Posted on 07/23/2004 6:56:58 PM PDT by TYVets
America Online Can Fire Gun-Owning Employees Utah High Court Rules Friday, July 23, 2004
Self-defense took a big blow this week when the Utah Supreme Court upheld the right of America Online (AOL), America`s largest on-line service provider, to fire three employees whose firearms were stored in the trunks of their cars in the parking lot of an AOL call center in Ogden, Utah.
In a decision that diminishes rights guaranteed under both the Utah and the U.S. Constitution, the court acknowledged the individual right to keep and bear arms, but said the right of a business to regulate its own property is more important!
Complying with this decision could potentially cost an employee his or her life--violent criminals certainly aren`t going to obey such a ban.
It may also diminish employees` abilities to hunt or target shoot after work.
The issue is becoming a hot legislative topic in the states. This year Oklahoma passed HB 2122 ensuring that employees with guns in their cars were not fired or harassed, and it was debated in several other states.
Please look to future editions of the Grassroots Alert for developing information on this issue.
What do you expect from RINO orin hatch state??
A pile of garbage!
Well I certainly agree that property owners have a right to decide what they allow on their property. No reason the employees can't leave the weapon at home. This is not stopping anyone from hunting after work.
The parking lot is the employer's property but isn't the locked trunk the car owner's property? How does my right to have whatever I have in the locked trunk of my car changed simply due to where I have chosen to drive?
What do you expect from AOL??
A pile of garbage or sh**, or both !
I have to come down on the side of the employers here, even if I disagree with their policy. The Bill of Rights protects you against the government, not other private citizens, including businesses.
I have no problem with this decision. AOL can regulate its workplace as it sees fit.
I also have no problem refusing to buy anything from AOL-Time Warner because of their stupid anti-gun policy.
I'm big on private property and guns. But I think its clear that the property owner controls here. Nobody forced them to work for AOL.
But I would sure like to know how the hell the company knew they had weapons in the trunk.
Just another reason to never use AOL! Why were the vehicles searched in the first place, this seems very strange to me.
agree bump
Exactly.
Choosing to exercise their God-given right to prohibit guns simply confirms that they are a desperately evil organization.
And yes, I was shouting.
Doesn't the person own the car? And what's in it? It's their property. Or does it no longer belong to them when they drive it onto anothers property?
What a about a persons pants? Or dress? Can AOL now demand strip searches? What about body orifices? Can AOL check "up there"?
So, I wonder if this right extends to business owners whether to allow smoking on their property?...JFK
Property rights trump Constitutional Rights? What if they said no cars were allowed in their parking lot without a "Kerry / Edwards" bumper sticker? Do property rights trump the first amendment too? Or only the 2nd?
How about the New Hampshire resident that had a concealed carry permit, but worked in Massachusetts, he and 5 other people were killed in the work place?
Many employers can not protect employees on the job let alone to and from work !
I am sure A O L will protect their employees to and from work. (/sarcasm)
.
This is beyond belief. Over the top. Un-freekin-believable. AOL just made a huge mistake. Number one, who gives a rip if someone has a weapon in the locked trunk of their car? Second, for AOL to make a "federal case" out of this is bad business. That company hasn't a clue in attracting customers in the first place except for kids who want to 'chat' and go to porno sites. I hate AOL. The ONLY reson I use them is that I travel a LOT and they do have a lot of local dial-ups which I need when working from my hotel. That's it.
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