imported post
I thought I would pass my experience yesterday at Mt. Hood Legacy Hospital.
My significant other (SO) had surgery on her nose.
Pre-surgery intake was done on Tuesday, 18 Aug 09. I took her in wearing my .45 Colt New Agent in plain view of God, country and citizens. No problem. We walked in and I took a seat while they did their intake.
Thursday, 20 Aug 09. I took her to the hospital. She checked in and we went to the fourth floor. No problem. When they came and took her to surgery, we saw a security officer walking down the hallway and thought nothing of it. My SO goes to surgery and I go and take care of some “honey do’s.”
I came back at 1315 to eat some lunch in the cafeteria and there was no problem. The doctor called me and said she was fine and in recovery and should be back in her room by 1430. I left to do some more “honey do’s.”
I came back to the hospital at 1430 and went to the fourth floor. I was there about five minutes and three security guys where at the door and said, “That (pointing at my handgun” has caused quite an alarm.
I said, “well, did you inform them of the open carry laws in Oregon?” He had no idea of what I was talking about. Then said that I had to leave.
Well, being the belligerent soul that I am, I told him that he was wrong and that I could carry my gun in a hospital. He went off and told me that I could not carry my gun in schools, hospitals, or airports.
I then told him that only the state legislature has the authority to set laws on weapons. I told him that I had a concealed weapon permit and he wanted to see it. I showed it to him (by the way, since the hospital is in Gresham I really did not have to show him my license. I really regret showing it to him because he wrote down my address and information off of the license.) He then took my license and pointed out the fact that it says concealed and that I have to have my weapon concealed. I told him he was dead wrong. That is when I pulled out my ORS. 166.173. He had no idea what the laws are or were. He said, “Oh, they do not affect a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun.”
Well, we debated the issue for awhile, my SO was still groggy and a little upset with me for arguing, and the guy asked me nicely to take the conversation to the auto. Of course, I stated that since they took my information, I wanted theirs and their supervisors. They said they would give it to me at my auto. Never got any information from them.
I told them that I was going to put a shirt over my weapon and go back into the hospital. That is when they said that the hospital was a “weapon free zone” (?????) I said where are your signs? You need to post it!
One of the guys said there were some signs on the back and side doors. I said , “Oh, that’s good. No one goes in the back door or side door unless they have ill intent. Law abiding citizens use the front door.
I told them they needed to call the police and have them tell me in front of the cop that I could not go in the hospital with my weapon. They obliged me. The cop told them I had the right to carry my weapon openly; HOWEVER, the hospital is PRIVATE property and they, of course, have the right to have a “weapon free zone,” but they need to post it. The cop told me that I had done a good job.
They made me leave my weapon in the car, but one of the security guys said he’d been a cop for 29 years and did not know a person could openly carry a weapon. He also said that someone had called the Gresham police earlier in the day when they saw me with my weapon, so when the security people called, they told them there was no law forbidding me to carry openly and the cop that showed up had already been briefed.
Now comes my real gripe: No posted signs or any written policy concerning weapons, that I am aware of, can be found on the property or web site. There are “No Smoking” signs posted everywhere around the entrance to the place but nothing about weapons. So, is the security guy blowing smoke? Is there a written policy or is just some offended nurse who does not like guns making noise and the security people then making her feel “saaafe.”
The security guy said that there is going to be signs. I will give them a month and then drive by and check it out. I am also going to give Mr. Groner III, Chief Legal Counsel and compliance officer a call today to see if there is any written policy about weapons.
I do not know how far I want to push this button but it does irritate me that they have people enforcing rules and regulations that do not know what the laws are.
What I would like to do is give them a month to post their signs and then if there are no signs stage a rally at the cafeteria with about 50 men and women carrying weapons in the open to see what they would do.
I guess it really does not matter all that much because I had to leave again to pick up SO’s prescriptions, put a shirt on and had the weapon inside the waist band and the security guy just looked at me. I know he wanted to ask but he knew better. I would have told him, “It is none his business what is inside my pants and he ain’t goin’ there without or with, for that matter, a warrant.”
The other fact is that I really have no other business at the hospital. So what is the point?
I am in Gresham, people, so do feel all alone. I have been carrying open for quite sometime now. I have been in the following with no problem:
Home Depot
Walmart
Safeway
Carl's Jr.
Les Scwabb
Gresham DMV--The lady said my gun waswas supposed to be concealed. I said, "WHAT?????" She never answered.
Lowes
Platt
Latus Harley Davidson
Fred Myers
Numerous Gas Stations
I do get a few questions anda lot of fun conversations.
I also ride a Harley Davidson. I get some good looks when I am at a stop sign.
I have been wanting to go to this biker bar but you know, alcohol and guns just do not mix....and I never leave home without a .45;I have two. So, no bars for me at the moment.
