The EMT finds your CC - Now What??!!

[blujax01]

Say you're in an accident, and during the rescue/examination, the EMT shows up and finds your gun strapped to your ankle/in an IWB/in your Thunderwear, whatever.

Or - you're admitted to the ER and the attending physician finds it.

What happens next? Anyone know?

This is important to anyone who carries because you never know when you may be in an accident. I for one would like to know what to expect.

 

[shield]

If you are still conscious and coherent, then you warn them you are armed and they should keep it secure like any other personal property. They'll likely let the police sort out any potential issues of legal carry for your situation.

If not conscious, then basically the same - let the police sort it out.

In in the ER, the physician will likely call security.

If you are legally carrying concealed, I don't see what the issue is, otherwise you've got problems.

 

[blujax01]

Shield you're probably right, as I am lawfully licensed I shouldn't worry. But when I regain consciousness I'd like to know where my gun got off to!

And is some hospital security person authorized to take my gun? I dunno.

 

[ColbyBruce]

On your person, I would expect it would be turned over to LEO's at the scene by the ditch doctors, who would likely find it when they start in treating you.

If it is in your vehicle, it will likely disappear once the vehicle is towed to a repair facility or wrecking yard. I had a Ruger bull barrel pistol stolen that way about twenty years ago.

 

[tops]

A word to the wise: Be sure you get the name of the person that takes your gun and have a witness. If you are unconscious, good luck. Larry

 

[CO_Kid]

The county I work in uses a private ambulance company for all transports. They will not take guns or knives on the bus.

If someone who knows you is nearby to take possession, that's what will happen.

If not, they call us and it'll be stored in the police evidence building as personal property until you go get it.

 

[P&R Fan]

If you want to know what happens in Chicago watch the first part of the movie U.S Marshals.
Didn't go too good for Wesley Snipes' character in that one.
Jim

 

[blujax01]

If you want to know what happens in Chicago watch the first part of the movie U.S Marshals.
Didn't go too good for Wesley Snipes' character in that one.
Jim

Things ain't going too well for Wesley either. His release date is sometime next year!
(What is it with rich types and taxes?)

CO Kid/Colby Bruce/Tops et al, thanks for the tips!

 

[dereksfl]

Wesley Snipesis in jail for tax evasion, so much for his future gun rights. He is now a convicted felon.

 

[GaryS]

I'm going to cut and paste my answer to a recent similar thread on another shooters forum. Keep in mind that this answer is MA specific and specific to my agency as well.

My only addition to this post is that the attending physician will likely be the LAST person to see you in the ER, not the first. You'd have been disrobed and the firearm found well before he or she lays eyes on you.

Here is what I wrote a few months ago.

There's another thread on this somewhere. No, the EMTs do not have to stop what they are doing until the police secure the gun. Some might, but they don't have to. What we do if the person is incapacitated, is remove the weapon and hold it until the police show up. If the police aren't assigned to the call, we request that they meet us at the hospital so they can secure it. The hospital security staff will not secure your weapon for you.

The policy at my agency is that we do not search wallets for ID. The hospitals will, the cops will, but we won't. I don't know what other agencies do.

We don't particularly care if you have an LTC or not, that's the police business.

To forestall the inevitable question, the police will not arrest an EMT for possession if he doesn't have an LTC. Cops generally like EMTs because we fix problems for them and make their jobs easier.

 

[retarmyaviator]

Say you're in an accident, and during the rescue/examination, the EMT shows up and finds your gun strapped to your ankle/in an IWB/in your Thunderwear, whatever.

Or - you're admitted to the ER and the attending physician finds it.

What happens next? Anyone know?

This is important to anyone who carries because you never know when you may be in an accident. I for one would like to know what to expect.

If I end up needing the services of an EMT or a ER doctor having a firearm on me will be the least of my concerns.

 

[chief38]

I would assume that they would contact the local PD and one of their Officers would come and pick it up. No differently than if it was a sick LEO.

