Puerto Rico

[Hack]

Originally Posted by folgeradams

I find it amazing how things can differ from institution to institution because of the union. When I was at USP Lompoc the union was strong and now here at Springfield the union is good, but not as strong. I'll have to ask my union pres. about this. His response should be interesting.

I would like to hear that myself through you, if it's OK with you. I think the fellow in PR is right, we need to make this a union issue, including promoting the current bill in the US House for this.

[folgeradams]

Hack, I'll let you know what he has to say about it. We are on different shifts right now so I guess it is email time.

[eighty deuce]

It is almost guaranteed that the Director knows nothing about the gun lockers being provided for staff to store their weapons. Either that or he has made a pact with the Warden of the institution that if the word travels to other institutions and their respective Unions start demanding they get gun lockers like Puerto Rico, the Warden of Puerto Rico will pull the gun lockers. There is no reasonable explanation why Puerto Rico has gun lockers, and no other institution in the BOP has them. There are plenty of strong Unions out there that cannot get the gun lockers because the BOP refuses to negotiate on the matter. I am not spreading any ill will toward you glk40, I'm glad that you have the gun lockers. Every reasonable thinking individual knows that they are needed, but this thread may have opened up a can of worms. Every BOP staff member that reads this thread, and there are a lot, are going straight to their Union pres. and asking them why don't we have gun lockers? Puerto Rico does.

[Gaoler]

Originally Posted by eighty deuce

It is almost guaranteed that the Director knows nothing about the gun lockers being provided for staff to store their weapons. Either that or he has made a pact with the Warden of the institution that if the word travels to other institutions and their respective Unions start demanding they get gun lockers like Puerto Rico, the Warden of Puerto Rico will pull the gun lockers. There is no reasonable explanation why Puerto Rico has gun lockers, and no other institution in the BOP has them. There are plenty of strong Unions out there that cannot get the gun lockers because the BOP refuses to negotiate on the matter. I am not spreading any ill will toward you glk40, I'm glad that you have the gun lockers. Every reasonable thinking individual knows that they are needed, but this thread may have opened up a can of worms. Every BOP staff member that reads this thread, and there are a lot, are going straight to their Union pres. and asking them why don't we have gun lockers? Puerto Rico does.

Actually the fact that PR has gun lockers for the staff was mentioned in one of the myriad of bills proposed to institute gun lockers at all BOP facilities, so the cat is already out of the bag.

[folgeradams]

I finally received a reply from my local union pres. and he states:

The national is fighting hard on this, the BOP is not budging so we are getting the Congress and Senate involved trying to get legislation forcing the BOP to supply them. So far we are getting good support from the Congress and Senate so hopefully soon we will get it done..

Guess it will be a waiting game.

[Hack]

Well, it's good that the national org is fighting for us in this area. I hope that Congress acts on it soon and not keep this thing in subcommittee.

[Glkforty]

The Director is aware of the gun lockers. He's been here twice and there'snothing he can do about it. The gun lockers were built in the early 90's and EVRYBODY store their weapons there. I haven't seen the new warden yet, the last one did, but A/W's on down everybody uses the lockers. Very easy to use, nothing fancy and very affordable to build.

[Bobshouse]

I can see why their worried, honestly. We had an idiot carry a .38 from armed patrol all the way into the Lieutenant's office once....and yes, the Lieutenant's office is behind the grill in the main corridor of the institution. Of course back then we didn't have staff screening at the front entrance either, so maybe times have changed.

[nips96]

Ten years ago I would have never believed a story about a law that would allow BOP staff to carry off duty. Five years ago I would not have believed that a bill that provided for gun lockers would even have a fighting chance. Call me crazy, maybe I've been smelling wexcide to long, but I'm begining to think that I'll see the day when we are able to a carry a weapon to work (and possibly even openly instead of concealed). Taking the long-range into consideration, it does seem that things are headed that way, regardless of what the director wants.

[Hack]

Originally Posted by nips96

Ten years ago I would have never believed a story about a law that would allow BOP staff to carry off duty. Five years ago I would not have believed that a bill that provided for gun lockers would even have a fighting chance. Call me crazy, maybe I've been smelling wexcide to long, but I'm begining to think that I'll see the day when we are able to a carry a weapon to work (and possibly even openly instead of concealed). Taking the long-range into consideration, it does seem that things are headed that way, regardless of what the director wants.

I think in large part it's also going to depend on whom we have in the US Congress, and for whom we vote for president. I'm not so certain that we have a real good chance with the next president, given that there are people out there whom are disenchanted with both candidates. Perhaps I'm looking at things in a negative light.