Texas: Gun in vehicle at work question.

[bigbayou87]

My brother, who lives in Louisiana, has to drive to Texas to get to the docks that bring him to and from his rig. Late last night he was robbed by a mob of thugs at a Texas gas station on his way back home. He wants to bring his pistol with him, but the employee parking lot has DHS signs that read "no guns" and other things like alcohol and drugs.
My question is would he be in danger of being fired or be in danger of going to prison if he was to have a gun in his vehicle? Losing a job is a calculated risk, but not the latter as he has a family to support. I ask because Im not familiar of the recent law changes in Texas that address this issue.

I also understand that I get what I pay for with free internet legal advice.

 

[wharvey]

It is my understanding that unless it is a secured lot there is nothing the company can do to him legally. That isn't to say they couldn't find a reason to fire him.

Do they search employees cars? If not, as long as he has it hidden and keeps his mouth shut then they should never find out about it.

 

[Art Eatman]

My understanding of the current law is that he is in no legal jeopardy by having a firearm in his car while at work. Further, the company cannot prevent him from having a firearm in his car in the parking lot--although carry into the building is still subject to company policy.

The best way to find specifics is via the Texas State Rifle Association's website: http://www.tsra.com

 

[TexasRifleman]

Do they search employees cars? If not, as long as he has it hidden and keeps his mouth shut then they should never find out about it.

Seems to me that pretty much sums it up right there in most cases.

but the employee parking lot has DHS signs that read "no guns" and other things like alcohol and drugs.

This concerns me. By DHS do you mean Department of Homeland Security? If so the Texas parking lot law may not help. It may not apply to Federal property and places where guns are otherwise prohibited by law already.

 

[oneounceload]

They might be treating off-shore oil rigs like power, plants - no guns is the law there and breaking them not only get you fired, but a nice stint in prison

 

[Yo Mama]

It makes me sick that an employer can effectively disarm law abiding citizens. In AZ, we have a parking lot bill that passed providing the employee protection in these cases. It was a big loophole that needs to be addressed in TX apparently.

 

[HankB]

Here's a direct link to an explanation of the law:

https://www.tsra.com/index.php?opti...er-parking-lot&catid=55:tripp-talk&Itemid=113

 

[Owen Sparks]

Sounds like a rule not a law.

 

[oneounceload]

It makes me sick that an employer can effectively disarm law abiding citizens. In AZ, we have a parking lot bill that passed providing the employee protection in these cases. It was a big loophole that needs to be addressed in TX apparently.

Again, certain properties are still off limits - we have had the same law here in Florida for a bit - but you try and bring your gun into the parking lot of a nuclear power plant and you go to jail

 

[Alland]

The OP justs says the "docks" where he goes out to the rig. Is it a private dock or a sea port that is controlled by the Department of Homeland Security.

If it is a DHS controlled port a gun is a no go by federal regulation.

 

[TexasBill]

Texas law allows two things: First, it allows you to carry a concealed handgun in your vehicle without a permit. Second, it allows you to lock a handgun in your vehicle in an employer's parking lot. Except for certain, specified locations, the law doesn't exempt government facilities.

The big thing your brother needs to do is find out if the parking area is operated by the federal government or if those DHS signs are there just because it's a port. If it's not federal property, it seems to me that the Texas law would prevail.

The big problem right now is that the law is still very new and there is still a fair amount of wiggle room on both sides. It generally takes the Texas Legislature a couple of tries to get it right - or as right as it's going to be - and there is still the issue of district attorneys' interpretation of what the law says.

The major exemptions are for oil and gas-related areas but a CHL will get you around most of those. A Louisiana permit is recognized in Texas, so it might be a good idea for your brother to get one.

 

[Art Eatman]

All we can do here is speculate. Best for the OP to have his brother do some research as to the actual ownership of the property.