Posted on 06/09/2005 7:10:04 PM PDT by Mulder
Fairfax, VAOklahoma Governor Brad Henry (D) signed into law today a National Rifle Association (NRA)-backed bill to prohibit employers from banning locked firearms in company parking lots. The law comes as an improvement of a similar bill passed last year, and is originally the result of last years firings of Weyerhauser employees for storing personal firearms in their cars on company property.
The new law provides employer liability protection against third party criminal acts, while allowing individual employees to sue their employer for non-compliance. In the event that an employee sues and wins the right to store a locked firearm in the company parking lot, the bill also requires the employer to cover court costs and attorneys fees.
We are pleased to see the State of Oklahoma guarantee such protection to law-abiding citizens who choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights, said Chris W. Cox, NRAs chief lobbyist. Its a shame several honest citizens were wrongly fired from their jobs, but Oklahoma gun owners can now store their firearms without fear of reprisal from employers.
The bill received overwhelming bi-partisan support in the state legislature, passing 95-5 in the State House and 44-0 in the Senate.
NRA would like to thank all the pro-freedom legislators in Oklahoma City, continued Cox. We particularly want to thank Representative Greg Piatt (R) and Senator Jay Paul Gumm (D) for their leadership on this bill, and Governor Brad Henry for signing it into law.
Some good news on the RKBA front....
There was a similar bill in Texas. I don't think it passed.
Anyone know for sure?
They did get some good bills passed this year, though.
Yeah, but it scares me when the dimocrats start acting reasonable.
In Oklahoma, your democrats are more conservative than most republicans in Washington.
Ping worthy
I wonder how PSO/AEP will take this!(Public Serice co of Oklahoma/American Electric Power.
I don't think it passed their either. Maybe next year.
They did get some good bills passed this year, though.
Yep. The best ones were the bills that recognized the Right of citizens to carry firearms in their vehicle without a "permit", and expanded reciprocity.
"Company parking lots" are private property. Why is the NRA advocating the expansion of unconstitutional government power on private property?
Like many other states, Oklahoma has two or three "Bill of Rights" protecting property and contracts from interference by government.
How are we going to stop government from enacting "smoke free" ordinances on private property if we celebrate other laws that fit our agenda that also violate private property rights?
Legally, they're right. It's their property and they can restrict anything they want.
But they don't have the commute I have to get to their property. If they find out and choose to fire me, so be it.
Utah could use a bill like this. http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a4b941f02a1.htm
So are the vehicles of workers.
Why is the NRA advocating the expansion of unconstitutional government power on private property?
They are advocating the lawful use of government authority to protect indiviudal Rights. *That* is the primary purpose of the government in a Free society.
The real irony here is that corporations would not even exist if not for the "expansion of government power" in the first place. Individuals exist on their own. Corporations would not exist if not for the complicated laws and regulations enacted by the government.
Like many other states, Oklahoma has two or three "Bill of Rights" protecting property and contracts from interference by government
Only individuals have Rights. Governments do not have Rights, nor do corporations.
How are we going to stop government from enacting "smoke free" ordinances on private property if we celebrate other laws that fit our agenda that also violate private property rights?
Easier said than done. We need to return to a society based on individual Rights and responsibilities.
"Like many other states, Oklahoma has two or three "Bill of Rights" protecting property and contracts from interference by government.
How are we going to stop government from enacting "smoke free" ordinances on private property if we celebrate other laws that fit our agenda that also violate private property rights?"
Nobody is trying to ban you from smoking in your automobile, and automobiles are what we are really talking about. In many states, a car or truck or RV is an extension of your "castle" (home), and you have the right to defend yourself in it, or to keep a firearm for protection.
Looks like the Okies can get some things right! Good for them!
I would argue that legally (and morally), they are *wrong*. One reason government created corporate law was to allow for low-cost, mass production. They did not create corporate law to allow a bunch of nosy gun-grabbers to violate indiviudal Rights under color of law.
It's their property and they can restrict anything they want
Can they restrict workers over 60, or black Jewish women? I didn't think so....
If corporate control freaks want to dictate the lives of their workers, they should surrender their corporate charter (and all the tax and other benefits to go with it) and operate as a sole or joint propriortorship. Let them succeed or fail without government support, just like the workers they want to control must do.
Well, unless there's a law that says they can't, they can. Just like you can refuse entry into your house of anyone you choose.
This is a basic dispute over what rules you can impose on your own private property.
Acting reasonable? You mean by signing a 100% veto-proof bill?
Or, do you mean the legislators who understood that voting against the bill was also voting against their contnued feeding in the public trough?
And now there is a law in Oklahoma that says employers can't ban guns in employees vehicles :-)
This is a basic dispute over what rules you can impose on your own private property.
It's about corporate privlidges vs. individual Rights.
I happen to strongly agree with the new Oklahoma law, yet I've already admitted to breaking my company's rules.
But as of right now at my company in Texas they are completely entitled to make those rules as a condition of entering their property, and I break those rules at my peril.
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.