[spunkets]

" It seems to me that, if an employee consented to the search as part of the terms of employment, then no deprivation is occurring."

The economic concern makes it an extortion of employee rights per 18USC241.

" I understood the policy to be in part because guns in a locked car are readily retrievable "

They're just as retrievable as any kept at home, or in vehicles parked outside the gate. Criminals have already demonstrated that. Normal folks(gun owners) have already demonstated beyond a reasonable doubt, that they don't consider shooting folks at work valid, and don't do it either.

[NittanyLion]

The economic concern makes it an extortion of employee rights per 18USC241.

That seems like a bit of a stretch. IMHO you can't extort someone out of earning your own money.

They're just as retrievable as any kept at home, or in vehicles parked outside the gate. Criminals have already demonstrated that. Normal folks(gun owners) have already demonstated beyond a reasonable doubt, that they don't consider shooting folks at work valid, and don't do it either.

I would agree. That said, I suspect some would make the analogy to a waiting period; by the time you get home and retrieve the gun you've had time to cool down. (I don't agree with waiting periods either.)