Posted on 11/20/2010 7:12:25 AM PST by marktwain
Kind of a long read but I like to be as accurate as I can be. I hope you enjoy.
I have been going to the same branch of US bank here in Henderson for about a year now. I know all the tellers there pretty well. I have a business account with them along with a personal account. One of the tellers there (lets call her Jane) has made some comments in the past about me open carrying. Things along the lines of "I didn't know you could go into a bank with a gun". I'm old school when it comes to banking, especially with the business account and I go to the bank about twice a week (yes I know I should do it online but I like a paper trail). She is the only one who has ever come off somewhat negative about be OC'ing.
A few days ago I showed up with some checks to deposit and got Jane as my teller. She informed me that they would be having some big wigs in next week for a bank wide audit and that I will be asked to not OC in there because I am breaking federal law since all banks are considered federal land since they are FDIC insured.I asked if she was certain about that to which she replied "yes I know for a fact that it is against the law"..um it took me about 30 seconds to wrap my head around what she had just said.
I try very hard to be polite and mellow when I OC but what she said really hit a nerve for some reason. So this is how I responded. I asked her to pull up my account to take out $1000.00 and for her to take $1000.00 from her account. I then said that we would go to the DA's office or to the police station the next day and if she or any government agency or worker could point to a law on the books stating that OC'ing in a private bank was in and of itself illegal I would give her the $1000.00 if not I would get her $1000.00.
She paused for a second clearly flustered at my offer and said she declined. She then stated that well maybe it wasn't against any law but it was without a doubt corporate policy. I then asked her if she had a copy of the corporate policy in the bank. She said she didn't.
The next day when i got to work I did some searching trying to get in writing where US bank stands on the issue. After a few phone calls I had a customer service rep tell me that it was against the law in the state of Nevada to enter a bank with a gun.. /facepalm. I then asked if he could confirm corporate policy on the issue. After a few minutes on hold he returned to say that i could not OC because of security issues. I asked if he could fax or email this to me along with him name and signature. He declined but promised to have someone call me in the next couple days.
My father went to the bank tonight to transfer my sister some cash for college and Jane was working. He informed her I was trying to get a hold of corporate to confirm her statements. He was kinda making a scene about it laughing with the other tellers asking them if they knew what their policy was. She backed down again telling him that it was not their policy but her personal opinion because she had seen a customer in line shoot another customer before and it was such a traumatic experience for her that she believes nobody should ever go into a bank with a firearm.
Maybe I should have handled it a little nicer but like I said before, when someone tells you that you cannot exercise your fundamental inalienable Rights, I tend to get a little pissed off. I mean, what if she had said I could not wear a cross around my neck, or a t-shirt with a political statement on it? Anyways just another random OC encounter for you guys to read.
Update
I got a call from Russ yesterday. He has worked their for 30 years and is in charge of security here in Vegas. I told him what had happened and he was cringing on the phone when I told him about her law skills. He said the official corporate position is to "prefer" customers not openly carry. A teller should NEVER mention the firearm especially in a negative light and to also refrain from passing off any opinions as fact or law, or to engage in politically hot topics while other customers are in line. If a teller has any concerns she should call security AFTER the customer has finished his business, to discuss any legal matters. Russ was very helpful. He stated he was pro gun and apologized for the tellers actions.
After work I went to the store to grab some food and walked by the bank and figured I would engage her in conversation again. I told her I had spoken with Russ but did not mention any names. She said she knew Russ and he was a cool guy. She said she would not have cared if I said her name because she KNEW she did nothing wrong! Christ on a stick, this chick "KNOWS" a lot of things! Anyways I started reading from their handbook about not engaging in political talk or matters of law to customers. She started getting a little pissed off and defensive at this point. She then said "well I know it is corporate policy to help customers even if they have a gun, but I have the right to refuse service if I am uncomfortable and make you wait for another teller!" /facepalm
I come along these types of people all the time. The God complex mentality of "I AM NEVER WRONG!" I could push the issue even more and maybe get her fired or at least written up. I won't do that for a couple reasons. I think she has learned her lesson and won't be saying anything to an OC'er in the future and the other reason is now she has to see me OC every time I get groceries and do some banking!!
“Or you could just be thankful that when the sun came up this morning you were on top of the grass and not below it. A rapid glance up and a silent ‘thank you’ will be heard by the One responsible for that.”
It is good advice. I was being a little sarcastic, which I try to avoid. Thanks for the sanity check.
This should be easily verifiable if true...did you determine whether this was just another lie?
“This should be easily verifiable if true...did you determine whether this was just another lie?”
It might not be too hard to verify if I knew the identity of the clerk. However, as I simply posted the article written by another, I do not have that information.
On my bank's online system, I can click on a check and get an image of both the front and back. Perhaps you should check out other banks?
Sorry - I misread and thought it was a first person account...
You are correct. It is a first person account. It is just not my first person account. ;-)
Or, for that matter, to allow Jews or Negroes into that same place of business.
Actually, I'm torn about that as well. I believe that property rights are inviolate, as long as the actions of the property owner doesn't hurt others: For instance, if a property owner wants to bury toxic waste on his property, if there's a chance that the waste will leech into the soil hurting others, or damaging the property of others, then they should not be allowed to do it.
On the other hand, if a business wants to exclude people based on race, ethnicity, etc, they should be able to do so. Of course, it's well within the rights of those who have been excluded to protest, and "make a stink" about it, effectively putting the moron business owner a "former business owner."
Oh, btw, I'm Jewish, and there have been a number of situations where it was made very clear that I was not welcome when it was learned I was Jewish.
Mark
Oh, btw, I'm Jewish, and there have been a number of situations where it was made very clear that I was not welcome when it was learned I was Jewish.
You would be welcomed in the Kehoe household.
5.56mm
If shooting random fellow customers because you're feeling bored while standing in line is wrong, then I don't wanna be right!
Jane... my teller... informed me that they would be having some big wigs in next week for a bank wide audit and that I will be asked to not OC in there because I am breaking federal law since all banks are considered federal land since they are FDIC insured... "yes I know for a fact that it is against the law" ...She then stated that well maybe it wasn't against any law but it was without a doubt corporate policy... She backed down again telling him that it was not their policy but her personal opinion because she had seen a customer in line shoot another customer before and it was such a traumatic experience for her that she believes nobody should ever go into a bank with a firearm.Miss Hathaway ping. Thanks marktwain.
LOL!
Oh, btw, I'm not, but as a former Machalnik and veteran of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, it's amusing how many liberal Jews despised me and did their best to sink my career.
Didn't work, and I'm retired now. Mostly.
Thank you for putting your life on the line for Israel. To be honest, I don't find it amusing in the least bit, and it happens far too often. I don't understand leftist Jews, either here in the US or in Israel, and some of the most liberal I know are my cousins who live in Jerusalem. I just don't get it, but they're foursquare against the fence and any military action that retaliates against muslim and arab aggression. I just don't get it.
But then it's people like yourself who allowed people like my cousins to have such crazy ideas (and their lives) and for that I thank you, though they would probably curse you.
Mark
However, I would remind you of the observation of one very wise observer:
“Francesco Sforza became Duke of Milan from being a private citizen because he was armed; his sons, since they avoided the inconveniences of arms, became private citizens after having been duke. For, among the other bad effects it causes, being disarmed makes you despised; this is one of those infamies a prince should guard himself against”
--Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince [p.36, in my copy]
Fascinating. Thank you for all your hard work. FRegards ....
First mistake is doing business with US Bank. Bunch of lying jack$$es.
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