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 ...
What other constitutional rights do you expect employees to give up? All of them?
You must be a lawyer.
How did our boss handle that ?
I agree with your assessment. Any Lawyer can pretty much find a way to make something out of nothing.
The extension of the Castle Doctrine to the vehicles was a response to carjacking. So it would follow that companies can stil meke the prohibition you speak of. Many do.
“What other constitutional rights do you expect employees to give up? All of them?
You must be a lawyer.”
I’m not a lawyer. But , I play one on Free Republic. :-)
It is not about what rights I “expect” emplyees to give up, it is about what rights they simply don’t have in the workplace.
Go up to the CEO of your company and tell him he is an incompetent fool and his wife is ugly and see how much freedom of speech you have in the office, compared to outside the office.
Freedom of assembly is practically non-existant in the office, except to the extent management allows it.
Freedom of the press? Start a company newsletter, critical of management, or the company’s products and distribute in the office, and see how long that is allowed.
Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures? Your employer can search your work area and computer without a warrant or your consent.
The right against self-incrimination? If some money or product is stolen and you refuse to answer any questions about it from management, do you think they can’t fire you?
A workplace where employees enjoyed all their constitional rights, to the same extent they enjoy them at home or on public property, would be chaotic...almost as bad as a union shop. :-)
Thanks Meekie. I heard about this on the local news yesterday. About time, but we will have to see what the house critter are going to do with it.
I work off base. And don’t care to mess with the SP’s.
Thanks for the ping!
Try violating the 13th. Is it more sacrosanct?
You still have all of these rights at work, however your employer can ask you to leave just like you can do in your home to a previously invited guest.
I notice you didn’t address some of my rebuttals to your posts.
Bad lawyer no fee!
Then I guess those supervisors and co-workers better be prepared to defend themselves, shouldn't they Hammy?
Newsflash, you political porker....If the state has no legal liability for failing to protect an individual, it CANNOT have any legal authority to prevent that individual from protecting themselves.
Put some ice on it.
Agree ! SP’s can sting bad. I will tell ya what widget ranch decides on this new law.
You getting any of this snow ? Widget works called it a 3 day weekend. Only 2nd time in 15 years I have seen. 8 to 18 inches expected !!! I am out in my old 4x4 toyota playing in it now freepin from my blackberry.
Panhandle of Texas is CLOSED. I-40 is closed too !!
Weird wx.... It was 75 degrees yesterday !!
I am trying to rescue the pretty gals in the ditches ! Don’t want their store boughts to freeze.
Stay Safe !!
40 closed from Wyoming Blvd to Cline’s Corners.
The economy’s gonna have to get on without me today.
Yep that’s Zuzac wx for ya !! It is bad now so I am gonna get breakfast and go to the house !! Getting bad now.
Pretty much stopped here, about 6” down. Greenhouse is nice and toasty though.
Stay safe!
We are only getting a little snow in Houston........
Snow or snow job ?:O)
It’s to bad to play around out there now getting so windy the weather crowbar is bent ......windchill is -6 now and driving around the grain elevators will get ya six kinds of sideways !
Staying INSIDE rest of day !
Well, all I can say is...
“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.”
(Robert A. Heinlein)
It was the bell tower at the University of Texas, in Austin.
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