MickeyBlueEyes
Sharpshooter
Well, I had yet another fine example of why CO's should be able to have their private weapons in their vehicles while the vehicle is just sitting on state ground where we work.
I was driving home from work on the 9th, going down scatterfield in anderson. I had stopped on the south end of town, looking for some cupcakes for my son's birthday. I was going to hit another grocery on the north end of town, which is on the way home. I was driving through a green light and had a van pull out 15 feet in front of me from a yield turn. My Reaction was to just flick my brights. The van pulled out smack dab in front of me and then stayed in my lane of travel, in a four lane situation. I hit my brights, and suddenly the van realized that there wasn't much distance between us and got over, and sped up. I passed by in the slow lane. The van had a female passenger and a male driver, unknown if there were kids in the back, because the windows were tinted. I kept driving. I was talking to my dad, who shares my son's birthday, wishing him an early birhtday since this was 6 am. I traveled a little under a mile after this incident and I pulled into the left lane with plenty of room, probably a 1/4 mile between me and the van. I had to get over for the grocery coming up on the left. The van sped up, and started flashing me. I didn't think anything of it, because I was getting off the road to go to the grocery. I noticed the van was tailgating me into the parking lot and pulled into the handicapped spot next to the place my DAV gold plate lets me park. I rolled down the window, wondering if there was a tire going flat or something and maybe this van was being a good samaritan. I often flag down people with gas caps open or whole tail light banks not working, and pass the word so that they can be safe. I asked the driver if he was OK. He actually started yelling at me and calling me a bi&c@ ass CO, and complaining about me flashing him, because he had a yield sign and all, and then started to get out of the vehicle. He came over to my truck window and I was still on the phone with my dad, so I told him this might go south and I would like at least an audible witness. I had never seen or met this former convict at any of the facilities that I worked at. I was going through my mind what I could possibly protect myself with, and came up with BUTKISS... I can't use my OC spray from work, and I don't have a gun to use, because the parking lot law has an exemption for Penal Facilities. We will get fired, no questions asked, if the administration finds out we are breaking this policy. So, I began to get pissed off about it, and I told the guy, who was yelling at me and pushing on my passenger door, and shoving my window, that this wouldn't be a good idea today. I only had a framing axe, and I doubt that him being a pissed off former felon that had road rage would have qualified me for use of a framing axe in hand to hand. He got really pissed off, and shoved my truck and told me how big of a bi@c% I was because I was a CO and I was so afraid of inmates on the street. I was pissed, because I have had to smash little f@ckers like him, for the state for over ten years. I didn't want to get out of the truck and have a fight. Not on my son's birthday. I just wanted to buy some cupcakes.
I ended up talking to my dad for about an hour after I got home, working down the adrenaline dump. I then decided to call my state reps and leave messages for them describing the incident and how innappropriate it is to have us as CO's dealing with the armpits and buttholes of society, with no means to defend ourselves from road rage, because I was in uniform... and the state legislature, that sees fit to thumb their noses about a federal no gun zone for indiana schools, can't protect people in harms way.
If you are a power plant employee, I'm sure you can sympathize with me. If you are a state DOC, You know exactly what I'm talking about.
My disclaimer, before I get fired for ranting about a parking lot exemption for penal facilities. I don't represent the Indiana DOC in any way and am not discussing any work related issue. This is an outside of work issue that follows home anybody that wears a uniform to and from work.
So, My question, after the incident, is why should I not have the same inalienable rights that every other state citizen has? I didn't take an oath of enlistment, and I am not a sworn peace officer. I am just an employee. Somehow, the 2nd ammendment of the federal constitution and the 33rd article of the indiana State Constitution don't apply. How is it that I am a second class citizen, even after Military service?
I was driving home from work on the 9th, going down scatterfield in anderson. I had stopped on the south end of town, looking for some cupcakes for my son's birthday. I was going to hit another grocery on the north end of town, which is on the way home. I was driving through a green light and had a van pull out 15 feet in front of me from a yield turn. My Reaction was to just flick my brights. The van pulled out smack dab in front of me and then stayed in my lane of travel, in a four lane situation. I hit my brights, and suddenly the van realized that there wasn't much distance between us and got over, and sped up. I passed by in the slow lane. The van had a female passenger and a male driver, unknown if there were kids in the back, because the windows were tinted. I kept driving. I was talking to my dad, who shares my son's birthday, wishing him an early birhtday since this was 6 am. I traveled a little under a mile after this incident and I pulled into the left lane with plenty of room, probably a 1/4 mile between me and the van. I had to get over for the grocery coming up on the left. The van sped up, and started flashing me. I didn't think anything of it, because I was getting off the road to go to the grocery. I noticed the van was tailgating me into the parking lot and pulled into the handicapped spot next to the place my DAV gold plate lets me park. I rolled down the window, wondering if there was a tire going flat or something and maybe this van was being a good samaritan. I often flag down people with gas caps open or whole tail light banks not working, and pass the word so that they can be safe. I asked the driver if he was OK. He actually started yelling at me and calling me a bi&c@ ass CO, and complaining about me flashing him, because he had a yield sign and all, and then started to get out of the vehicle. He came over to my truck window and I was still on the phone with my dad, so I told him this might go south and I would like at least an audible witness. I had never seen or met this former convict at any of the facilities that I worked at. I was going through my mind what I could possibly protect myself with, and came up with BUTKISS... I can't use my OC spray from work, and I don't have a gun to use, because the parking lot law has an exemption for Penal Facilities. We will get fired, no questions asked, if the administration finds out we are breaking this policy. So, I began to get pissed off about it, and I told the guy, who was yelling at me and pushing on my passenger door, and shoving my window, that this wouldn't be a good idea today. I only had a framing axe, and I doubt that him being a pissed off former felon that had road rage would have qualified me for use of a framing axe in hand to hand. He got really pissed off, and shoved my truck and told me how big of a bi@c% I was because I was a CO and I was so afraid of inmates on the street. I was pissed, because I have had to smash little f@ckers like him, for the state for over ten years. I didn't want to get out of the truck and have a fight. Not on my son's birthday. I just wanted to buy some cupcakes.
I ended up talking to my dad for about an hour after I got home, working down the adrenaline dump. I then decided to call my state reps and leave messages for them describing the incident and how innappropriate it is to have us as CO's dealing with the armpits and buttholes of society, with no means to defend ourselves from road rage, because I was in uniform... and the state legislature, that sees fit to thumb their noses about a federal no gun zone for indiana schools, can't protect people in harms way.
If you are a power plant employee, I'm sure you can sympathize with me. If you are a state DOC, You know exactly what I'm talking about.
My disclaimer, before I get fired for ranting about a parking lot exemption for penal facilities. I don't represent the Indiana DOC in any way and am not discussing any work related issue. This is an outside of work issue that follows home anybody that wears a uniform to and from work.
So, My question, after the incident, is why should I not have the same inalienable rights that every other state citizen has? I didn't take an oath of enlistment, and I am not a sworn peace officer. I am just an employee. Somehow, the 2nd ammendment of the federal constitution and the 33rd article of the indiana State Constitution don't apply. How is it that I am a second class citizen, even after Military service?