Carrying On The Job in a Mental Health Hospital (Psych Ward)

[mpshieldmp]

I am a counselor and work with patients in the psych ward at a hospital. To my knowledge there are no signs anywhere stating not to carry and there is nothing in my employee manual about carrying a firearm. So for the purpose of this discussion, let's assume there is nothing illegal about concealed carry in this particular mental health hospital.

What are your thoughts on these two options:

1. I should conceal carry while I'm working with patients because of the nature of the job and the fact that I'm working with potentially unstable people to protect myself if necessary.

2. I should not conceal carry while I'm working because I'm dealing with potentially unstable people and there is a chance they could assault me and get my gun and use it against me and others in the hospital.

 

[bofh]

Carry concealed and get some defensive pistol training. Choices #1 and #2 have really nothing to do with the environment you work in. You may meet unstable persons on the street that you have to defend yourself against.

Pennsylvania hospital shooting: Suspect has long history of violence

 

[NavyLCDR]

It would really help to know what state you are in. I am not going to assume there is nothing illegal about you carrying in a mental health facility because most states have state laws against it.

 

[RJT CCW]

Typically hospitals are included in the list of prohibited places and the penalty, if caught, varies from state-to-state. Although I encourage all to carry I also realize that society does not encourage the same behavior. Do what you must to survive.

 

[Glock-Girl]

I am a counselor and work with patients in the psych ward at a hospital. .

...

2. I should not conceal carry while I'm working because I'm dealing with potentially unstable people and there is a chance they could assault me and get my gun and use it against me and others in the hospital.

First you need to find out your state laws on the matter. In my state, CC permit-holders can NOT carry guns into any locked hospital/psych ward.

And for myself, though I firmly believe in CC, and I DO carry ALWAYS (when not disallowed by law), I'd be hesitant to bring a weapon into an environment like that precisely for the reason you stated in #2. But I'm a Grandma and I can see how I might be overpowered in this situation, so I think I'd be safer to NOT carry in this environment... Also, if a mentally unbalanced person were to get ahold of my weapon, they could do a lot more than hurt just ME - I could be endangering the lives of several others as well, by bringing a firearm into that environment.

But first, check your state law.

 

[Wild Dog]

I am a counselor and work with patients in the psych ward at a hospital. To my knowledge there are no signs anywhere stating not to carry and there is nothing in my employee manual about carrying a firearm. So for the purpose of this discussion, let's assume there is nothing illegal about concealed carry in this particular mental health hospital.

What are your thoughts on these two options:

1. I should conceal carry while I'm working with patients because of the nature of the job and the fact that I'm working with potentially unstable people to protect myself if necessary.

2. I should not conceal carry while I'm working because I'm dealing with potentially unstable people and there is a chance they could assault me and get my gun and use it against me and others in the hospital.

3. Open carry so you can show those nutjobs who's boss. And if they give you any grief, give them a third eye.

 

[jehu1290]

Carry concealed if legal

I am a counselor and work with patients in the psych ward at a hospital. To my knowledge there are no signs anywhere stating not to carry and there is nothing in my employee manual about carrying a firearm. So for the purpose of this discussion, let's assume there is nothing illegal about concealed carry in this particular mental health hospital.

What are your thoughts on these two options:

1. I should conceal carry while I'm working with patients because of the nature of the job and the fact that I'm working with potentially unstable people to protect myself if necessary.

2. I should not conceal carry while I'm working because I'm dealing with potentially unstable people and there is a chance they could assault me and get my gun and use it against me and others in the hospital.

Carry concealed if it is legal where you are at, but not wise to do so openly. Those you are dealing with are no different than many on the street since the Government started integrating them into society a few years back. JMHO.

 

[Reba]

Carry concealed if it is legal where you are at, but not wise to do so openly. Those you are dealing with are no different than many on the street since the Government started integrating them into society a few years back. JMHO.

At least in the hospital the patients are identified.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I'm guessing the OP has no internet access from inside the mental hospital?

 

[SR9]

Maybe not wise to carry in a mental hospital. There are more of them then there is of you. Should be easy to over power you and take your gun, then what? Just because they have mental issue does not mean they are no intelligent.

 

[mustang68]

I guess I'll just show my ignorance here.... Do they just allow those who are really mentally unstable to just roam around freely inside a mental hospital? Some of these post almost make it sound like a script from a Walking Dead episode.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I guess I'll just show my ignorance here.... Do they just allow those who are really mentally unstable to just roam around freely inside a mental hospital? Some of these post almost make it sound like a script from a Walking Dead episode.

Having visited people in mental hospitals before, the answer is yes. With the medications they give them, the do walk around like zombies.

 

[Eidolon]

Expect to become instantly unemployed and unemployable the very first time you get caught.

 

[Oldgrunt]

I am a counselor and work with patients in the psych ward at a hospital. To my knowledge there are no signs anywhere stating not to carry and there is nothing in my employee manual about carrying a firearm. So for the purpose of this discussion, let's assume there is nothing illegal about concealed carry in this particular mental health hospital.

What are your thoughts on these two options:

1. I should conceal carry while I'm working with patients because of the nature of the job and the fact that I'm working with potentially unstable people to protect myself if necessary.

2. I should not conceal carry while I'm working because I'm dealing with potentially unstable people and there is a chance they could assault me and get my gun and use it against me and others in the hospital.

I worked for a number of years in the Department of Mental Health and weapons WERE NOT allowed on the hospital premises. Those hospitals also have criminal wards housing murderers and rapists so not all patients there are "zoned out" or walking zombies. They can be very dangerous and to take a weapon in there would be extremely dangerous. If you would ever harm one, you will definitely lose your job and most likely be prosecuted. Further, read your state laws to see if your state has made any restrictions concerning weapons in hospitals.

 

[mustang68]

Having visited people in mental hospitals before, the answer is yes. With the medications they give them, the do walk around like zombies.

That's what I was wondering.... Imagining some old movie showing an asylum with "zombies" standing in corners or whatever. I would figure it would be more like a hospital and the more "unstable" ones would be confined to individual rooms.

 

[MTHanded]

I work on a mental health unit and guns are absolutely not allowed. When the police or sheriff bring a patient to the unit, they are to leave their sidearms at the door before coming in and our police leave take out the magazine and unload the chamber. Here's the reasoning; Yes, some are dangerous but there could be a lot of them and a fight may turn into the officer having their gun taken away or lost in a scuffle. The officer is still allowed their mace and clubs but no guns. Same as a prison, guards do not have guns while in with the general population.