Gun in parking lots

Lawmakers Look At New Gun Bill - Nashville News Story - WSMV Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The next gun showdown in the Tennessee Legislature may involve your workplace parking lot.

A House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Tuesday on a bill that would prohibit companies from banning guns in locked cars on company property.

Several large businesses, including FedEx and Bridgestone, testified that this bill would work against policies they have put in place to ensure a safe workplace for their employees.

Gun owners also testified in front of the committee, saying that current policies prohibiting weapons in the parking lot leave them vulnerable to crimes, including carjackings.

The bill could be considered in the upcoming legislative session, which starts in January.

I hope it gets passed.
http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics...-parking-lots/
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB1724.pdf - It looks like it was supposed to be passed arlready, or at least thats what it says at the bottom of the PDF.

This needs to go through and quickly.

Besides the obvious writing to my state reps, I want to help get this passed. My employer has a prohibiting policy.

Originally Posted by jeffjeeptj

Besides the obvious writing to my state reps, I want to help get this passed. My employer has a prohibiting policy.

So does mine.

Originally Posted by redbarron06

So does mine.

Mine also, only problem being that they could just find another reason to terminate you.

Not quite that easy for me as I work for the Tennessee DOD. It is a union contract even though we dont have to be in the union. All they do right now is send a letter to my CO, not even my full time boss but my weekend commander. This law would only forbid them from doing that. I have already talked to the head of the base security and showed him the law and the AG opinion and that the posting on the base did not meat the minimum to ban firarms. if it did they would have to stop teaching civilian courses on the range. He told me that all they do is right up a report that only goes to my captian and secure the gun until I leave for the day. So this law would just mean that they could not secure my gun from me.

Originally Posted by bubbiesdad

Mine also, only problem being that they could just find another reason to terminate you.

My co-worker said the same thing!

I hate this right on right violence!
On the one hand I'm down with the notion that individuals are entitled to carry weapons. You have a right to defend yourself and such.

On the other hand the employer has rights as well. If the employer wants no firearms on his property then that is the employers right, right? For example I have every right to stand on the street corner and spout my philosophy to those who use sidewalk. Incidentally my philosophy is that someone should sell me a mosin nagant in Knoxville and let me shoot hogs on their land, but if I did that in a Dunkin Donuts I would expect them to ask me to leave.

So this seems like a battle of rights, who has the right on private property? I would generally side with the owner of private property. It is, after all, their property. Just because it is my right doesn't mean I get to infringe on their right. You have the option not to work there so it isn't like your right is actually being taken away.

All that said, if they want you gone they'll find a reason and if you leave your gun in your car they will likely never know. I've never worked at a place that included car inspections.

Be smart and I'll bet you never have to worry.

Interesting debate today - watched the 90 minute video. Stewart, Sontenay and Coleman...well, 'nuff said. Fincher was a strong proponent and made a point that many just don't seem to get - a sign is not going to stop bad things. Watson was trying to see both sides, and Dennis was really struggling with the property rights angle (he had some other good ideas RE liability immunity, the ridiculousness of some of the Chamber guy's statements, etc). The presenter from Chamber of Commerce vastly overstated some of the employer actions that he said would be required (more guards, cameras, gates). FedEx wanted to use the shock-n-awe approach with their video of the plane hijack (which, BTW, did not involve a firearm, and was clearly premeditated), but failed to demonstrate how the proposed legislature would reasonably be expected to facilitate such happenings (again, the sign thing). Every one of the opponents all lumped possession in a locked vehicle to possession within their facilities. The comments from the FedEx employee (Cooper) were spot on...wonder if he still has a job tomorrow after basically calling the PR dude on the carpet.... Evans finished the session by ripping the industry speakers for bringing info he characterized as blatantly incorrect, and as just putting on a show...but, he then said he does not plan to move this bill in the next session

All that said, it will be thorny as the legislature finds itself struggling to strike a balance between 2nd amendment rights and property rights...Mr. Fincher's comments about protecting RTKBA between your front door and the parking lot hopefully will be heeded.

Interesting too was Fincher's statement that Tenn was the third most violent state in the US...