|
Take-guns-to work law gets OK
10/04/2008 08:44 - (SA)
Tallahassee - Most Florida
residents would be allowed to take guns to work under a measure
passed by Florida lawmakers on Wednesday.
The bill, allowing workers to keep guns in their cars for
self-protection, was approved by the Florida Senate by a vote
of 26-13.
It was due to go to Republican Governor Charlie Crist next to sign
into law.
Backed by the National Rifle Association and some labour
unions, the so-called "take-your-guns-to-work" measure would
prohibit business owners from banning guns kept locked in motor
vehicles on their private property.
The measure applied to employees, customers and those
invited to the business establishment as long as they have a
permit to carry the weapon.
Constitutional right
Backers say the measure upholds the vision of the authors
of the US Constitution, who made the right to bear arms part
of the Bill of Rights.
The measure exempted a number of workplaces including
nuclear power plants, prisons, schools and companies whose
business involved homeland security.
Critics said the measure usurped business owners' rights to
determine what happened on their property and put workers and
managers at risk from disgruntled employees.
Workplace homocides
Dozens of workplace shootings occurred every year in the
United States and studies have shown that job sites where guns
were permitted were more likely to suffer workplace homicides
than those where guns were prohibited.
Oklahoma, Alaska, Kentucky and Mississippi had similar
laws, although in Oklahoma, an appellate court barred the state
from enforcing the legislation on grounds that it was
unconstitutional.
Politics beats good policy
Florida business groups were urging the governor to veto the
measure, saying owners should be allowed to determine what
happened on their property.
"We are disappointed that politics clearly won over good
policy," Mark Wilson, president and chief executive of the
Florida Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement.
|
News
