State: Senate panel passes NRA bill

A controversial bill that would make it illegal for businesses to keep employees from bringing guns to work and storing them in their vehicles passed another committee in the Senate on Tuesday.

The swiftness contrasts sharply with a protracted debate last year that split Republican lawmakers between two favorite interests - business and guns - and competing visions of constitutional rights.

"It's an issue whose time has come. People are sick and tired of being dictated to because they decide to become a customer or an employee," said NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer.

Opponents, who say the right to bear arms does not trump the right to dictate policy over private property, are not taking chances.

A new group calling itself Floridians Against Workplace Violence went on the offensive Tuesday, announcing it was ready to air two television commercials.

"We don't allow guns in the Capitol building and in courtrooms, and that's a good thing," said Linda Vaughn, head of the group, which is backed by the powerful Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida Retail Federation. "But something is dangerously wrong when elected officials demand greater safety in their workplace than they are willing to provide for all Florida workers."

The bill, innocuously titled the Individual Personal Private Property Protection Act of 2007, would bar employers from any policies limiting "legal" products from vehicles.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8-3 in favor of the bill Tuesday. Three Democrats, including Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, were in opposition.

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by Fred	07/08/07 04:54 PM
To deny me the right to protect myself or me family while traveling to a store or buisnessbecause I can't keep a firearm in my vehicle while Iam in a store is denying me the right of self protection. This polocy is WRONG.

by RABBIT	04/30/07 11:08 PM
Everone knows my opinion.git er done in illinois

by Rip	04/27/07 10:40 AM
It has already been said, but here we go again. It is not right for my enployer to force me to travel to and from work unarmed. A few years ago I narrowly missed surprizing burglars at my home after a night shift at work.

by CJ	04/13/07 04:32 PM
The people of Texas are working to pass a similar bill. Texas businesses are fighting against it as well. May Florida lead the way, once again! Thanks, Floridians, for moving this forward.

by Dawn	04/12/07 05:55 PM
There are some misrepresentations here. You can have a gun in your car in the Capitol parking lot. The proposed law does not seek to allow people to have guns in the workplace. Protection may be needed on your way home from work. Time to get real.

by TIm	04/12/07 02:14 PM
An employer has ther right to control their property, however my car is my property.

by Mike	04/12/07 01:04 PM
There's a reason police ask for permission to search your car. Its called the 4th Amendment. The right of the people to be secure in their persons,houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,shall not be violated.

by Tom	04/12/07 11:18 AM
We need to look deeper into this issue. Businesses, if allowed, will ultimately claim the right to earch the vehicles of employees as well as customers, claiming "safety issues". Will they be looking for firearms, political literature, Bibles?

by Harold	04/12/07 08:24 AM
To those who feel that a business can be a dictator when it comes to their property, what would they say if the employer put up a sign stating "no blacks or Mexicans" or "no cars with Pro-Choice bumper stickers allowed"??

by G.R	04/12/07 07:54 AM
Once again Florida leads the nation with common sense pro gun, pro family, safety legislation.

by Herb	04/12/07 06:34 AM
The true rights conflict is more basic, between the Right to Self-Defense of LIFE AND the Property of the Individual vs. merely the Property Rights of the Company. The right to protect Life is far fundamental than the company's mere property right.

by Cameron	04/12/07 06:14 AM
This bill deals only with LEGAL material locked in a car OUT OF SIGHT. To imply otherwise is pure fear mongering. This bill will protect religious material, newspapers, as well as any other legal object.

by Dean	04/12/07 05:23 AM
The group "floridians against workplace violence" are using classic Apples and Oranges Tactics. The Capitol Building and Court Rooms WILL NOT BE TREATED any differently than any other buniness in Florida. They Lie to the People.

by Frank	04/12/07 02:34 AM
An employers rights should NEVER trump the rights of an employee to defend them selfs! FBI statics state there are far more shootings in so called "GUN FREE" areas.Our schools and court rooms are good examples!

by Jay	04/11/07 10:57 PM
I am one of the aggrieved one's. I am a Concealed Weapons Permit holder, but it really has no bearing as I'm not allowed to keep a legal firearm in my locked car while at work. Thank you city of St. Petersburg. 911 -- just a phone number...

