why I ought'a ...
Posted on 07/08/2008 1:21:49 PM PDT by neverdem
Walt Disney World fired a security guard on Monday after he protested the company's decision not to allow people with concealed weapons permits to keep guns in their cars on Disney property.
Disney terminated Edwin Sotomayor, 36, of Orlando for violating three Disney employee policies, essentially for failing to cooperate with an internal investigation, said spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez. Sotomayor vowed to continue his fight.
At issue is Florida's new law that allows people with concealed weapons permits to keep firearms in their vehicles in employee parking lots.
Disney advised its employees late last month that the theme-park resort is exempt from that state law, and that they may not bring firearms onto the property. Disney stated that its gun policy is based on safety concerns for visitors and employees.
Sotomayor alerted local media last week that he intended to challenge Disney's claim of an exemption to the new law by bringing a gun to work, locked in his vehicle. When he showed up for work at Disney's Animal Kingdom on Friday, he declined to let Disney authorities search his car. Disney suspended him pending an investigation, then fired him Monday...
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Does anyone in Florida know the basis for this claim?
Is there really an exemption in the law, or is Disney just thinking they can outlast challengers in the courts?
No 3191 18.1%
I like cheese* 154 0.9%
*"I don't know" <--sheesh!
Disney has a lot of clout in Florida...should be interesting to see how this plays out.
No vacation dollars for Disney from my family.
I bet old Walt Disney must be spinning in his grave thinking what the lefties have done to his company.
With the recent Heller USSC decision, I wonder if this guy can sue Disney for violating his civil rights.
florida state law says then can. until disney is granted special circumstances to prevent it then they have to abide by the same state laws as everyone else. for to long disney has been calling their own shots. its time to play by the rules. what i do understand though is that this employee was fired before the new law went into effect. i would say he should have kept his mouth shut until the law went into effect then protested. i think his case may have had more strength.
Does Disney attempt to disarm its patrons ?
What other State laws is the Mouse exempt from?
Really? I’ve always heard it’s nothing but a Mickey Mouse operation.
Apparently the 4th Amendment is also an exemption on Disney property.
I carry all the time.
Who knows...I just know Disney is granted a lot of leeway because of the tourist money they bring in.
They should simply ignore this nonsense.
Theres an exemption for certain types of companies. Companies that manufacture explosives, schools and a few other things are exempt.
Disney is saying because they have a lot of fireworks that they are exempt.
From a Miami Herald article:
However, the bill states that property owned or leased by an employer who has a permit required by federal law to manufacture, use, store or move explosives would still be off limits. Disney has a permit for its fireworks shows.The loophole was lobbied for by a group of lawyers that represented groups and businesses that included Disney, The Orlando Sentinel reports.
Shannon McAleavey, Disney World Vice President of Public Affairs, said in the memo that, with some exceptions, ``this law does not apply to Walt Disney World Co. owned and leased properties.''
All of the parks prohibit their customers from carrying weapons. They search purses and sometimes fanny packs but don’t do pat downs. So if you have one in your pocket you are very unlikely to be searched.
However if they find you carrying inside the park they will charge you with trespass. In florida armed trespass is a felony.
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