Superlite27
Regular Member
Here's a good one:
Several weeks ago, I received my CCW renewal notice. I go to the Sheriff, get my qualification notice, and trot down to the local license office.
The licence office in my county is a private business that contracts its licensing service to the Missouri Department of Revenue. It states on the door "This is a private business operating under contract". Therefore, I assume since it states it is not a public or government entity but actually says, in writing, on the front of the building, that it is a "private company", the restriction on firearms does not apply. The fact that there is no signage on the front of the building anywhere corroborates my belief. Across the street at the courthouse is a BIG SIGN posted in regulation size and print stating "no firearms". THERE IS NO SIGNAGE on the front of the (as stated before) PRIVATELY OWNED license office.
So, I carried into the place to have the endorsement put on my ID.
Whereupon, I encounter Office Worker A and B working behind the counter. Nothing is said by them or the five other customers in the place. It takes about 15 minutes before I am called to submit my paperwork. As I am seated at the desk, Office Worker C enters, notices my firearm, and asks: "Who do you work for?" So I tell him. He shrugs, and then walks away and into his office. After a minute or two, the computer goes on the fritz, and Office Worker B calls Office Worker C out of his office. Office Worker C takes my paperwork, tries to put it into the computer, and discovers the Sheriff hasn't done some computer work on his end, and decideds to call him.
The Sheriff's office tells him it'll be about an hour.
O.K. I'm not going to sit there for an hour. I tell Office Worker C that I'll come back after I get some lunch. He says O.K. I go get a burger and come back about an hour later.
Upon entering, Office Worker C asks to talk to me in his office. "Sure. No problem." Upon entering his office, he asks: "You work for (_____________)? Right?" And I say "Yes. That's what I told you before." He replies with: "We only allow law enforcement to carry firearms in here." So I tell him "No problem." (I wasn't going to bring up the subject of signage, that's HIS responsibility.) So I informed him I'd leave my firearm in my vehicle. And he said that's fine. On my way out, he points out a "homemade" sign printed in small lettering on computer paper on a bullitin board well inside the office. "No firearms allowed".
O.K. I missed it. It wasn't regulation, there's no penalty under law as I folowed his request to leave, and we all know how interesting DMV bulliten boards are to read. I failed to notice the tiny little sign. I came back in unarmed, got my endorsement, and left. Done deal.
Not quite yet.
Today at work, my boss calls me into his office. I get a royal ass chewing for "using my employment at (___________)" as an excuse to carry a firearm. I know EXACTLY where this is coming from, before my boss even mentions........
Seems as though Office Worker C has been calling around using my name and information (Which I believe is private, therefore priveledged information, correct?) to locate me. He finally got hold of my boss (at his home) and proceeded to inform him that I was IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER USING MY EMPLOYMENT AT (_________) AS AUTHORITY TO CARRY A GUN.
Whoa! AM I PISSED! When did I ever state anything of the sort? I WAS ASKED where I work. At NO POINT DID I CLAIM THAT MY EMPLOYMENT AT (_______________) gave me any authority. THE LAW gives me authority! I need nothing other than THE LAW to carry a firearm. I don't tell ANYONE where I work, and if I do, it's usually very vague. I only told him as he was in a position of authority...the license office. Didn't know what it had to do with my CCW, but the Sheriff had also asked, and I told him. Now if Joe Schmo wants to know, though, the answer is NUNYA. But, I was unaware he was going to use this information in a nefarious manner - to track me down and nasty me to my boss. The exact reason I don't discuss where I work.
Now. I'm currently in the process of constructing a letter to the head of the Missouri Department of Revenue, which I plan on sending certified, and also setting an appointment face to face with her regarding this incident. I have researched info on Office Worker C, which I will not give out at this time pending further happenings concerning this. I'm considering hiring an attorney as the action he has taken has not made me any friends in my hierarchy at work.
Sue for libel? I'm wondering what action the Missouri Department of Revenue will take. If none, what then? I'm pretty sure my personal information is not to be used by A PRIVATE BUSINESSES' EMPLOYEE to do what Office Worker C has done.
Any suggestions on what my next course of action is? MDR is the contracting agency that this licence office works for. They would be the people to go to correct? Any other suggestions?
