NRA's Guns-At-Work Bill Takes Aim At Property Rights

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Tampa Tribune

NRA's Guns-At-Work Bill Takes Aim At Property Rights
The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 27, 2008

Lacking the spine to challenge the National Rifle Association, state legislators instead are trying to sugarcoat a "Guns at Work" bill that would make it a crime for businesses to prohibit workers from keeping guns in their cars on company property.

This is the third straight year that the NRA has pushed the measure, which is vigorously opposed by Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Retail Federation and other business groups.

One of the few measures the gun-rights organization has failed to shoot through the Legislature, the NRA is determined to triumph this time.

Bradenton Republican Sen. Michael Bennett, trying to appease the NRA and business organizations, proposes a law that would free an employer of liability should an employee open fire at work. The House passed a similar version Wednesday with a few exemptions, such as for schools and nuclear plants.




Read more: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/27/na-nras-guns-at-work-bill-takes-aim-at-property-ri/

[sharesunited]

1. Translating the NRA-think

this is supposed to make it easier for co-workers to shoot back when one of their own goes berserk.

Instead, we should be making it more difficult for the berserk to get guns.

[Upfront]

9. And my enlightened friend

how has that worked out?

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Wonder how much insurance rates will increase in Florida to pay for all those car break-ins after

this bill is passed?

[benEzra]

7. It has always been legal to have a gun locked in your car in Florida...

same as in most other states. The only thing that has changed recently is that some employers have been aggressively searching vehicles in publicly accessible lots, which is new (the original case was Weyerhauser sweeping the parking lot on the first day of hunting season and summarily firing anyone who did not consent to having their car searched, or who had a firearm locked in the vehicle). The proposed new law would prevent that.

[jody]

3. Employees should be allowed to keep their firearms in their car if they believe a gun is needed for

self-defense going to and from work.

[9119495]

4. So a business owner has no property rights?

Can not a busy owner set the rules of their property as long as it doesn't violate the U.S. Constitution?

[Demeter]

5. Considering that Employees Going Postal Go After Management

I should THINK that management would object to arms in the workplace, even in the trucks of cars!

[DumpDavisHogg]

6. This editorial is way off base

It says: "Lawmakers have no business interfering with such private affairs."

OK, then what's next? Is the Tampa Tribune going to demand a repeal of environmental and labor laws? Is it going to demand a repeal of the minimum wage or laws against job discrimination?

Lawmakers do have business passing laws on what employers can do.

[jaybeat]

8. Newsflash--lots of "rights" don't exist in the workplace

The right to protection from search and seizure of personal property without probable cause.

The right to privacy of personal communications.

The right to freedom of speech.

The right to due process.

The right to confront an accuser.

The right to examine evidence against you.

The right to equal protection under company rules.

The right to have company rules and policies enforced uniformly.

The right to freedom from verbal abuse or harassment (unless sexual in nature).

Shall I go on?

They can't lock me in jail like the government can, but they can effectively deny me the ability to earn a living, without any of the rights or protections we take for granted in a legal situation.

There are a lot of non-existent employee rights that don't involve guns--I'll support an employee's right to legally posses *anything* in their car or anywhere else on company property, if we can address it as a part of a larger reinstatement of employee rights.

But I don't suppose that would generate the cards, letters, emails, phone calls and donations to the NRA that "They want to take away our guns!" will.

<Sigh>