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 ...
Ping.
Florida did that last year — no problems.
Texas will be the second I know about — copy cats in a good way.
“Texans who love guns and pickup trucks”
hey look. they houston hammer&sickle is taking a swipe at “rednecks” in their disarming fervour.
I know a guy, who knows a guy, who doesn't keep it in his car either....he always has it on him instead where it should be.
‘Bout time you caught up with your neighbors to the West.
I would imagine state Senator Dan Patrick would support this
“Bill allows Texans to keep guns”
it was none of Bill’s business in the first place...
Little known factoid.
Many years ago a shooter went to the top of a building at a Texas college, the building wes some sort of tower, I forget some of the details.
But a teacher had his hunting rifle in his car. And he had another teacher handing him ammo as he fired at the shooter and made him keep his head down so he couldn’t shoot more people and the police could get to the top and shoot him.
Good deal...my boss told me I couldn’t have one on the property even though my life is possibly at risk (long story involving a convict serving time for murder my hubby testified against that keeps coming up for parole)...now it ain’t his call.
Er... Wouldn't it be a good idea for MORE people to be armed then? To defend against this? Since some nut bag going off isn't going to follow their precious restrictions in the first place...
....Hm, if you are the member of the militia, then isn’t there no way that the 2nd Amendment can be dismissed?
For example, some states’s constitutions define the militia; one I know of is all male citizens aged 18 to 55.
Or is this “lawyering” and “reading” not allowed to the general public?
Another little known factoid.
The gun grabbers want to ban .22LR because a rifle of that caliber was involved in the tower shootings. The only weapon of that caliber involved was that teacher’s rifle.
I saw the title and started to ping you, until I read a little farther...
Bump instead of Ping
I have mixed feelings on this type of law. Great for 2nd Amendment, not so great for private property rights.
I understand that a person’s ability to enjoy their 2nd Amendment rights can be hampered by not being allowed to keep guns in their cars, at work. However, this is not being done by the government, and it does not directly interfere with their rights to bear arms.
On the other hand, forcing companies to allow guns on their property, directly interferes with private property rights.
I fear the precedent thses laws might set. What else might a company (or landlord or homeowner) be forced to allow on their property?
I tend to think we should let the market take care of this. If enough good workers refuse to work for companies that won’t allow the guns, many will change their policies and gun friendly companies would have a competitive advantage in the labor market.
Also, I’d like to see the market produce some innovative solutions. Maybe gun checking services could open up near large employers.
At the very least, I think employers should have the option of paying for offsite parking and shuttle service, or providing free gun checking service for their employees.
I did before I posted the article and it didn’t show up.
I also didn’t know the search function was named Luke.
Incrementalism working for the good guys, for once.
I guess you need to practice and too bad you don’t get the joke.
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