by Frank	04/11/07 10:22 PM
Establishments/ businesses that operate under licenses to the state/city already accept some forms of controls over their private property. I find their arguments specious.

by Frank	04/11/07 10:21 PM
I challenge any business that does not provide armed guards and metal detectors for controlling access to their properties to show their policies are an effective means of stopping this type of armed attack.

by Frank	04/11/07 10:08 PM
There are news stories that clearly document the fact that violent criminals are not deterred by the laws or restrictions and have resulted in dead judges and civilians at several courts and government building across the nation haveing similar laws

by Frank	04/11/07 10:05 PM
Vaughnò019s comments that guns are not allowed in the capital building and courtrooms is either disingenuous or based in ignorance of the facts. Guns are allowed for a select class of individuals within these facilities thereby provide some protection.

by Sherbear	04/11/07 08:35 PM
Do you think you could bring that Bill to the state of Illinois? Keep up the good work in Florida.....the state of Illinois has all but turned it's back on the 2nd amendment and the NRA, HELP.

by Anthony	04/11/07 08:01 PM
Well, just keep in mind that no one can make you unlock your car and let them look inside. I know that it can get complicated, on a personal level, though. Drive an RV to work; it is considered your home for legal purposes.

by Mark	04/11/07 07:49 PM
This bill first started in Oklahoma when Wwyerhaeuser paper fired several employees after changing their policy and providing no notice. Disney has similarly fired several for doing nothing wrong, only legally protecting themselves. Ms Vaughn = wrong

by Angelo	04/11/07 06:14 PM
This is not about guns in the office but about allowing people to store their legally owned gun in their car while they are at work. Remember legal gun owners are not the ones you need to be afraid of, but most people seem to forget that.

by Bill	04/11/07 04:59 PM
Are employers willing to accept financial and legal responsibility for the safety and security of their employees on the daily commute to and from work? Company policy does not trump the right to self defense. Companies are on shaky legal ground.

by Tommy	04/11/07 04:08 PM
ARMED Employees are safe Employees ! The business is safer and more secure because you now have a FREE POLICE FORCE on site at all times. Disgruntaled Employees don't come back and deranged spouses' lovers and stalkers will not enter a work place.

by Karl	04/11/07 04:02 PM
It is very sad when a company tells me what I may have in my Personel vehicle

by RJ	04/11/07 03:43 PM
Claiming that the new bill would not give business the same protection as judges is invalid. You ARE allowed to bring your gun to the court parking lot and leave it in the car. This is yet another example of faulty logic to appeal to emotion.

by Glen	04/11/07 02:53 PM
A firearm stored in a locked vehicle does not constitue a firearm in the workplace.Almost all the incidents of workplace violence with a firearm I have read about were planned ahead of time; employer bans connot stop these in any way, shape or form.

by Gil	04/11/07 02:53 PM
Does anyone really think that all cars in all parking lots are going to be searched? Please! Want to keep a gun in the car? Keep it. Don't want to? Don't. Just keep your mouth shut either way and no one will ever know!

by Tom	04/11/07 01:26 PM
Slowly but surely big brother has tried to control the people and take away our freedoms. It is time we took a stand and fought back. This bill will help do just that. How can we have the right to carry and not have the right.

by Robert	04/11/07 01:00 PM
The NRA is ridiculous how is this an issue ? Have you ever heard anyone at your workplace say " I sure wish I had my gun locked up in my trunk " The NRA has become PETA nothing but attention whores. Membership must be down....

by Ron	04/11/07 12:18 PM
I'm glad I moved down here away from the communist, anti-gun, nanny-state of New Jersey!

by Kay	04/11/07 12:10 PM
Ms Vaughn, I don't see where anything in this bill allows weapons INSIDE workplaces.

by Fred	04/11/07 11:55 AM
Hey Rich. If you terrorize me and take a gun on my property after being told not to then you will face a pre-emptive strike of shock and awe. You arent protected by any law to keep me from doing it. Thanks NRA.

by Vinnie	04/11/07 11:14 AM
Your article starts out with a little bit of deception. The bill does not allow workers to bring their guns to work, as you claim, it allows them to leave them in their vehicles. Also, what about the property rights of employees?

Politics

Senate panel passes NRA bill