Sauce: https://www.policeone.com/police-products/firearms/articles/393451006-Texas-police-chief-asked-to-leave-doctors-office-for-carrying-gun/

 

"CONROE, Texas — A police chief said he was told to leave a doctor’s office because he was carrying his gun.

Police Chief Philip Dupuis told The Courier that he went to see the ENT specialist Tuesday while wearing his badge on his belt next to his gun and his ID on a lanyard around his neck. 

He was checking in when the receptionist asked him about his firearm. She requested he store his firearm in his car, but Dupuis refused. He reiterated that he was an officer and he carried his weapon for his safety and the safety of others. He said he was then asked to leave.

Texas law allows licensed police officers to legally open carry anywhere in the state. But private business or property owners can create “weapons-free zones.” According to the Courier, the owner must post a sign referring to the penal code, prohibiting open and concealed carry. 

"It's just bad," Dupuis said. "My badge is clearly displayed. I have my lanyard on with 'police' on my ID card hanging around my neck. I had handcuffs. The lobby was full of people, and they asked me to leave because of who I am."

Office Manager Ryan Johnson called Dupuis to apologize and said the office has the same signs posted as other doctors’ offices regarding firearms. It’s unclear whether the signs prohibit both open and concealed carry.

"This was a mistake," Johnson said. "All we can do is sincerely apologize for it and will use it to teach our employees how to better handle these situations when they arise."

 

The fact that both uniformed and plainclothes (but with credentials displayed) officers are being asked to leave establishments / refused entry due to the fact they're armed is fucking ridiculous. That happened not too long ago in my state, where a uniformed color guard was refused entry to a stadium for a presentation of the colors. I guess some people don't understand that in America your firearm is apart of your uniform, and when in uniform or acting in any sort of official capacity you're never disarmed (with the exception of jails and federal courthouses).

I understand both sides.  On one side, you don't want your patients/customers scared.  Most people have never seen a gun in real life, and have no idea how to properly act around one, even if they aren't directly beside it.  On the other side, HE IS A COP!!  This is ridiculously stupid.  Dangerous situations can happen in a blink of an eye.  What if something happened to where he needed his gun, but was without it because of stupidity?  Common sense doesn't seem to exist anymore. 

Texas of all places.

I've never heard someone in Texas be told they can't have a gun.

I thought everyone in Texas was a howdy cow-boy carrying a good ol' colt at their belt with a cow-boy hat and a hardly understandable accent. The more you know.

5 hours ago, Hystery said:

I thought everyone in Texas was a howdy cow-boy carrying a good ol' colt at their belt with a cow-boy hat and a hardly understandable accent. The more you know.

Far from it. There's a good amount of liberal areas in Texas (Houston, Dallas). It's largely because it's a border state plus metropolitan areas. There's better images of gun loving conservative states.

Interesting. Well I guess the law is the law, if you're not in your official capacity, play by the rules of the owner. The owner might be unreasonable or plain stupid, but nevertheless.

 

If it's official, then take him back to the station and beat him with a phone book!

I can somewhat understand why a business wouldn't want to allow any weapons, but this man is a police officer. Asking a police officer to leave their weapon in the car is retarded, regardless of the location. I'm glad management was able to get it sorted but this really isn't a huge deal, just some nonsense.
 

That second part of the OP also sounds like a pretty stupid situation. An armed Color Guard was prohibited from entering a stadium? Just another case of nonsense really.

2 minutes ago, TheDivineHustle said:

I can somewhat understand why a business wouldn't want to allow any weapons, but this man is a police officer. Asking a police officer to leave their weapon in the car is retarded, regardless of the location. I'm glad management was able to get it sorted but this really isn't a huge deal, just some nonsense.
 

That second part of the OP also sounds like a pretty stupid situation. An armed Color Guard was prohibited from entering a stadium? Just another case of nonsense really.

 

This business didn't seem to understand the difference between armed police officer and armed civilian.  The armed officer could very well save your life, so it's best not to throw a tantrum just because he has a gun.  It's not like he was waving it around or showing it off, either.

But does the owner have a right to prohibit anyone with weapons on the property, including law enforcement who are not in their official capacity? That's an interesting question for me. 

31 minutes ago, Hastings said:

But does the owner have a right to prohibit anyone with weapons on the property, including law enforcement who are not in their official capacity? That's an interesting question for me. 

 

Yes they do.  This may vary by state and/or country, but most business owners can kick anyone out they please, serving them and/or prohibit them from coming onto the grounds  There was a case a while back there an establishment refused to serve a police officer some type of food or something along those lines.  I could go to a small mom and pop restaurant that is religious and views tattoos as dirty/shameful, and they could refuse to serve me.  Nothing could be done about it.  No law is being broken on their end, because it is their right to say "we don't want you here."  Does it suck? 100%

Edited August 12, 20178 yr by Kallus Rourke

This is my take with my experience in law enforcement...

 

 

If he was off duty I would never wear any "POLICE stuff" out in the open. I personally don't open carry when off duty. I don't like anyone knowing I have a firearm.  2nd point If he is on duty the doctors office should accommodate him I have gone to the doctors plenty of times in uniform never had an issue. The first time I ever had an issue that would be the last time I visited that practice Period. 

