thefirststrike
Regular Member
imported post
I wanted to get this down before I forgot all the details.
First, I want to say that the manager, Lon, was very polite and courteous when he approached me.
I bank at a credit union, whose local office is actually inside of one of our local grocery stores. I have open carried in there (both in the bank and in the store) several times in the past without any questions. However, today was a little different.
I was at the counter taking care of some business when Lon came to counter and asked me if I was a police officer. I answered that no I was not. He then stated that federal law says that I cannot carry a firearm into a bank. I told him that as far as I know, that was not the case, and that open carry was legal in Idaho. He again said that federal law says that I can't have a firearm in the bank, and that he felt uncomfortable and a little nervous that I had it on. He asked that in the future I not carry my gun into the bank. I told him that I had actually open carried into the bank several times in the past and no one had said anything, but that I would not do so in the future. He joked that "as long as you don't use it". I said only on someone who tries to rob you and he said "in that case I might enlist your help". (I know, why ask me not to carry then...I will get to that).
After I finished my business, I went to Lon's office and asked if I could speak to him. He thought I wanted to talk about a loan application I had put in before. I told him that I was not trying to cause any conflict or trouble with him, but could he tell me specifically which federal law stated that I couldn't carry in the bank? He then admitted that as far as he knew there was no specific law against it, but that it made people feel uncomfortable.
He then related a story to me...apparently someone in the past (don't know when) had open carried into the Roseauer's, the store where the bank is located, and been "taunting" his firearm (I think he meant flaunting). That person then came into the bank and Lon asked him to leave. He also mentioned to me that he had been in banking in Oregon for 25 years and had been robbed twice.
So as I see it, there are a combination of factors at work here. First, there is the fact that while working in the banking industry, Lon has been robbed twice. He is understandably nervous about people with guns in his bank. I can sympathize with him and how he feels.
The second factor at work here is the behavior of this unknown person who came into the store and bank acting like an a-- with a gun on his hip. Obviously I don't have to tell you all how that makes the rest of us look. I don't know who this person is, or when this situation occurred, but thanks to this unknown jacka--, and the behavior of certain BG's, we now have a person who sees the rest of us as a potential threat at worst, and a behavior problem at least.
SO anyway, there is my story. This is the first time while OC'ing in Moscow in the past year that I have had ANY contact regarding this issue.
And to answer the question before it is asked, no, I will not find another bank or take my business elsewhere. I joined this credit union last year after my divorce and after my previous bank caused me several problems with my account and my ex-wife's account. I am happy with the service I have received from the credit union, and they have approved me for a vehicle loan that, based on my credit history, a bank would have denied. So I will not be changing banks. I will do as asked and not wear my weapon into the bank (until I get my concealed permit that is...
!! hehe).
Dave
I wanted to get this down before I forgot all the details.
First, I want to say that the manager, Lon, was very polite and courteous when he approached me.
I bank at a credit union, whose local office is actually inside of one of our local grocery stores. I have open carried in there (both in the bank and in the store) several times in the past without any questions. However, today was a little different.
I was at the counter taking care of some business when Lon came to counter and asked me if I was a police officer. I answered that no I was not. He then stated that federal law says that I cannot carry a firearm into a bank. I told him that as far as I know, that was not the case, and that open carry was legal in Idaho. He again said that federal law says that I can't have a firearm in the bank, and that he felt uncomfortable and a little nervous that I had it on. He asked that in the future I not carry my gun into the bank. I told him that I had actually open carried into the bank several times in the past and no one had said anything, but that I would not do so in the future. He joked that "as long as you don't use it". I said only on someone who tries to rob you and he said "in that case I might enlist your help". (I know, why ask me not to carry then...I will get to that).
After I finished my business, I went to Lon's office and asked if I could speak to him. He thought I wanted to talk about a loan application I had put in before. I told him that I was not trying to cause any conflict or trouble with him, but could he tell me specifically which federal law stated that I couldn't carry in the bank? He then admitted that as far as he knew there was no specific law against it, but that it made people feel uncomfortable.
He then related a story to me...apparently someone in the past (don't know when) had open carried into the Roseauer's, the store where the bank is located, and been "taunting" his firearm (I think he meant flaunting). That person then came into the bank and Lon asked him to leave. He also mentioned to me that he had been in banking in Oregon for 25 years and had been robbed twice.
So as I see it, there are a combination of factors at work here. First, there is the fact that while working in the banking industry, Lon has been robbed twice. He is understandably nervous about people with guns in his bank. I can sympathize with him and how he feels.
The second factor at work here is the behavior of this unknown person who came into the store and bank acting like an a-- with a gun on his hip. Obviously I don't have to tell you all how that makes the rest of us look. I don't know who this person is, or when this situation occurred, but thanks to this unknown jacka--, and the behavior of certain BG's, we now have a person who sees the rest of us as a potential threat at worst, and a behavior problem at least.
SO anyway, there is my story. This is the first time while OC'ing in Moscow in the past year that I have had ANY contact regarding this issue.
And to answer the question before it is asked, no, I will not find another bank or take my business elsewhere. I joined this credit union last year after my divorce and after my previous bank caused me several problems with my account and my ex-wife's account. I am happy with the service I have received from the credit union, and they have approved me for a vehicle loan that, based on my credit history, a bank would have denied. So I will not be changing banks. I will do as asked and not wear my weapon into the bank (until I get my concealed permit that is...
!! hehe).Dave
