if you like your job).

If you are a citizen transporting a firearm it is your duty to be clear on what is legal. If you are a carry permit holder there is no excuse for you not being crystal clear on where your permit allows you to leave or posses a firearm. You need to ask. If I was unclear on this I would go to the HQ of the department that would send the responding Officers and ask a Command Officer.

As a former Police Officer I can assure you “I did not know that†is not a good defense.

I can also assure you what will fly in one county may get you thrown in jail in another county.

[Guest looneeetunes]

ok thanks, i may check with the pd. i know someone there i might could ask.

tndixiegirl, that was kinda my understanding also until this blount county deal came up, i am trying to find out what ever happened with it, it has been a couple of months ago, but i cant find if the board voted on it or anything. i found the original newspaper clipping at my father-in-laws house. apparently some of the women felt scared someones shirt flew up or something and exposed the firearm for a second.

[Guest dotsun]

This is the only section of code I could find that remotely deals with this issue. It seems to me that you're perfectly fine with it in the parking lot as you're not parking in a public area used for recreational purposes.

Of course, free legal advice is worth what you pay for it, so you might want to check out the TN code for yourself @ http://michie.lexisnexis.com/tennessee/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=

39-17-1311. Carrying weapons on public parks, playgrounds, civic centers and other public recreational buildings and grounds. —

(a) It is an offense for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, with the intent to go armed, any weapon prohibited by § 39-17-1302(a), not used solely for instructional, display or sanctioned ceremonial purposes, in or on the grounds of any public park, playground, civic center or other building facility, area or property owned, used or operated by any municipal, county or state government, or instrumentality thereof, for recreational purposes.

[Guest RN MEDIC]

Leave it in your trunk. Keep quiet about it. Get the card of the lawyer you would use should you need legal counsel and keep it with you at all times. Also, remember that forgiveness is easier to obtain than permission. KNOW your rights and what the law says about the various situations you find yourself in from time to time. Good luck. REMEMBER, government does NOT like it when the citizens have a means of self defense. Don't expect all cops to be on your side just cause you have a permit and obey laws. That's not to be critical of all police; not at all. Most of the line officers down here in the south have no problem with an honest citizen carrying with a permit, BUT their chiefs, sheriffs, etc. lots of times are more politican than officer and are worse concerned about being politically correct than practical. Many officers have told me that the "chief quit being a cop and started being a politican when he got promoted to chief."

Good Luck, RN

[Guest looneeetunes]

in or on the grounds of any public park, playground, civic center or other building facility, area or property owned, used or operated by any municipal, county or state government, or instrumentality thereof, for recreational purposes.

i was actually looking at that last night, i have been digesting it. that last line seems to be talking about the whole paragraph "for recreational purposes." dunno like i say this week i will try to talk to someone at p.d:confused: