Posted on 03/29/2006 10:04:37 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
Should you be able to take your gun to work?
08:17 AM CST on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 By Vicente Arenas / KHOU
There's a battle looming over your right to take a gun to work. The controversy centers on whether you should be able to leave a firearm in your car.
If Granger Durdin could take her gun everywhere, she said she would.
"With the crime rates the way they are and with being a young female, I sometimes feel a little bit more vulnerable and with a gun I have the protection that I need to be safe," said Durdin.
The 29-year-old manager is not alone.
"It's very important. You don't know when someone is going to come after you," said gun owner Brenda Lorisch.
In Texas, businesses have the right to keep concealed weapons out of buildings. Now there's a move to allow companies to prohibit them from parking lots, too and that has some concealed carriers upset.
"I believe that's an infringement on civil liberties," said gun owner Pat Warren.
There are no real statistics that will tell you how many people take their guns to work and leave them in their cars. But when it comes to firearms, people in the gun industry will tell you that most people who have licenses to carry them won't leave home without them.
"It takes away our right to protect ourselves going to and from work," said Cheryl Lamar, Hot Wells Firing Range.
Houston-based ConocoPhillips is challenging a law in Oklahoma that allows workers to leave guns in their cars parked on company property.
The company said it is simply trying to provide a "safe and secure working environment for its employees by keeping guns out of their worksites, specifically refineries, natural gas plants and distribution terminals."
11 News found a sign outside an area plant prohibiting weapons, but saw no such signs in the company's parking lot. Still it's clear guns aren't welcome there.
When asked if she thought that this could lead to workplace violence, "Yes, I've heard that. I don't agree," said Sue King, NRA board member.
King grew up around guns. She said ConocoPhillips' efforts are a waste of time.
"If you think back to the incidents of workplace violence that we occasionally, rarely have in this country and keeping the Oklahoma legislation in mind, you'll realize that those people who commit workplace violence are either outright criminals, they're mentally unbalanced or they are true psychopaths," King said.
"I feel that it's a problem," said Tomasita Garza, Texans for Gun Safety.
This group disagrees with King, saying there are other problems with leaving a gun in a car.
"The reason being no vehicle is safe. No matter what kind of deterrents you use to keep your car from being stolen, it can still be stolen," said Garza.
ConocoPhillips is one of several companies asking an Oklahoma judge to clear the way for employers to prevent workers from keeping pistols in the parking lot.
The company says it, "supports the second amendment and the rights of law abiding citizens to own guns".
It's that amendment that granger Durdin says it gives her a little more confidence and the right to protect herself wherever she may be.
Never mind. You guys are right. Once you step onto anyone elses property, even if invited, you are automatically that property owners slave. Anything you bring with you is subject to thier whim.
Yes Massa... we's be workin' on yo' plantation fo' sho'...
"That the employer, in this argument, is trying to establish a property claim to my car"
Not the case at all. His property, his rules, if you don't like them park in the street or find another job.
It depends. What is reasonable to expect? Would a jury of 12 find that need for an armed response was a reasonable expectation during the course of an average shift? If you were a night clerk at a 7-11, maybe so. If you were a night watchman, maybe so. Bank employee, diamond courier, etc.
OTOH, the employer may be found to have endangered his employees or customers by allowing firearms. If you were a private grade school instructor, they may decide that the employer was negligent in allowing firearms where kids might have access, if one of the little darlings got into your glovebox and shot himself with your glock.
Right. He sets the property rules for HIS property. I set the rules for MY property. How is that hard to understand?
Then his rule is keep your property off of his property. It's really pretty simple.
Actually, it has always been part of my world view - any entity (state, business, household, etc.) that prevents you from protecting yourself should be liable for harm befalling you from criminal act while you are subject their will in this matter. If they don't want to assume responsibility, they can let you carry.
Nope. You are free to leave at any time; slaves aren't. You are obligated to leave on demand, even if invited. You are obligated to abide by his rules while you remain.
Anything you bring with you is subject to thier whim.
Yep. If you don't agree, don't come on the property. Simple.
Ah... so the open parking lot if just for show then. Got it.
Or is there this little thing called inalienable Rights that we are all supposed to have eqaully?
His property. My property. Never the twain shall meet.
If no one has a reason to search my car nothing inside will be at risk. Be prudent, behave yourself. Good advice always.
Before? Pretty much the same thing I'm doing now.
Then i suggest you send an e-mail to your state legislators and talk to them, but i promise you, you'll get the same answer.
Will Rogers once said, "Your right to swing your fist ends at my nose." Your right to bear arms ends at my property line. You only bear them across that line by my agreement. Assuming I don't compel you or trick you to agree, you have agreed of your own free will to abide by this contract. You are morally obligated to do so, and I am morally free to enforce it.
Completely subjugating someone (since you are using reductio ad adsurdum) is a violation of that freely entered contract. If you can find instances of where an employer in the US demanded employees to show up unarmed, and then cast them into chains and forced labor, please produce them. I am sure the local D.A. will be interested.
On the other hand, I bet I could dig up some instances where a property owner legally shot and killed an armed intruder. Which is what you would be if you exercised your RKBA on his property without his permission.
No problem then. Stay home or in your car on the public street with your gun, and Mr. Employer can hire someone else to make widgets. Then, you'll both have what you want.
If more postal workers freak out than any other business,then postal management must be doing a poor job.
Thanks, I do. Besides, it's my job, which is more important to me, than to be able to drive to work with my weapons in the car.
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