Posted on 03/26/2009 1:43:46 PM PDT by Eaker
AUSTIN, Texas — Texans who love guns and pickup trucks with equal fervor could soon have the right to keep them together all the way into the company parking garage.
The Texas Senate gave unanimous approval to legislation Wednesday that would allow people to carry firearms to work and then store them in their parked vehicles outside. Businesses could still keep guns out of their offices and company-owned vehicles.
But the bill, a top priority of the National Rifle Association, would no longer let employers ban guns in company parking facilities — as long as they remain locked up inside an employee's vehicle.
"Here in Texas, people like their firearms," said Republican Sen. Glenn Hegar, author of the legislation. State law already allows Texans to carry concealed handguns in their vehicles, with some restrictions.
The bill drew criticism from business leaders, who called it an affront to property rights. Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business, warned that it could also spark more workplace gun crimes — particularly at a time when more and more people are losing their jobs.
"People could go out to their car, get their weapon and go after their supervisors or co-workers who hadn't been laid off," Hammond said.
Senators engaged in a sometimes lively debate, but — in a state where guns are generally pried away from cold dead fingers — not a single "no" vote was cast. Business groups are hoping to derail the legislation behind the scenes, but if it makes it to the House floor, passage is considered likely there, too.
The bill states that Texans carrying legal firearms, including concealed handguns, could store them in locked vehicles in company-owned parking lots.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
In New Mexico, the interior of one’s auto is considered “extended domain” or equivalent of one’s home. As long as the firearm stays inside, the property owner can’t say boo.
Two completely different titles in the same paper.
The joke? Star Wars reference? If so never saw them, if not fill me in on it.
My car, my property.
How many hours did you just save me?
LOL!
Same topic, two different articles
State may loosen laws on storing guns
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6341952.html
By DAVID SALEH RAUF, Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
Bill allows Texans to keep guns in cars at work
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/6343591.html
By JAY ROOT Associated Press Writer
Just tryin’ to broaden your horizons. ;)
>>>My car, my property.<<<
OK, so if someone drove a bus full of armed illegal aliens or Code Pink members onto your driveway, you’d say they have the right? His bus, his property...even if it is on your property?
BTW, when I read the full article, I saw there was a provision allowing the employers to provide offsite parking for cars that are “carrying”, so I guess I’m OK with the bill.
Neither would be invited on my property. My company invited me.
>>>In New Mexico, the interior of one’s auto is considered “extended domain” or equivalent of one’s home. As long as the firearm stays inside, the property owner can’t say boo.<<<
I think that law is great on public property (roads for example), but I think a private property owner should have an almost absolute right to decide what goes and does not go on his property.
Most already had their guns in their trucks. They just tried not to talk about it at work. That probably is still a good plan.
OK, then, what if you owned a business and one of your employees wanted to keep his van full of the illegals and Code Pinkers on your lot, while he worked? Still his car, his property?
An unalienable right affirmed by the Constitution, but would still be a right even if not enumerated.
The smoking bans trumps property rights as well.
BTW, when I read the full article, I saw there was a provision allowing the employers to provide offsite parking for cars that are “carrying”, so I guess I’m OK with the bill.
I haven’t read the bill but I could see where an employer would lease the property to another entity [non employer affiliated] as a parking facility and the other entitey would manage the parking facitlity maybe even charge a parking fee and the employer wouldn’t be the one involved..... This raises lots of issues including alcohol, etc in a vehicle. I know some companies don’t let employees have beer in their vehicle while on company property. Interesting to see how this develops.
I think private property and the right to bear arms are both Constitutional rights. In this case, they clash.
Does Nancy Pelosi have the right to free speech in your living room, or in your gun shop? Does an Islamist cleric have the right to exercise his religion in your church? Does ACORN have freedom of assembly on your lawn, or in your business’ parking lot?
Do moonbats have the right to free speech on Free Republic?
I think the solution of giving employers the option of providing alternate ways for employees to be able to drive their guns to and from work balances the two fundamental rights.
A meager attempt at an explanation-.
The Last Leg. session, Texas extended the Castle Doctrine to the vehicle. Meaning the vehicle was considered an extension of the Domicile. By the law you have the same right to protect your vehicle while you are in it as your home.
They also said that persons with out a concealed carry permit could carry concealed from their house to the vehicle and carry the loasded weapon in the vehicle concealed. The weapon has to get there some how.
Texas is further codifying that with this law. They have said the vehicle is the same legal status as your domicile and that you have the right to keep protection in it even if you don’t occupy it.
So in that way it is an extension of the private property rights of the vehicle owner.
The employer is also free to deny on-site parking to all employees.
Further, people in my vehicle can be charged with trespassing and removed from the site my gun, pencil or map cannot.
The illegals would sadly probably be allowed to stay.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.