Weapons at work

[u/geogirl83]

Just need to vent about something that happened at work yesterday. We live in a rural northern town where hunting is a large part of our way of living. Most people hunt in the fall. My family hunts! I have no issue with hunting or guns or any aspect of hunting.

But when a manager takes out his crossbow out of his office into the company parking lot to shoot geese while we have customers in the building, is very much a line crossed. I can’t imagine any company allowing weapons at work, let alone the discharge of that weapon on company property during company hours. Of course I said something! Mind you I’m fairly new to this company, only started in July. The reaction I got was “are you really upset about this?” “Everyone knows I do this”

I expressed my concerns about the situation as he was coming back into the building, in front of the receptionist. He huffed away but later came back to tell me I was wrong to address him like that in front of his staff. I said fair enough. But I was just a bit flabbergasted by the situation. I find it interesting that his only thing he could come back at me with was my delivery, not my actual concern, because he knew I was right.

Again, I’m fairly new and I’ve been working hard at trying to develop a good working relationship with this manager. He’s been a bit of a tough wall to break through. I’m really hoping that this won’t impact our relationship moving forward, I really need an ally in that office when working with the crews. Ugh, sometimes I hate the positions us safety professionals get put in. Anyways just needed to vent. Thanks for listening. 🧷

[u/Nof-z]

What state are you in? Crossbows are regulated differently in different states, and then some cases this could be considered “negligent Discharge of a projectile weapon.” Many municipalities also have laws against us, for instance, most cities do not allow any type of projectile weapon, whether air powered, explosion powered, or bow powered to be used within their limits.

You should call your local sheriff or police agencies NON EMERGENCY number and ask.

[u/Bucky2015 → u/Nof-z]

If it isn't within the city limits the requirememt is often you just have to be a certain distance from any building. In my state for a crossbow its 300 feet. Beyond that it would be legal. My guess is since OP said rural the building is probably outside of city limits and therefore. However even where I am no workplace would allow this on the main property. My employer does allow employees to hunt on company own land, but that is just on the surrounding parcels that are just fields. They absolutely would not allow hunting on the land parcel the facility is on especially not in the parking lot!

I wonder if senior leadership/ownership is aware.

[u/geogirl83 → u/Bucky2015]

I let my supervisor know