I thought I would pass my experience yesterday at Mt. Hood Legacy Hospital.
My significant other (SO) had surgery on her nose.
Pre-surgery intake was done on Tuesday, 18 Aug 09. I took her in wearing my .45 Colt New Agent in plain view of God, country and citizens. No problem. We walked in and I took a seat while they did their intake.
Thursday, 20 Aug 09. I took her to the hospital. She checked in and we went to the fourth floor. No problem. When they came and took her to surgery, we saw a security officer walking down the hallway and thought nothing of it. My SO goes to surgery and I go and take care of some “honey do’s.”
I came back at 1315 to eat some lunch in the cafeteria and there was no problem. The doctor called me and said she was fine and in recovery and should be back in her room by 1430. I left to do some more “honey do’s.”
I came back to the hospital at 1430 and went to the fourth floor. I was there about five minutes and three security guys where at the door and said, “That (pointing at my handgun” has caused quite an alarm.
I said, “well, did you inform them of the open carry laws in Oregon?” He had no idea of what I was talking about. Then said that I had to leave.
Well, being the belligerent soul that I am, I told him that he was wrong and that I could carry my gun in a hospital. He went off and told me that I could not carry my gun in schools, hospitals, or airports.
I then told him that only the state legislature has the authority to set laws on weapons. I told him that I had a concealed weapon permit and he wanted to see it. I showed it to him (by the way, since the hospital is in Gresham I really did not have to show him my license. I really regret showing it to him because he wrote down my address and information off of the license.) He then took my license and pointed out the fact that it says concealed and that I have to have my weapon concealed. I told him he was dead wrong. That is when I pulled out my ORS. 166.173. He had no idea what the laws are or were. He said, “Oh, they do not affect a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun.”
Well, we debated the issue for awhile, my SO was still groggy and a little upset with me for arguing, and the guy asked me nicely to take the conversation to the auto. Of course, I stated that since they took my information, I wanted theirs and their supervisors. They said they would give it to me at my auto. Never got any information from them.
I told them that I was going to put a shirt over my weapon and go back into the hospital. That is when they said that the hospital was a “weapon free zone” (?????) I said where are your signs? You need to post it!
One of the guys said there were some signs on the back and side doors. I said , “Oh, that’s good. No one goes in the back door or side door unless they have ill intent. Law abiding citizens use the front door.
I told them they needed to call the police and have them tell me in front of the cop that I could not go in the hospital with my weapon. They obliged me. The cop told them I had the right to carry my weapon openly; HOWEVER, the hospital is PRIVATE property and they, of course, have the right to have a “weapon free zone,” but they need to post it. The cop told me that I had done a good job.
They made me leave my weapon in the car, but one of the security guys said he’d been a cop for 29 years and did not know a person could openly carry a weapon. He also said that someone had called the Gresham police earlier in the day when they saw me with my weapon, so when the security people called, they told them there was no law forbidding me to carry openly and the cop that showed up had already been briefed.
Now comes my real gripe: No posted signs or any written policy concerning weapons, that I am aware of, can be found on the property or web site. There are “No Smoking” signs posted everywhere around the entrance to the place but nothing about weapons. So, is the security guy blowing smoke? Is there a written policy or is just some offended nurse who does not like guns making noise and the security people then making her feel “saaafe.”
The security guy said that there is going to be signs. I will give them a month and then drive by and check it out. I am also going to give Mr. Groner III, Chief Legal Counsel and compliance officer a call today to see if there is any written policy about weapons.
I do not know how far I want to push this button but it does irritate me that they have people enforcing rules and regulations that do not know what the laws are.
What I would like to do is give them a month to post their signs and then if there are no signs stage a rally at the cafeteria with about 50 men and women carrying weapons in the open to see what they would do.
I guess it really does not matter all that much because I had to leave again to pick up SO’s prescriptions, put a shirt on and had the weapon inside the waist band and the security guy just looked at me. I know he wanted to ask but he knew better. I would have told him, “It is none his business what is inside my pants and he ain’t goin’ there without or with, for that matter, a warrant.”
The other fact is that I really have no other business at the hospital. So what is the point?
I am in Gresham, people, so do feel all alone. I have been carrying open for quite sometime now. I have been in the following with no problem:
Home Depot
Walmart
Safeway
Carl's Jr.
Les Scwabb
Gresham DMV--The lady said my gun waswas supposed to be concealed. I said, "WHAT?????" She never answered.
Lowes
Platt
Latus Harley Davidson
Fred Myers
Numerous Gas Stations
I do get a few questions anda lot of fun conversations.
I also ride a Harley Davidson. I get some good looks when I am at a stop sign.
I have been wanting to go to this biker bar but you know, alcohol and guns just do not mix....and I never leave home without a .45;I have two. So, no bars for me at the moment.