Wynterbourne
New member
Have you ever had 'one of those days'? Mine occured this past Monday.
Within the past few months, due to problems with my previous employer, I have left the security field. I went to work in the Customer Service department of a telecommunications equipment manufacturer, Uniden, here in Fort Worth.
Since I'm no longer in the security industry, my license to carry is no longer valid. As I do not, at this time, hold a CHL, the weapon normally stays at home. That is, unless I plan on going to the range after work.
On the days that I plan on going to the range, I take my gun bag. My range closes at 8:00 p.m., but I don't get off until 6:30 p.m.. So if I'm planning on going, I have to take my stuff with me.
The weapon is stored in one location. The ammunition is stored in another location, in a blue bag in the back of my SUV. Before I started doing this, I spoke to a representative of the Department of Public Safety who advised me that it was legal, provided the weapon is unloaded and the ammunition is stored in another location.
Well, on Monday, I come out for break to find the Head of Security for Uniden standing next to my truck, with a police car parked behind it. According to the officer, I was being removed from the property for having a weapon in my vehical. The officer asked me, flat out, if I had a weapon. I advised him that I did, the make and caliber of the weapon, and it's location. I advised him of the location of the ammunition, the types of ammunition, and the remaining contents of my gun bag.
The responding officer seemed suprised that I was being so candid about everything. However, he started having problems with the Head of Security, who spent the entire two hour encounter arguing that I should be arrested. It reached the point that a Fort Worth Police Sergeant had to be called to deal with the complaintant.
The Sergeant comes out and questions me regarding the incident. I repeated the information, and he promptly went over to gather information from the complaintant. The complaintant advised him that he had walked by my vehical and had seen the weapon.
It's odd. The Sergeant was told the exact location of the weapon and was not able to see it on casual inspection. The officer had to press his hands up against the glass, cupping his eyes, to be able to see through the tinted windows. Even then, he could only see the SLIGHTEST portion of what looked like what MIGHT have been a weapon. And that was -his- description of what he saw.
So I sign a consent to search form to allow them to remove the weapon from the vehical. I learned something very interesting from the search. Fort Worth Police, regardless of what you tell them, will COMPLETELY trash your vehical on any form of a search. It looked like a hurricane had hit the inside of my truck when they were done.
Here's a list of what was confiscated:
MRI Baby Eagle 9mm (MR9900) named 'Jericho'
100 rounds American Eagle 124gr FMJ 9mm Ammunition
020 rounds Federal 124gr Hydra-Shok Ammunition
1 IWB Holster
1 Shoulder Holster
1 Cleaning Kit
2 Gunlocks
2 Magazines
1 10-inch double-edged Athame
Needless to say, I lost my job. Even though it was contained inside of a vehical, the company has a policy against weapons on the property.
Legally, however, the police aren't certain whether or not I violated any laws. They're forwarding it to the Tarrant County District Attorney to see if charges need to be levied. So at the current time I'm looking at a possibility of no charges being levied, to the possibility of a Class A Misdemeanor for Unlawful Carry. And I have a Criminal Tresspass notice against me for all Uniden properties.
Here's the fun part. The Head of Security, seemingly unhappy that the officers were not arresting me, advised them that he would be forwarding complaints to their superiors. It turns out that part of the inside of our building is a Customs Facility (Free Trade Zone), and he's pushing for a felony charge.
I'm probably never going to see my weapon again. I've been told that, at the very least, it will remain in custody for at least 12 months. If I'm charged with anything it will not be returned. My Athame is confiscated, and will never be returned, as it is a double-edged blade.
I'll be honest. I never realized how much of a grey area weapons issues could be. I mean, you hear about some of the issues, but until you have it happen to you, you don't know just how unclear some of the laws are.
Over the past two days I've called a number of lawyers. Two have said that I'm in trouble and need to retain defense council. Two have said that I have nothing to worry about, and that no charges can be levied. One has said that I have possible grounds for a 'Wrongful Termination' suit, as it was contained in my vehical at the time. Five have said that they really don't know, and that they'll have to get back to me.
Four calls to the DPS have resulted in 4 different answers. These answers have ranged from 'You can't EVER have a weapon in your car if you don't have a CHL' to 'Oh yeah, it's ok as long as it's not loaded.'
Three different police departments have given different answers regarding weapons transport. One has said that I'm in the right. One has said that it can be transported from point to point, with ABSOLUTELY no stops in between. The officer stated that it doesn't matter where you're going to, or what you're doing, or how far you're travelling, you're not allowed to stop for ANY reason. The last one gave the most honest answer I've recieved to date, that it depends on the judge you get if you're charged.
The Tarrant County District Attorney's office stated that they haven't recieved the complaint yet. They stated that they are going to have to review the statutes and see what can be determined.
