I work as a Co-Op at US Steel in Birmingham Alabama. I am still in school finishing up an electrical engineering and philosophy degree. I rotate going to school for a semester and then working for a semester at US Steel. I am set to continue this rotation until graduation and then possibly go to work full time at the plant. Here is what happened. I had been off yesterday as I was working a day at my Army reserve unit making up for a drill weekend I had to miss. Apparently over the weekend there was a terrorist threat made at some US Steel plant somewhere, could be state side or at one of our overseas plants, they didn't tell me. Anyhow due to the threat the whole corperation is on high alert and total lock down security wise. This means every vechicle and person coming onto plant property is going to be searched. The way I had understood plant policy on firearms was that they were not allowed inside the gates, that you could carry in your car as long as you parked in one of the parking lots and walked throught the turnstyles into the plant. Well appertly I was dead wrong! I'm not allowed to have a weapon of any kind (very open discription) on plant property. No knives, guns, etc even in the parking lot. Well, the plant is located in absolutely one of the worst parts of Birmingham that has a very high crime rate. I have a permit to carry in my car or on my person and exercise that right about 90% of the time I'm in public, especially when I'm in dangerous areas like going to and from work. I basicall get to work before the sun rises and a lot of days leave after it has set, perfect time for something bad to happen. Well back to the point my truck was searched once I got onto plant property, the security officer found my gun and reported me to the head barney fife on duty. Long story short I was barred from the plant and not allowed to return until employee relations and security decides how long to punish me for violating company policy. Could be only five days off no pay, could be thirty, could be total termination of my job. I don't know and will have to wait to find out. I've already started lining up odd jobs to do for a while just in case. I have an inhertant right to personal protection that in my mind will always trump corperate policy. I may have to find somewhere else to work but I'll be ****ed if I let them dictate what level of security I can have traveling up and down deserted interstates and ghetto back roads just to get to work. As a soldier I was sworn to protect against all enemies foriegn and domestic, with everything that has gone on in the last few days in the courts and now this I'm starting to believe there are a lot more domestic threats to worry about. Where are the Patrick Henry's and Thomas Jefferson's of our age?

I believe that people like Jefferson and Henry were ordinary men with extraordinary vision. Instead of blindly following laws and behaviors that made no sense, they tried to change them. Unfortunately, vision meets with fear and ridicule when confronted by those who would rather be like sheep.

I hope your job situation works out; and more than that, I hope you're able to find a way to reconcile work with protecting yourself as well. And lastly, a word of thanks to someone who has served in our armed forces!

Good luck; you're in my prayers...

Sorry to hear about all this. The company policies are hard to decipher sometimes. The company I work for states that weapons are allowed with prior approval. I drive a company vehicle and if the situation warrants it I carry. I know the operations manager and others carry as needed so it not an issue.

On the other hand, two years ago my grandaughter was being christened and it required several trips to the airport. On one of the trips there was a sign a mile from the airport that the security level was elevated and all vehicles would be searched on the exit ramp to the airport. I had my favorite 45 in the car. My intention was to park as far away as possible and never get near the terminal. As I approached the checkpoint an officer stepped out in front of me and waved me through. I continued with the original plan and left without trouble. Never imagined that they would stop people outside the airport property.

Hope it turns out ok for you. Sure glad I live in one of these backwoods Western states, but these new laws are making it hard on everyone who uses and carrys a gun.

MP ! P. Henry and T. Jefferson died a long time ago and so did the US Constitution ! I just saw on PBS how that now no one can even read the US Constitution anymore as the ink has faded away ! You say you have a pistol permit so the State checked you out ! The plant is in the State's Borders ,so tell the guards to give you your pistol back and you won't sue them ! Go on the attack ! JAGG

MP ! P. Henry and T. Jefferson died a long time ago and so did the US Constitution ! I just saw on PBS how that now no one can even read the US Constitution anymore as the ink has faded away ! You say you have a pistol permit so the State checked you out ! The plant is in the State's Borders ,so tell the guards to give you your pistol back and you won't sue them ! Go on the attack ! JAGG


Oh I have my Pistol, you would have heard about this on the news if they had tried to keep my glock. I'm now looking up the local nra office to seek legal advise.

Good move with the NRA, they have folks that can help you. I hope that you can reach a solution and keep your job, it seems like you have a bunch invested in it.

Good move with the NRA, they have folks that can help you. I hope that you can reach a solution and keep your job, it seems like you have a bunch invested in it.


Thats the killer in this issue, I do have a ton invested in the company and they in me. I have been working with them off and on since may of '01 I would have allready graduated and been working full time for them, but I had to withdraw out of school two seperate times to go on active duty with my reserve unit. I've been there so long, most people treat me as a fulltimer not just some college kid working a summer job. There also aren't too many opertunities to work as a EE doing high voltage power distribution. Thats what i'm focussing on in school and what i want to do when i get out, and honestly its either work for the power company or for this plant as we have a huge distribution system.

Unfortunately, those sorts of policies are common with big companies. Every major company I've ever worked for had the same nonsense, usually a vaguely defined 'no weapons' policy.

Whether you have any recourse will depend on if your state is a 'right to work' state. If so - you basically have none, unless you are covered by a union contract.

There are moves afoot in several states, including Texas and Oklahoma (I believe) to force employers to allow employees to have firearms in vehicles. However, this is at odds with some of the employer's rights to hire/fire people. I would expect it to all end up in court before it's said and done.

Good luck.

