Business Owners Look to Block Employees From Having a Gun In Their Car

Should a business owner be allowed to tell an employee that they cannot bring a gun to work? I know that where I work, guns are not allowed on the property, period. I don’t have a problem with someone bringing a gun to work, mainly because I will be given a gun at work and am trained in how to use it.

However, there are some business owners in Florida who are not so keen on the idea of their employees carrying in their car:

A local gun storeowner believes the “guns at work” law will offer needed protection for people who might encounter threatening situations while traveling for their job.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation opposes the legislation, which allows Floridians to keep a gun in their locked cars on work premises if they have a concealed weapons permit.

The groups filed suit in federal court in Tallahassee, seeking to block the legislation from taking effect July 1. A hearing for an injunction is scheduled today.

The Florida chamber’s stance is “a business owner should be able to decide if employees can or cannot bring guns on their property,” according to the group’s Web site.

Van Morgan, owner of Morgan’s Archery & Firearms Pro Shop, said employers’ rights and discretion must be balanced with employees’ personal property rights. Morgan said a business is overstepping authority and infringing on the Second Amendment by telling people what they can or cannot keep in their cars. If someone were injured or killed while driving to or from work or somewhere on the job, Morgan said the employer “has some culpability by not allowing you to bear arms.”

I really understand both sides. I understand the business owner saying, “This is my property, and I have a right to say what comes on it.” I understand the employee saying, “I leave your property after dark and youdon’t have security, so I want to be able to protect myself.”

Personally, I say people should be able to bring guns to work, and there is one good reason for that:

Several lawmakers who voted for the bill, including Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, and the bill sponsor, Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, said they did not know how many companies had policies against guns in vehicles. Patronis, who co-owns Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant, said he understands why some businesses want to prohibit firearms in vehicles, but he believes the final bill balanced customer and employee safety.

“To have the gun in your car, you must have a concealed weapons permit. And getting that permit involves background checks, firearm training, licensure requirements,” said Patronis, also a NRA member.

These are responsible gun owners, and are not going to hurt anyone with their guns. The fact is, unless you are doing metal frisks, a lot of these folks could carry all day long, and no employer would ever notice. The guy who scares these business owners isn’t going to care about his little ban anyway. Why not have a few more firearms nearby to take that guy down?