Quandary of mind, offended a guy

[BSA1]

kwguy,

1. 18 wheeler- safety issue which poses a danger not only to the trucker but also other drivers including me.

2. Car break-in - be a good witness because a CRIME has been committed.

3. Backpack - you're joking right? Right after the Boston bombing?

The O.P. is health care professional who greatly upset a patient by asking him a non-health related question. I know more than one Doctor that would be very upset about the O.P.'s actions and the O.P. does too or he would not be seeking support from non-health care professionals.

That said since the O.P. apparently didn't get in trouble it should be simply chalked to learning experience.

 

[kwguy]

All I'm saying is that if the guy was really trying to help keep him from getting into trouble by raising a point or two with him, then what's the big deal? Everyone's gotta be so sensitive nowadays, it makes you wanna puke. If that upset the patient so much, maybe the patient should just lighten up a little bit. It's kinda like someone leaving their lights on in the parking lot, possibly by accident, and someone mentioning it, and the person who owns the car getting all mad, and saying 'I've got automatic light shutoff, mind your own business...blah blah blah"

For pete's sake, lighten up. If the guy was trying to help, don't bash him for it. Sometimes, people need the help.

People get into trouble all of the time due to ignorance of the law, you hear about it all of the time. Stuff like someone travelling into a state like NJ via air travel, and getting into trouble because their flight got changed and the gun was in their luggage, or maybe someone from down south travelling into another state like NY with their CCW, unaware of the laws of their destination state, or what have you. It sounds like he was just trying to prevent something like that from happening.

 

[CZguy]

When I was a young man, I observed that some people were strange. Giving that observation much thought in the last fifty years I have concluded, that some people are strange, and very thin skinned.

It sounds to me like the OP ran into one. This kind of guy is just waiting to pounce on somebody, and be offended.

It's an interesting world that we have evolved too.

 

[BSA1]

kwguy

The health care field is difficult for outsiders to understand. I have been working in the health care field for the last five years and interact with Doctors on a daily basis. Health care organizations are highly structured and very authoritarian. There are a high code of ethics and clear responsibilites by all health care employees. Doctors are literally Gods and what they say goes. Nurses and employees do not question Doctor's orders.

I can tell you from first hand experience that dealing with patients and their families is often very, very touchy. I have seen co-workers get into a lot of trouble over a minor issue simply because a Doctor complained. That is why I keep my comments to patients and their families outside of medical ones to very vague non-offensive ones like how about the weather, etc. (Here in the Land of OZ this is a easy topic. We had rain, snow, sleet in the morning and sunshine and 48 degrees in the afternoon).

The O.P. had no idea why the patient was wearing a empty holster. It was not a violation of any law, it did not represent a threat and it did not interfer with the medical procedures being done by the O.P. If the patient was under mental health care maybe this was a issue his Doctor was trying to treat. Maybe the patient is very paranoid feeling the need to be constantly armed and the compromise between the patient and the Doctor is it is ok to wear a empty holster to his office visits. Along comes a employee, who acting with the best of intentions, inadvertently provokes the patient and interfers with the treatment progress of the patient.

This is not a far fetched as it seems as it is in a VA hospital. PTSD maybe???

Or as CZguy has observed, and most likely, some people are just strange.

As I said. Since the patient or Doctor has not complained it is simply a case of no foul and chalk it up as learning experience.

 

[brboyer]

If this is not a VA hospital, or a hospital on a military base, a hospital in/on a federal court facility, or another property covered under a CFR restriction, it is not illegal to keep a firearm in a federally owned parking lot. The federal law applies to 'buildings or portions thereof. . .' an open parking lot is not, by definition, a building.

 

[DeepSouth]

If I were him I would have been great full. You did right, IMO.

Excuse typos. Posted via iPhone.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Ever notice how crap happens to jerks more often than not ?

Unfortunately no....most of them I know coast through life, while the nice guys are taken advantage of....

Take the OP for example....nice guy who got crapped on for trying to help someone and crapped on by others for explaining he was trying to help.

From some of the comments in this thread...I am thinking some of you guys work in those gun stores I have visited where everyone was rude and acted as if helping you was huge inconvenience.

