Leave Gun In Car At Post Office?

B

bludevl3232

New member
I work at the Post Office, obviously I am not allowed to carry at work. Does anyone know if I am allowed to leave my gun in my car while parked on federal property? My car is subject to search at any time. I do not want to ask at work as this may tip them off if not legal.
 
bludevl3232 said:
I work at the Post Office, obviously I am not allowed to carry at work. Does anyone know if I am allowed to leave my gun in my car while parked on federal property? My car is subject to search at any time. I do not want to ask at work as this may tip them off if not legal.
Click to expand...

No, you are not allowed to have a gun in your car on federal property. If you are caught you will lose a lot more than your job
 
So, every other thread I have read about customers "leaving it in the car" when they are at the Post Office, they are breaking the law?
 
bludevl3232 said:
So, every other thread I have read about customers "leaving it in the car" when they are at the Post Office, they are breaking the law?
Click to expand...



Not necessarily. Not every Post Office "owns" the parking lot. The closest PO to me does own the lot. The 2nd closest has street parking.

I cannot have my firearm in the vehicle at the closest one as there is no street parking there. The 2nd closest I can, and legally.

Not that it matters, but I decided a while ago that I would never leave my firearm in my vehicle. I have had my cars broken into 4 times in the last 30 years or so, a car is just too vulnerable. Anytime I have to go to the Post Office I leave my firearm at home. Doesn't make me happy, but the consequences are no joke.
 
Curmudgeon said:
Not necessarily. Not every Post Office "owns" the parking lot. The closest PO to me does own the lot. The 2nd closest has street parking.

I cannot have my firearm in the vehicle at the closest one as there is no street parking there. The 2nd closest I can, and legally.

Not that it matters, but I decided a while ago that I would never leave my firearm in my vehicle. I have had my cars broken into 4 times in the last 30 years or so, a car is just too vulnerable. Anytime I have to go to the Post Office I leave my firearm at home. Doesn't make me happy, but the consequences are no joke.
Click to expand...

Did you ever consider a travel safe that can be tethered by wire cable to an anchor object in the car?

Most scum breaking into a car parked in the street near a post office are not going to spend time trying to break into a tethered safe. They'll smash, grab, and run.
 
As a side note..
I travel a little further to a "Post Office" that is inside a Hardware store..
In this scenario is is neither illegal to have the gun in the parking lot, or to take my gun in to do my postal business.. It's worth the extra 5 minute drive for me to keep myself armed.
I don't know about you, but when I go to the post office, it's usually not the only place to go to on my list.. So leaving my gun at home would mean multiple stops unarmed. I just route my travel plan to include the Hardware store.
 
nogods said:
Did you ever consider a travel safe that can be tethered by wire cable to an anchor object in the car?

Most scum breaking into a car parked in the street near a post office are not going to spend time trying to break into a tethered safe. They'll smash, grab, and run.
Click to expand...


Considered, yes. The Post Office is just an example. I simply decided a while ago that my firearm is either:

1) On my person, or
2) Beside my bed, or
3) Locked in my safe at home...

...and that as a matter of principle I would never leave it in my car. So far it has not been an issue.

Twice I have been politely asked if I would take my pistol out to the car and twice I have politely stated that I could not do that. In both situations, ongoing polite conversation resolved the issue and I (and my firearm) remained. So I have yet to have a need for a car safe.

I figure if it should come down to that, I and my firearm will simply leave.
 
Curmudgeon said:
Considered, yes. The Post Office is just an example. I simply decided a while ago that my firearm is either:

1) On my person, or
2) Beside my bed, or
3) Locked in my safe at home...

...and that as a matter of principle I would never leave it in my car. So far it has not been an issue.

Twice I have been politely asked if I would take my pistol out to the car and twice I have politely stated that I could not do that. In both situations, ongoing polite conversation resolved the issue and I (and my firearm) remained. So I have yet to have a need for a car safe.

I figure if it should come down to that, I and my firearm will simply leave.
Click to expand...

