Iowa Bill for Permit Holders to Keep Guns in Locked Vehicles Advances

AmmoLand ^ | 17 February, 2020 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

From legiscan.com:

The Iowa legislature has introduced a bill, SF 459, to allow employees and volunteers who have carry permits, to keep firearms in their locked vehicle, in parking lots, even if the employer forbids firearms on their property. The bill passed out of the Senate subcommittee on 23 January 2020.

The benefit in the bill, for the employer or lawful owner or possessor of the property, is they are held immune for any actions that may have allegedly caused harm due to the presence of the firearm in the locked vehicle.

From legiscan.com:

2. An employer shall not prohibit an employee in possession of a permit issued pursuant to section 724.6 or 724.7 from carrying, transporting, or possessing a firearm or ammunition, if the firearm and ammunition are out of sight and inside the locked motor vehicle of the employee on the real property comprising the employee’s place of employment, provided the motor vehicle is parked in a location designated or allowed for employee parking, and if the carrying, transportation, or possession of the firearm or ammunition is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state.

3. An employer, owner, or lawful possessor of the property on which the employer is located shall be immune from any claim, cause of action, or lawsuit brought by any person seeking damages that are alleged, directly or indirectly, as a result of any firearm or ammunition brought onto the property of the employer, owner, or lawful possessor by an employee pursuant to this section.

Several other states have passed parking lot legislation. The argument is, allowing an employer to forbid an employee to store a firearm in their locked vehicle, effectively disarms them on their

[backwoods-engineer]

Get a vehicle gun safe.

[Leaning Right]

> Meaning, we can either choose to be armed on our way to and from work, or we don’t have a job? <

Not at all. The 2A must be respected. But so must property rights. So if your employer prohibits weapons on his property (a stupid move), don’t bring weapons on his property. Park your car on a public street.

By the way, I would make an exception to that. You can get into a ton of trouble for having a firearm while in a post office parking lot. That parking lot is not private property. It belongs to the people. Having a firearm in such a place should be perfectly legal.

[Red in Blue PA]

So using your “logic” if the employer forbids employees to keep a hammer in their car, or a knife, they must comply?

Ridiculous. Property rights do not extend INTO my property.

[Red in Blue PA]

I have locks on my doors.

Why do I need to change my life because the state refuses to keep recidivists locked up?

[Leaning Right]

The property in “property rights” refers to land or a house, not personal property like a car or a briefcase.

A person who owns land should have the right to say what can or cannot be on his land. If he wants no guns on his property (land), then so be it. That means no guns in your car - or in your briefcase - when you are on his land.

I know that this leads to a clash of rights, land rights vs. 2A rights. But it should be remembered that the Bill of Rights is meant to protect you from government tyranny. It is not meant to give you special privileges when dealing with private individuals.

You might not believe it, but I am a huge supporter of the 2A. No gun permits should ever be needed. I even believe that when a felon has completed his parole or probation, he should automatically get his 2A rights back. No lifetime ban as there too often is now.