Florida is a stronghold for gun laws– they’ll pretty much pass anything down there. They made news last year when they passed the “License to Murder” law, and the NRA has time and time again passed their groundbreaking laws in Florida first.
But here comes an NRA law so crazy even Florida won’t pass it! The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the “Guns at Work” law the NRA was pushing down there, that would make it a felony for employers to prohibit bringing guns into work, has gotten stalled in committee.
A proposal that would allow workers to leave guns in their cars at the workplace stalled Wednesday in a House committee.
The House Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on the bill (HB 129) because members said it needed more work.
The National Rifle Association backs the proposal, noting that gun owners lose their Second Amendment rights when they are prohibited from leaving a legal gun in a locked vehicle at work. The group estimates more than 6-million gun owners live in Florida.
Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, introduced the House version in an attempt to ensure employees can carry guns to protect themselves on the way to and from work.
If passed, employers could face up to five years in prison and fines if they prevent workers from storing guns in their vehicles in workplace parking lots.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce opposes the measure, believing businesses should have the right to ban guns on their property.
Yeah, well, the bill infringes on property rights, too, but the main reason no one wants this law to pass is because everyone (but the NRA) understands that guns at work is what you call an “unsafe proposition.” Imagine if that crazy co-worker you work with, who always eats the coffee grounds, got fired and had a gun sitting just outside in his car. Of course that’s not safe for anybody!
But that doesn’t stop NRA stumper Marion Hammer from spouting off any nonsense she can come up with.
Marion Hammer, the NRA’s Florida lobbyist, said people shouldn’t be forced to give up their Second Amendment right to carry guns for personal protection.
“The reality is that gun-free parking lots are safe havens for criminals,” she said. “Criminals don’t want to be shot, and they’re going to attack people where they know they are going to be vulnerable.”
Sorry? “Safe havens for criminals”? We have a gun-free parking lot right outside our window, and we don’t see a single criminal in sight. For some reason, we doubt that criminals are flocking to gun-free parking lots. But a lack of truth never stopped the NRA from talking, did it?
But opponents counter that property owners have a right to keep guns off their land. They also say government shouldn’t regulate an employer’s right to set workplace policies and that such a law would make it easier for on-the-job arguments to escalate into violence.
“We see it as a property-rights issue as well as a safety issue,” Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said.
“It’s very clear that no one else thinks it’s a good idea,” added Rick McAllister, president of the Florida Retail Federation.
Which is exactly why this bill didn’t even make it to a vote. Victories against the NRA in Florida are hard to come by, but it looks to us like this is one of them. Congradulations to the House Committee for respecting property rights, and choosing to keep employees down there safe.