I presume from your statement above that you were open carrying..
I'd like to have an example of how that dialog goes for you when asked to leave..
 
HootmonSccy said:
I presume from your statement above that you were open carrying..
I'd like to have an example of how that dialog goes for you when asked to leave..
Click to expand...


Yes, OC. And that is a different conversation. I'm not altogether sure I would characterize someone asking or insisting I leave as "polite conversation", but some of these terms are rather subjective, eh? In both stituations I was asked (very politely, very quietly, and almost apologetically) if I would mind taking it to the car.

The first was a "non-chain" sports bar. I responded, "I can't do that, but I can cover it." He looked relieved, expressed his gratitude, thanked me, and that was that.

The second was (gasp!) WalMart, approached by the Assistant Mgr. (Jon), asking if I would mind taking it to my car. I wish I had recorded the conversation because it was almost 10 minutes, VERY laid back, and was a very good exchange. He knew WalMart's policy and state law, he admitted he really only wanted to feel me out as to the type of person I was, and repeated numerous times he was not asking me to leave. In retrospect I think we had a successful negotiation. We knew each other's first names, he felt I could be trusted, and I had his assurance that I should feel free to OC in his store any time I wish and that he had my back.

Cliff's notes... If asked to leave, I will leave.

Hasn't happened yet. I make sure I do what I can to represent the OC and RTKB community in a non-threatening and non-confrontational manner, and present a positive image. I believe if I am asked to leave, I have failed. Perhaps some of what I am attempting to project actually shines through. My thoughts are that all of my encounters have been positive, and I have handed out almost 200 flyers to interested people in the last 2 years.


...I'm having a wonderful time! :biggrin:
.
 
With regards to "being asked to leave" versus "being asked to take the firearm to the car", there is a HUGE difference in FL. Florida is one of the states where private property signage carries no legal weight. We don't, as of yet, have general lawful open carry, so concealed carriers here generally ignore such signage.

With regards to a merchant approaching a carrier and asking them to remove the gun, my standard response is, "sir, are you asking me to leave the premises?" Florida law is very clear. In order to be guilty of trespass (or in this case, armed trespass), a request or order to leave the private property must be rendered by an authorized agent of the property owner, and it must then be refused by the individual being asked to leave. Period. They cannot make demands of you aside from asking you to leave. Additionally, once they ask you to leave, they must permit it. They are not allowed to detain you for police and then have you charged with trespass.
 
A friend of mine works for the post office. A fellow employee had several guns in his truck for his planes after work Target practice. His supervisor found out and it turned into a real mess. It's not allowed for employees. He lost his job over it.
 
I sympathize with your problem. My company does not allow CCW but fortunately they are reasonable and DO allow you to leave the gun in the car when getting to work. Otherwise I'd also have to park a bit further away. You should be able to look that up somewhere in your company policies if you do not want to outright ask.
 
Live_Free_orDie said:
Absolutely correct...no firearms on Post Office property.
Click to expand...

The main PO that I go to has a lane on the parking lot that I can drive through and deposit letters in a mailbox without getting out of my car.

So if I'm carrying and I do this, then I'm committing a felony?
 
billv said:
The main PO that I go to has a lane on the parking lot that I can drive through and deposit letters in a mailbox without getting out of my car.

So if I'm carrying and I do this, then I'm committing a felony?
Click to expand...

sounds like the lot in my main PO...the traffic lane for the lot takes you to the box.

But it is still the PO parking lot.
 
billv said:
The main PO that I go to has a lane on the parking lot that I can drive through and deposit letters in a mailbox without getting out of my car.

So if I'm carrying and I do this, then I'm committing a felony?
Click to expand...

I don't know if it rises to the level of a felony conviction, but you will violate 39 CFR 232.1 (l) which is adjudicated in Federal District Court or by a Federal magistrate and punishment includes a fine in accordance with 18 USC 3571 or imprisionment for up to 30 days or both.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Threads

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 623 (members: 0, guests: 623)

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
49,525
Messages
610,668
Members
74,995
Latest member
tripguru365

Share this page

Back
Top