Several weeks ago, I received my CCW renewal notice. I go to the Sheriff, get my qualification notice, and trot down to the local license office.
The licence office in my county is a private business that contracts its licensing service to the Missouri Department of Revenue. It states on the door "This is a private business operating under contract". Therefore, I assume since it states it is not a public or government entity but actually says, in writing, on the front of the building, that it is a "private company", the restriction on firearms does not apply. The fact that there is no signage on the front of the building anywhere corroborates my belief. Across the street at the courthouse is a BIG SIGN posted in regulation size and print stating "no firearms". THERE IS NO SIGNAGE on the front of the (as stated before) PRIVATELY OWNED license office.
So, I carried into the place to have the endorsement put on my ID.
Whereupon, I encounter Office Worker A and B working behind the counter. Nothing is said by them or the five other customers in the place. It takes about 15 minutes before I am called to submit my paperwork. As I am seated at the desk, Office Worker C enters, notices my firearm, and asks: "Who do you work for?" So I tell him. He shrugs, and then walks away and into his office. After a minute or two, the computer goes on the fritz, and Office Worker B calls Office Worker C out of his office. Office Worker C takes my paperwork, tries to put it into the computer, and discovers the Sheriff hasn't done some computer work on his end, and decideds to call him.
The Sheriff's office tells him it'll be about an hour.
O.K. I'm not going to sit there for an hour. I tell Office Worker C that I'll come back after I get some lunch. He says O.K. I go get a burger and come back about an hour later.
Upon entering, Office Worker C asks to talk to me in his office. "Sure. No problem." Upon entering his office, he asks: "You work for (_____________)? Right?" And I say "Yes. That's what I told you before." He replies with: "We only allow law enforcement to carry firearms in here." So I tell him "No problem." (I wasn't going to bring up the subject of signage, that's HIS responsibility.) So I informed him I'd leave my firearm in my vehicle. And he said that's fine. On my way out, he points out a "homemade" sign printed in small lettering on computer paper on a bullitin board well inside the office. "No firearms allowed".
O.K. I missed it. It wasn't regulation, there's no penalty under law as I folowed his request to leave, and we all know how interesting DMV bulliten boards are to read. I failed to notice the tiny little sign. I came back in unarmed, got my endorsement, and left. Done deal.
Not quite yet.
Today at work, my boss calls me into his office. I get a royal ass chewing for "using my employment at (___________)" as an excuse to carry a firearm. I know EXACTLY where this is coming from, before my boss even mentions........
Seems as though Office Worker C has been calling around using my name and information (Which I believe is private, therefore priveledged information, correct?) to locate me. He finally got hold of my boss (at his home) and proceeded to inform him that I was IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER USING MY EMPLOYMENT AT (_________) AS AUTHORITY TO CARRY A GUN.
Whoa! AM I PISSED! When did I ever state anything of the sort? I WAS ASKED where I work. At NO POINT DID I CLAIM THAT MY EMPLOYMENT AT (_______________) gave me any authority. THE LAW gives me authority! I need nothing other than THE LAW to carry a firearm. I don't tell ANYONE where I work, and if I do, it's usually very vague. I only told him as he was in a position of authority...the license office. Didn't know what it had to do with my CCW, but the Sheriff had also asked, and I told him. Now if Joe Schmo wants to know, though, the answer is NUNYA. But, I was unaware he was going to use this information in a nefarious manner - to track me down and nasty me to my boss. The exact reason I don't discuss where I work.
Now. I'm currently in the process of constructing a letter to the head of the Missouri Department of Revenue, which I plan on sending certified, and also setting an appointment face to face with her regarding this incident. I have researched info on Office Worker C, which I will not give out at this time pending further happenings concerning this. I'm considering hiring an attorney as the action he has taken has not made me any friends in my hierarchy at work.
Sue for libel? I'm wondering what action the Missouri Department of Revenue will take. If none, what then? I'm pretty sure my personal information is not to be used by A PRIVATE BUSINESSES' EMPLOYEE to do what Office Worker C has done.
Any suggestions on what my next course of action is? MDR is the contracting agency that this licence office works for. They would be the people to go to correct? Any other suggestions?