 

[WNC Seabee]

I was in the ER recently with this problem. I walked in not thinking about the j frame in my pocket while I thought I was having a heart attack. I got rushed into a room, hooked up to all sorts of equipment and several pokey things stuck in me in about 2.5 minutes of walking in the door. They rolled in a mobile x-ray and the nurse asked, " got anything metal in your pockets?"... That's when I had my "uh oh" moment. My wife was with me, I told the muse, "ummm.....can I have a minute alone with my wife?". Nurse said, "we don't have time....whatcha got?". I whispered to her...without missing a beat she says, "is a hell of a lot of paperwork if I know that. I'll be back in 15 seconds.". She stepped out, j frame went into wife's purse and all was well.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[arjay]

Smart nurse.

 

[SAFireman]

If I'm the EMT, you can come pick it up at the station later, or I'll give it to your wife/husband/(life partner???) or you can come pick it up at the station when you get out.....if your a known felon, well then...you're not going far after the ER visit

 

[MichiganScott]

I was in the ER recently with this problem. I walked in not thinking about the j frame in my pocket while I thought I was having a heart attack. I got rushed into a room, hooked up to all sorts of equipment and several pokey things stuck in me in about 2.5 minutes of walking in the door. They rolled in a mobile x-ray and the nurse asked, " got anything metal in your pockets?"... That's when I had my "uh oh" moment. My wife was with me, I told the muse, "ummm.....can I have a minute alone with my wife?". Nurse said, "we don't have time....whatcha got?". I whispered to her...without missing a beat she says, "is a hell of a lot of paperwork if I know that. I'll be back in 15 seconds.". She stepped out, j frame went into wife's purse and all was well.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

In Michigan, possession in a hospital is a misdemeanor that will get your permit suspended. If you are conscious, you need to do everything you can not to have it on you. The police will be called and the pistol will be confiscated.

 

[blujax01]

In Michigan, possession in a hospital is a misdemeanor that will get your permit suspended. If you are conscious, you need to do everything you can not to have it on you. The police will be called and the pistol will be confiscated.

As comedian Ron White said: "After the bouncer tossed me into the street I was arrested for being drunk in public. I didn't want to be drunk in public - I wanted to be drunk in a bar. They should arrest the bouncer!"

This is the root of the question. Would I really be cited for carrying in a hospital if I were in an accident? There has to be an exception.

 

[cracker57]

good post I will be watching this one.
Cracker

 

[giddyupsut]

gone

I'd say my firearm would probably be in the same place as all of the money that was in my wallet. Gone forever!
Sorry for making some mad but....I've heard a lot of complaints about missing property after accidents.

 

[blujax01]

I've been lurking in an EMT forum and got some interesting insight.

Raleigh, NC: "I would take temporary possession of the firearm if the patient was unconscious and the police refused to take it and turn it over to hospital security, as the patient can't carry them in the hospital anyways. If the patient is conscious, I would advise them that they will not be able to take their firearm into the hospital and request that a security officer meet us at the entrance to take possession of the weapon until the patient is discharged."

Florida: "If we run into something like that we just call for the Police take it. If the patient is critical and I just happen to see it, then I drop it a little distance in a slightly concealed area (back seat of a car, under a coffee table, so on ) and if I see it as a possible high threat in the future, I'm comfortable enough with most guns to discharge the clip and clear the chamber. If there is a gun on scene and no PD, we either withdraw if there is a threat, or call for PD and keep the patient (as inconspicuously as possible) away from the weapon. Make sure you document! And Let PD / Dispatch know about it!"

Texas: "Generally it takes a month or two for LE to get onboard with concealed weapon protocol. I would be very hesitant to take possession of a loaded fire arm unless there was just absolutely no other way of dealing with. Obviously you don't want to leave a firearm sitting on the side of the road, but maybe locking it in the patients trunk could be an option. Your LE will get onboard eventually once they get over the initial "we don't wanna deal with it" phase."

San Diego: "Leave it on scene? That's even more stupid than pulling it out of the holster in the first place. It should be in SOMEBODY'S possession at all times."

After about three pages it disintegrates into a 2A firestorm and by page 9 gets shut down. From what I read, there is no consensus. The best one can hope for is a smart EMT who is not freaked out about guns.