 

People fail to realize we (law enforcement) are human beings too! We are not robots!

13 minutes ago, Mags said:

People fail to realize we (law enforcement) are human beings too! We are not robots!

 

This is spot on.

2 hours ago, Kallus Rourke said:

 

Yes they do.  This may vary by state and/or country, but most business owners can kick anyone out they please, serving them and/or prohibit them from coming onto the grounds  There was a case a while back there an establishment refused to serve a police officer some type of food or something along those lines.  I could go to a small mom and pop restaurant that is religious and views tattoos as dirty/shameful, and they could refuse to serve me.  Nothing could be done about it.  No law is being broken on their end, because it is their right to say "we don't want you here."  Does it suck? 100%

I'm following a case right now involving a bakery refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding on a basis of their religious beliefs. I'm a lawyer and I enjoy studying foreign law, so this kind of stuff interests me a lot. From what I gather there's a lengthy battle beginning in the XX century, but apparently there're laws that prohibit service discrimination, but only on the basis of certain criteria, like religion or sexual orientation.

 

From my view there's nothing wrong re such discrimination. It's a personal business, they pay their taxes and other fees and may choose who to hire and who to service. If one shop doesn't serve cops or blacks or Christians, I'm sure another one would be happy to accommodate them.

 

I have to admit, I like things this way. If I had a shop, I would make sure every customer is treated kindly and feels himself as a dear guest. That would make my store popular and attract nice people. Other owners, on the other hand, shall have the right to do things their way... and face the consequences. 

 

I may be biased, as in my country we have no free market and ownership rights since 1928, so your system looks appealing. 

Edited August 12, 20178 yr by Hastings

1 minute ago, Hastings said:

I'm following a case right now involving a bakery refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding on a basis of their religious beliefs. I'm a lawyer and I enjoy studying foreign law, so this kind of stuff interests me a lot. From what I gather there's a lengthy battle beginning in the XX century, but apparently there're laws that prohibit service discrimination, but only on the basis of certain criteria, like religion or sexual orientation.

 

From my view there's nothing wrong re such discrimination. It's a personal business, they pay their taxes and other fees and may choose who to hire and who to service. If one shop doesn't serve cops or blacks or Christians, I'm sure another one would be happy to accommodate them. I like things this way.

 

I may be biased, as in my country we have no free market and ownership rights since 1928 :D 

 

This is still going on?  I remember when I first heard about it a while back.  It's 100% wrong to discriminate and refuse service based off something so stupid.  If they were hiring a potential employee, I could agree with denying them for any reason, but when you become a business, a place where people shop at, you don't get to pick and choose your customers.  You suck it up and serve whomever.  Employees don't get to pick who they serve.  Teachers don't get to pick their students.  Discrimination is one of, if not the worst thing that we deal with in the world, and it'll never end.

8 minutes ago, Kallus Rourke said:

 

This is still going on?  I remember when I first heard about it a while back.  It's 100% wrong to discriminate and refuse service based off something so stupid.  If they were hiring a potential employee, I could agree with denying them for any reason, but when you become a business, a place where people shop at, you don't get to pick and choose your customers.  You suck it up and serve whomever.  Employees don't get to pick who they serve.  Teachers don't get to pick their students.  Discrimination is one of, if not the worst thing that we deal with in the world, and it'll never end.

Yep, the Supreme Court agreed to review the case. 

 

Discrimination in general is. Discrimination in this instance... Not so sure. I won't go to a doctor who hates me or to a cafe where owners dislikes, say, lawyers, so it's best they tell me they don't want me here up front. And I surely don't want to be treated by someone who's forced to do it by the law. 

I personally wouldn't give my money to a business that doesn't want to serve me. This isn't the 1960's, there are plenty of other places to shop that are happy to serve you. 

On 8/12/2017 at 11:47 AM, TheDivineHustle said:

I personally wouldn't give my money to a business that doesn't want to serve me. This isn't the 1960's, there are plenty of other places to shop that are happy to serve you. 

word. the incompetence and totality of the circumstances is just dumbfounding though. 

On 8/11/2017 at 2:27 AM, Hastings said:

Interesting. Well I guess the law is the law, if you're not in your official capacity, play by the rules of the owner. The owner might be unreasonable or plain stupid, but nevertheless.

 

If it's official, then take him back to the station and beat him with a phone book!

Yep, lmfao

I work Security at a major hospital and it's kinda my discretion.  Being a reserve officer, I usually don't care.  Now if the officer is in plain clothes there's no reason for him to carry his firearm.  If he's in full uniform then absolutely.  I had a deputy come in plain clothes with his gun on him and I asked for ID and he threw yes literally threw his badge at me and I told him to take a hike and reported him to the Sheriff the next day for Assault.  Also assaulting Medical staff including Doctors, nurses and members of a hospital security force is a felony in my state. All I wanted to see was his badge to see what agency he was with then I probably wouldn't have given a shit if he carried his firearm.  

On 8/12/2017 at 1:04 AM, Mags said:

People fail to realize we (law enforcement) are human beings too! We are not robots!