And a note to others: be cautious of any 'public' or governmental parking lot. In Illinois, except for the criminals, visitors to prison to do volunteer work may not have weapons in their vehicles as soon as they cross onto state property. That even includes screwdrivers and tools. I've also noticed at my son's middle school some signs indicating Safe School Zone meaning no drugs or weapons....I wonder how often we've been in jeopardy without even knowing it...? Shopping Centers?

Matt,

Sorry to hear about your situation. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help you. I think talking to the NRA is a good move too.

Also, THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Hang in there kid.
The good LORD never removed me from an employment situation where HE dind't send me to a better employer. Keep the faith.
NailGun

Well guys I appreciate all the advice, comments etc. My work finally called me today. Security and HR wanted to ban me from the plant for 30 days, (the normal punishment for this offense I'm told) My boss and his boss the area manager got it down to 14 days off no pay. So I'm out some money and good leasson learned about this company. I won't be seeking any legal action, the more I think about I really don't see how I could anyhow. I will be completeing my work semester here, but also will be interviewing in the fall with a few other companies to keep my options open. Again thanks for the concern and advise, its so nice to have a place full of fellas that have thier head's on straight.

Well, Matt, it could have been much worse, so we rejoice in that. I recall that many, many years back, I got mugged in the Chicago area while in town for our company seminar. I was from Indiana at the time, and so was legally carrying. I got blindsided and they found the gun and took it, and fortunately weren't in the mood to shoot. I was nearly fired, just for carrying it. My manager talked them out of it. Now, many years older and wiser, I can kind of see their point, tho' it's wrong. It was illegal for me to carry in Illinois, tho' I didn't know that at the time. And it made me look like a bad guy, reflecting on the company as well. It's a sad commentary when only the bad guys can carry, while the rest of us can merely watch. How many of these workplace shootings would have been eliminated or minimized if one or two legal owners were equipped to end it right there right then. But no one sees it that way outside of us guys.

matt...

I'd still take it up with the NRA in case something else comes of it. I bet US Steel doesn't have any heart ache selling their products to gun and weapon manufacturers around the world including our enemies. Might upitty of them.

Matt,

Suggest you contact fox news and report your problem. Think you can report it via e-mail to the following address: Speakout@foxnews.com

provided you were legally carrying the firearm ,i would say the carpark legally is deemed a public area ,if they mess with you for that get the NRA onto it and sue there ***.no company has the right to overule that permit .just becuase a company creates a policy doesnt nessasarily make there policy legal or enforcable

provided you were legally carrying the firearm ,i would say the carpark legally is deemed a public area ,if they mess with you for that get the NRA onto it and sue there ***.no company has the right to overule that permit .just becuase a company creates a policy doesnt nessasarily make there policy legal or enforcable


The catch 22 of this is that when in their parking lot I am on thier private property. Any company has the same property rights as a individual, ie I could keep you from carring on my property so they can too. The only choice I have in the matter is if I want to continue to work for a company that thinks the way this one does.

Matt, Many companies have rules governing their employees access to certain areas of parking, and usually make sure the employees know where they may park and what may be in their vehicles while on company property. By rights tho they should also post the no firearms allowed on parking lot, for all to follow. Likewise if you are attacked on the property that they provide security for with no ability to protect yourself, they would be liable for any loss or injury that occures to you. You might try bringing this to their attention. I know you have a catch 22 there, but were you informed when they made the policy, or when you went to work there that there were No Firearms on Company Property rules, and that it applied to all company property? If not, and you have a Union, go to them and file a Greevance. As it stands it appeares they will loose a valueable asset as soon as you can find suitable employment.

Lee L.

Unfortunately I am not in the union. I am pretty much management in training. And I have witnessed how the company just disgards management when no longer needed. I have tried talking to HR about issues that have been discussed ie their liability for my protection if I can't carry, and the possiblities of creating a "park at your own risk" lot where individuals who wish can carry only in thier car, or the possibility of checking firearms in and out at the plant security headquaters. Basically I was told these ideas had be brought up before and quickly shot down. The companies firearms policy is a corperate wide one that is the same at every plant stateside and overseas and there is basically no changing it. My best option is if I feel the need to carry for protection is to find somewhere else to work.

Sounds like the Company pretty much has a head in the Sand attitude. In other words, dont make waves till we get sued for injury, and then just make a deal.

Lee L.

Matt,

I don't know the specifics of Alabama's CCW laws, but here in Ohio it isn't permissible to carry a weapon in certain places, e.g. schools, churchs, bars, government buildings and property. In addition, private businesses, e.g. banks, restaurants, K-Marts, etc. can post a sign at the entrance prohibiting carrying on the premises. Get caught pack'n in any of these places, and it's something like a fourth degree felony. Get dinged for that and it's bye-bye guns, voting, and maybe your freedom.

Matt,
from all that I have read it sounds like you are in a REALLY tough spot. In most states, private property rights allow the company to dictate whether or not someone may carry a weapon on their property. I am sure that there is a thread all about this on here somewhere with the same discussion basically.

Just like your own property rights allow you to dictate whether or not someone can come into your home or onto your property armed, the company has the same rights since corporations are treated like individuals (Not sure how I feel about that one) among other legal distinctions. You can raise all manner of heck, go to the news and so on and so forth, but when they call up the company and the company tells them that you knew of the stated/posted company policy, they will most likely abandon you like someone else's ugly, un-house-broken puppy. I wouldn't count on Faux Not-news. Not unless you were a huge campaign donor to the RNC and named Murdoch.

It stinks. You were caught between a rock and a hard place. I feel for you. Sometimes when so caught, you get squished by the big boys. I wish I had some sure fire advice for you. I wish the best.