Florida Passes Guns at Work Bill

Since 04-11-08

By Monisha Bansal
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
April 11, 2008

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200804/NAT20080411a.html

(CNSNews.com) - Gun rights advocates praised the Florida Legislature for passing a measure that allows gun owners to have firearms locked in their cars while they are working.

The measure prohibits business owners from banning firearms that are kept locked in cars by their employees when those vehicles are parked on company property.

"We believe this legislation will prevent unfair sanctions against workers who simply want to exercise their constitutional right to have a firearm for their personal protection while traveling to and from work," said Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA).

"Florida citizens who are legally licensed to carry have gone through background checks and a licensing process that certainly establishes their standing as law-abiding," he added. "These are not the kind of people who pose a problem in the workplace."

Brian Siebel, senior attorney with the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, however, noted that even those with a license to carry a concealed weapon commit crimes.

"Guns on company property make workplaces less safe," he told Cybercast News Service. "There is a study that shows that workplaces where guns are permitted are five to seven times more likely to be the site of a workplace homicide than places where guns are prohibited.

"There are disgruntled employees, and they should certainly not be given access to firearms in the company parking lot," Siebel said. "It doesn't make sense to enable that to take place."

The legislation now goes to Republican Gov. Charlie Crist. Earlier this year, a similar law was struck down in Oklahoma as unconstitutional.

"We think the Florida law is similarly unconstitutional if it's signed by Gov. Crist," Siebel said. "Both Florida law and federal law require employers in Florida to provide for a safe workplace, and it's impossible to provide a safe workplace if you cannot control firearms on workplace property."

"The Florida Legislature has taken a courageous and sensible step," countered Joe Waldron, CCRKBA special projects director, who resides in Tallahassee, Fla. "There is no reason why anyone should face discipline or dismissal for simply having a firearm locked in their car when they have a state-issued permit to carry that firearm elsewhere."

Siebel, however, noted that, in Florida, many firearms are stolen from parked vehicles, and called the legislation the "gun thieves' opportunity act." He said this will lead to more crime.