This is promising to be an 'interesting' year.
Within the past few months, due to problems with my previous employer, I have left the security field. I went to work in the Customer Service department of a telecommunications equipment manufacturer, Uniden, here in Fort Worth.
Since I'm no longer in the security industry, my license to carry is no longer valid. As I do not, at this time, hold a CHL, the weapon normally stays at home. That is, unless I plan on going to the range after work.
On the days that I plan on going to the range, I take my gun bag. My range closes at 8:00 p.m., but I don't get off until 6:30 p.m.. So if I'm planning on going, I have to take my stuff with me.
The weapon is stored in one location. The ammunition is stored in another location, in a blue bag in the back of my SUV. Before I started doing this, I spoke to a representative of the Department of Public Safety who advised me that it was legal, provided the weapon is unloaded and the ammunition is stored in another location.
Well, on Monday, I come out for break to find the Head of Security for Uniden standing next to my truck, with a police car parked behind it. According to the officer, I was being removed from the property for having a weapon in my vehical. The officer asked me, flat out, if I had a weapon. I advised him that I did, the make and caliber of the weapon, and it's location. I advised him of the location of the ammunition, the types of ammunition, and the remaining contents of my gun bag.
The responding officer seemed suprised that I was being so candid about everything. However, he started having problems with the Head of Security, who spent the entire two hour encounter arguing that I should be arrested. It reached the point that a Fort Worth Police Sergeant had to be called to deal with the complaintant.
The Sergeant comes out and questions me regarding the incident. I repeated the information, and he promptly went over to gather information from the complaintant. The complaintant advised him that he had walked by my vehical and had seen the weapon.
It's odd. The Sergeant was told the exact location of the weapon and was not able to see it on casual inspection. The officer had to press his hands up against the glass, cupping his eyes, to be able to see through the tinted windows. Even then, he could only see the SLIGHTEST portion of what looked like what MIGHT have been a weapon. And that was -his- description of what he saw.
So I sign a consent to search form to allow them to remove the weapon from the vehical. I learned something very interesting from the search. Fort Worth Police, regardless of what you tell them, will COMPLETELY trash your vehical on any form of a search. It looked like a hurricane had hit the inside of my truck when they were done.
Here's a list of what was confiscated:
MRI Baby Eagle 9mm (MR9900) named 'Jericho'
100 rounds American Eagle 124gr FMJ 9mm Ammunition
020 rounds Federal 124gr Hydra-Shok Ammunition
1 IWB Holster
1 Shoulder Holster
1 Cleaning Kit
2 Gunlocks
2 Magazines
1 10-inch double-edged Athame
Needless to say, I lost my job. Even though it was contained inside of a vehical, the company has a policy against weapons on the property.
Legally, however, the police aren't certain whether or not I violated any laws. They're forwarding it to the Tarrant County District Attorney to see if charges need to be levied. So at the current time I'm looking at a possibility of no charges being levied, to the possibility of a Class A Misdemeanor for Unlawful Carry. And I have a Criminal Tresspass notice against me for all Uniden properties.
Here's the fun part. The Head of Security, seemingly unhappy that the officers were not arresting me, advised them that he would be forwarding complaints to their superiors. It turns out that part of the inside of our building is a Customs Facility (Free Trade Zone), and he's pushing for a felony charge.
I'm probably never going to see my weapon again. I've been told that, at the very least, it will remain in custody for at least 12 months. If I'm charged with anything it will not be returned. My Athame is confiscated, and will never be returned, as it is a double-edged blade.
I'll be honest. I never realized how much of a grey area weapons issues could be. I mean, you hear about some of the issues, but until you have it happen to you, you don't know just how unclear some of the laws are.
Over the past two days I've called a number of lawyers. Two have said that I'm in trouble and need to retain defense council. Two have said that I have nothing to worry about, and that no charges can be levied. One has said that I have possible grounds for a 'Wrongful Termination' suit, as it was contained in my vehical at the time. Five have said that they really don't know, and that they'll have to get back to me.
Four calls to the DPS have resulted in 4 different answers. These answers have ranged from 'You can't EVER have a weapon in your car if you don't have a CHL' to 'Oh yeah, it's ok as long as it's not loaded.'
Three different police departments have given different answers regarding weapons transport. One has said that I'm in the right. One has said that it can be transported from point to point, with ABSOLUTELY no stops in between. The officer stated that it doesn't matter where you're going to, or what you're doing, or how far you're travelling, you're not allowed to stop for ANY reason. The last one gave the most honest answer I've recieved to date, that it depends on the judge you get if you're charged.
The Tarrant County District Attorney's office stated that they haven't recieved the complaint yet. They stated that they are going to have to review the statutes and see what can be determined.
This is promising to be an 'interesting' year.