There is being overly nosy and opinionated, and then there is trying to help a fellow human being.

The OP is an example of the latter.

 

[ID-shooting]

Wow, BSA, we differ in our experiences, been doing this for quite a few more years than you, but I digress, this is not the place to talk about healthcare work. I will refrain from furhter discussion away from the original intent of THR, mods, feel free to lock-er-down.

 

[45_auto]

You did good. Everyone I know would appreciate you covering our backs. If I ever come to Idaho I'll buy you lunch.

Ignore the a$$hats, for some reason the anonymity of the internet seems to bring it out in a lot of people.

 

[Derry 1946]

Glad this worked out. If he had had a gun on federal property, the Federal Protective Service under Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of Homeland Security (or whoever else secures that space, whether Feds proper or contractors) would likely have viewed that as a violation of 18 USC 930 a and/or b. Section b carries a max sentence of 5 years in federal prison and a fine of up to (IIRC) $10,000. If the investigators and/or OIG believed that you helped someone evade detection of such a violation, this may also be construed as a crime. Additionally, the agency you work for might also consider it a disciplinary matter. Again, I'm glad this worked out for you, and I would hate to see your good intentions cause you any more trouble than a rude reaction.

 

[btg3]

ID-Shooting,
Lots of feedback, analysis, and opinions to consider. Also, you've had a chance to reflect back on the actual event.

If you were in this situation again, is there anything that you would now do differently... such that the benefit of what you've learned can be shared with us?

 

[Resist Evil]

I suggest that you ignore the ones who say to mind your own business. Decent people reach out to help their fellow man. That you did.

 

[BSA1]

A closing comment just before the lynch mob gets too carried away.

I am sure the the O.P., like most folks I know that work in medical field, is a kind, considerate person that takes his responsibility for caring for his patients seriously.

The only real opinions that matter is that of his supervisor and the patient's doctors. Perhaps the O.P.s will be willing to discuss the matter with them and post the results of the conversation with us.

 

[herrwalther]

In areas where I am not allowed to carry I do the same: lock up the gun in the car but leave the holster on. 15 other people I work with do the same and it often leads to "so what do you carry" conversations.

In a situation where an empty holster would be enough for a LEO to want to search my car I would take off my holster and not be offended by such. In Alabama, a firearm in your car is not considered on the property of the firearm free zone. Since it is YOUR car. I wouldn't take the chance on federal property in AL though. Too much of a grey area. Nevertheless if another shooter gave me a little headsup to take off a holster I would be appreciative and promptly remove it. Not get offended or agitated. As stated earlier, people are weird.

 

[HKGuns]

Wow, "mind your own business"? My ignore list proves to be quite accurate on numerous and multiple topics.

By the letter of policy the OP was more than likely required to report his suspicion. The idiot is lucky he didn't get reported. If the OP was truly doing his job he'd have reported him and the guy is lucky he was processed by a fellow gun owner and not some lunatic who is scared of guns.

Racism? Even more confirmation of my ignore list.

 

[ID-shooting]

ID-Shooting,
Lots of feedback, analysis, and opinions to consider. Also, you've had a chance to reflect back on the actual event.

If you were in this situation again, is there anything that you would now do differently... such that the benefit of what you've learned can be shared with us?

Not too worried about the MD's and PA's I work with. A few are shooters/hunters, a couple are not but not that uptight about it. They know I only operate in the best interest of my patients are rarely, if ever question what I do. Even when I question or ask them to clarify orders. We are all human and some even welcome a second set of eyes on orders, especially dangerous meds. Besides, if thy are not on my good side, they will so far behind they would never see daylight. Lol

My only concern with the guy in question was if he crossed paths with one of our federal LEO's who are lacking in such humor about guns on federal grounds. Make no mistake, since the events of last December and recently in Boston, they are a bit edgy.

 

[Resto Guy]

Unlike many of the previous posters, I cannot read minds. Therefore I can't tell you what he was thinking or why he did what he did. I can only say I think you did right.

 

[CZguy]

Unlike many of the previous posters, I cannot read minds. Therefore I can't tell you what he was thinking or why he did what he did. I can only say I think you did right.

Well said.