Quandary of mind, offended a guy

[ID-shooting]

Back story, I am a medic at a federal hospital located on federal property. I was performing intake on a patient and when he took off his jacket to get on the scale I noticed an empty kydex holster on his hip. Assuming he left the gun in his car I waited till we were at my desk to complete vital signs and quietly mentioned to him that I was a shooter as well then suggested he remove the holster before one of our federal cops saw it and had a reason to search his car. Knowing that signs are clearly posted at the gate of the hospital and that no warrant is needed on federal property and that it would be federal charges I knew things would not go well for him if caught. He became very agitated and told me to mind my own business, using some colorful expletives.

I feel bad for offending the guy but didn't mention it again.

Was I right to try to let the guy know he was potentially setting himself up for failure?

 

[montanaoffroader]

You were trying to save the guy some trouble, not your fault he took it badly. If I were in that situation, I would appreciate a heads up.

 

[Texan Scott]

You didn't offend him... he became agitated when you mentioned a fact he dislikes. FWIW, I think you did the right thing and he acted like a jerk.

 

[KTXdm9]

You were trying to help a fellow shooter. It's not your fault he was a donkey.

 

[316SS]

ID-shooting, you did the right thing, even if he didn't appreciate it. Good lookin' out.

 

[preachnhunt]

Yep. you did the right thing.

 

[NOLAEMT]

I dont think there is anything wrong with what you did.

If he became offended, it is due to a fault of his, not yours.

 

[Sam1911]

That's a terribly odd thing to become offended about. People are strange.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

Was I right to try to let the guy know he was potentially setting himself up for failure?

I think you did the right thing, but it shows that there are a lot of stupid federal laws that we need to repeal or reform.

 

[btg3]

Assuming he left the gun in his car...

His becoming agitated may support your assumption. But if he knew enough to leave his gun in the car, then what caused him to leave evidence of a weapon on his belt?

I'm not sure we know the whole story. Could he have put the weapon in his jacket? If so, even more reason for him to react as he did.

Based on your account of the story, I'm surprised that you feel the need to question yourself. Again, I'm not sure we know the whole story.

 

[itchy1]

I think that the overwhelming majority of gun owners would have appreciated your efforts. You did the right thing and you should feel good about that. Try not to sweat this jackhat as he probably has few people in his life that can tolerate him.

 

[bthest86]

Very puzzling indeed. If he was breaking federal law then acting belligerent towards someone who just trying to be helpful doesn't strike me as a wise thing to do.

Someone else might have mentioned this to security and the rest of his day would have been nothing but sunshine I bet.

 

[Onward Allusion]

You did nothing wrong by trying to help the guy.

The patient reacted in that manner because he was already on edge for doing something stupid. He was aware enough to leave the gun in the car but forgot about his holster. Although you tried to help, he viewed you as a threat or in the very least; as someone calling him out as stupid. However, you were neither.

 

[r1derbike]

Let it roll off your back. You did the right thing. Fortunately, there are enough decent people, the incident will be forgotten soon.

 

[HankR]

OP, you did the right thing, don't sweat it.

if he knew enough to leave his gun in the car, then what caused him to leave evidence of a weapon on his belt?

Maybe he missed all the signs (hard to do if it's like our VA hospital). OTOH, the first thing they do when you walk into a place like that is have you step on the scale. Maybe he didn't want the extra pounds?

ETA: I'm not a Vet, and did not mean to imply otherwise above. Not trying to steal any respect from those who served!

 

[hso]

You did good.

He was a jerk.

And you didn't report him to security out of spite.

 

[MrTwigg]

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

 

[19-3Ben]

Id be willing to bet that he went in there wearing the holster with the idea that he was going to have someone mention it and that he would be incensed at the mere mention of him exercising a right.. blah blah blah...
We've seen it on this board when people say that if a doctor asking about if they have access to guns the answer will be that he should mind is own business and it's a right, rather than simply politely declining to answer, or answering in the negative.

Long story short, he wanted a fight when he went in. You were being kind, but since his mindset was already geared in that direction he lashed out inappropriately.

 

[shiftyer1]

Ive mentione to folks a couple times, hey your showing. Ive always got an oops......thank u response.

I have gotten a couple wierd looks when mentioning an empty cell phone holster. I think it's because they're surprised I noticed.

 

[peyton]

You were in the right, I think it is a shame the amount of laws we deal with. Can't leave your gun in the car in a parking lot while in the hospital??

 

[PabloJ]

Back story, I am a medic at a federal hospital located on federal property. I was performing intake on a patient and when he took off his jacket to get on the scale I noticed an empty kydex holster on his hip. Assuming he left the gun in his car I waited till we were at my desk to complete vital signs and quietly mentioned to him that I was a shooter as well then suggested he remove the holster before one of our federal cops saw it and had a reason to search his car. Knowing that signs are clearly posted at the gate of the hospital and that no warrant is needed on federal property and that it would be federal charges I knew things would not go well for him if caught. He became very agitated and told me to mind my own business, using some colorful expletives.

I feel bad for offending the guy but didn't mention it again.

Was I right to try to let the guy know he was potentially setting himself up for failure?

Like he said you should have minded your own business. Does anyone in Idaho care that older white dude carries a handgun?

 

[Bill4282]

As a federal employee, it was your duty to see that all visitors abide by the law. I worked in a federal facility. If anyone in my building saw an empty holster, they would have called security. Where's there a holster, a gun is not far behind. If the gun was in the car off property, no harm no foul. if on his person, spends the day talking with FBI and a judge. We would get nut jobs looking for trouble; the rules are there to protect the employees and patients. At my local VA, a guy came on campus p***ed off and started shooting with a shotgun. VA cops arrested him when he ran dry after five rounds. You did the guy a favor; sleep well.

 

[Thursday45]

If someone made that I was carrying in a gun free zone that I didn't know about I'd be thankful if that someone approached me and made me aware of it instead of making officers aware of it.

 

[Blackstone]

Just a shooter looking out for a fellow shooter.

 

[ngnrd]

Showing my ignorance here... Is keeping a firearm in a locked car illegal at all Federal Hospitals? I'm pretty sure our local VA hospital (the only Federal hospital I can think of around here besides those on military bases) is in a building on a larger private hospital campus. I wouldn't hesitate to leave a firearm locked in the car while I'm there.

And, besides hospitals on military bases, what kind of hospital is behind a gate? Is that a common thing down in America?