Had to go to the ER today, Had to hide the gun.

[havegunjoe]

Ended up going to the ER today with some chest pains. As I had a heart attack 7 years ago it had me worried but it turned out to be some kind of inflammation. Noting to worry about. Anyway I drove to the ER section but because of construction they had some kids parking your car. I couldn't get my carry gun out and in the car safe with this kid handing over me so I took my chances and brought it into the clinic. They have a sign on the main entrance but not on the ER side so from a legal standpoint it doesn't count but still their intention is clear.

Anyway I was in pain and really didn't care anyway. When I went into the examination room the nurse told me to take off my shirt. I turned with my weak side facing her and very stealthily drew my gun and put it in my pants pocket. Nobody was the wiser. I wouldn't recommend this, I always disarm as I know how they feel there but It just wasn't practical this time. Don't know how I managed this but it was a smooth move if I say so myself.

As for my chest pain the Dr. gave me some anti-inflammatory meds and they seem to be working. Should be back to work tomorrow.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[cmidkiff]

Glad it was nothing serious, hope you are feeling better soon.

I pocket carry, so I'd be able to leave it alone in this situation, but I'd try to lock it up, as I'm sure you would have, given the chance. Valet parking at the ER? That's a first for me!

[P95Carry]

Glad you took the wise decision to get checked out Joe - and good too nothing too major.

That smooth move sounds most effective

[QKShooter]

They don't call you havegunjoe for nothin' -
Mighty Slick Move.

Glad that it was nothing more serious.

QKShooter Medical Advice. Take an extra day off if possible. Rest/relax...for a day.
Let the med work. Give the body have a chance to heal up a bit.

[GarySlinger]

I was going to start a separate thread and post this, but here's a perfectly good, and appropriate place to post, so here we go...

I also had to take a little ambulance ride last weekend - sat at a restaurant for dinner (my birthday, yet! :)) I almost lost consciousness; in retrospect, having seen my doc and a specialist, it would appear that I inadvertently overdosed on my blood-pressure medicine. "no biggie" in the long run, but "exciting" at the time.

Anyways, that's not the focus.

Ambulance turns up. First two questions I get: "Are you a deputy?" and having answered "no", "Are you armed?". I guess that'll happen when you're wearing pepper foam, a Surefire and a spare magazine on the belt... (Aside: I favor open-carry, but it's not legal here. I elect to open-carry my spare magazine, more often than not. I'm aware of the arguments...). So, the paramedics check me out (good job guys, seriously). Blood pressure through the floor, heart-rate around 40... They persuade me that we're going to Hospital.

So, we're in the ambulance. As we're getting in, one of them says that I'll have to disarm - can't take the weapon in the ambulance or the hospital. By this time, I'm feeling OK - tired, embarassed, etc., but OK - so I quite readily say "no worries; let me clear it and pass it off to my friend, and she can lock it up in the car". Nothing doing... Paramedic says they've already called a deputy to disarm me. Say what?! We spend around 20 minutes in the ambulance, doing the usual sort of things - BP check, hook me up to a cardiac monitor, start an IV. Nothing like having some new experiences on my birthday ;)

20 minutes pass, and the deputies turn up. One stays in the cruiser, the other comes around and comes in the ambulance behind me, to my left. And we have a little conversation:

Dep: Hello sir.
Me: Hello deputy.
D: I'll take the magazine first, OK?
Me: sure
(he does)
D: And the weapon?
Me: Right side, inside pants, loaded and ready, no external safety (said I was feeling better, didn't I?!)
(deputy clears my shirt)
D: OK, straight up pull?
Me: Yep
(he takes the weapon)
D: Thanks. Good luck sir.
Me: Buh-bye

(Actually, I may have said "cocked and locked", as I've been carrying a 1911 recently, but he got the point. I had an XD40 service in a Galco Skyops)

After I got back to my friends place when everything was done, I found the XD in a bag in her car, slide locked, both magazines, and the chambered round, all sat there waiting for me.

So, it all worked out - went quite smoothly. It does, though, make me wonder what the procedures are if they take an unconscious (as I nearly was) patient in that's armed. I more or less understand why they wouldn't let me clear the weapon in the ambulance, although by the time we sat in the ambulance, I was clear, calm and lucid, so it shouldn't have been an issue.

Interestingly, at no point was I asked for the CCW. Neither by the paramedics (which is fair, I wouldn't expect it), nor by the deputy. Not that I'm complaining or anything, just observing. Nothing got said at the hospital about the foam, or the folder that was in my pants pocket. I didn't feel the need to bring it up, either :)

Heading off to the hospital, I'm on the gurney, looking out the back window. The paramedic beside me happens to ask if my friend was following us to the hospital. "Yes", says I. "That's her, following ten feet behind the ambulance, smoking a cigarette!".

He laughed.

So ends the story. Greetings from an ex-pat Englishman now happily ensconced in Tampa, Florida, and carrying everywhere he isn't legally prohibited from doing so.

[artz]

Whew Joe...that was stealthy of you in the ER, Good job !
Glad to hear all was well...I know how you feel on those heart attacks. Just too scary...

[Wayne]

our hospitals have the "no guns" signs but they don't mean anything and they cannot refuse service or have it removed if found. If they called the LEO's here they would have been told, "So, it's legal". Now, if it were an emergency and I wasn't able to secure it (unload, etc..) then the LEO's would have come out.

Glad to hear both of you are okay :) .

Wayne

[P95Carry]

Gary - from another ex pat Brit, now a proud American - glad it shaped up as well as it obviously did.

Another chapter to add to the panoply of CCW experiences!

[havegunjoe]

Very interesting GarySlinger. I don't know what they do here in MN, and I hope I never find out the hard way. I wonder if they would have delayed departure if you were conciensce but critical? Seems like a long wait and I hope you aren't charged extra for the wait time. Glad to hear you too had nothing seriously wrong.

[GarySlinger]

Seems like a long wait and I hope you aren't charged extra for the wait time. Glad to hear you too had nothing seriously wrong.

Well, they used the wait productively, hooking me up to an IV and such; a detail I didn't mention was while my BP crashed, I also went from bone dry to wringing wet with sweat in under ten seconds; completely dumped all the available water in my system, it seemed. Getting rehydrated was a biggie. As for charge - no charge at all. Hillsborough County, Florida; I don't know how it works elsewhere. I had a co-pay for the ER, but I was expecting that, but nothing at all for ambulance service; I had the firefighter/paramedic response team, rather than any particular private service, if that makes a difference (still adjusting to some aspects of American life...).

Appreciate the final thought. All's well that ends well.

G.

[GarySlinger]

Gary - from another ex pat Brit, now a proud American - glad it shaped up as well as it obviously did.

Another chapter to add to the panoply of CCW experiences!

Freedom's grand, ain't it? Eligible for citizenship in 2010, or 2008 if I marry. We'll see...

[artz]

Well...your around the right place. What could be better...getting your citizenship earlier by marrying a rich woman...

[kikr]

Glad it ended well on both counts.

BTW love your quote.