AFL-CIO Sides With NRA In Backing Employee Gun Rights

[madville]

Source: Tampa Tribune

TALLAHASSEE - The issue was whether employees have the right to keep guns in their cars at work, and the National Rifle Association got help from an unexpected ally at a committee hearing Tuesday: the AFL-CIO labor union.

The business community strongly opposes the new NRA-supported legislation, but that's no surprise, said AFL-CIO spokesman Rich Templin, who said big business wants sweeping new property rights.

"They're seeking to put the rights of dirt over the rights of people," Templin said. "They're seeking to say that the rights of Floridians stop at the boundaries of our property. People should not have to lose their rights simply to keep a job."

Templin said the labor group was motivated by situations in other states in which workers were fired for having union material in cars.



Read more: http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/MGBTU5T5TZE.html

[Bluzmann57]

1. This is a bit tricky

While I support Unions and support people's individual rights, including gun ownership rights, it would seem that a company would have a right to ban guns from their property. It is private property and they can argue that they want to protect the employees. There are companies that ban smoking on their property, including parking lots, so if a person can't smoke, they probably shouldn't be allowed to carry a gun in their car.
On the other hand, a lot of people may want to go hunting immediately after getting off work, especially a third shift worker. So there is an argument in favor of carrying a gun in the auto to work. Very tricky question.

[madville]

2. I see it as a control issue

Safety really doesn't come into play because if someone had evil intentions towards fellow employees or the company I doubt them not having a law protecting them from getting fired is going to be very important to them.

I see it more about them having control over their employees. It is tricky because in Florida your car is the same as your house in some ways like use of force in a self defense scenario. I think it is a good sign that a labor union and the NRA can agree on the issue and be on the same side with everything as partisan as it is these days.

[Hobarticus]

10. Very good point...

If someone was going to go on a spree, banning guns from the parking lot wouldn't dissuade them.

[Omaha Steve]

3. I want to say no comment but...

Guns are not a big issue to me. I did have a union member tell me he was voting for Bush in 04 because the NRA backed him. Then he said Kerry doesn't even like guns. I reminded him that Kerry fired 50 cal machine guns in Nam, something Bush never did. He didn't like hearing that AT ALL!!!!!!!! :-)

[poorinnaples]

4. Old Ben said it best...

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, November 11, 1755

Screw the Chamber of Commerce...their neocon whining makes me ill...

[torrentprime]

5. Definitely tricky

But if employers do not have the right to suppress employee's actions in other areas through their rules, such as unionizing, expression, etc., then any rights granted under the 2nd Amendment would seem to be equally important as well. Not saying I totally disagree with the employers, but if constitutional rights don't end at the employee's property, then that means all of them.

[poorinnaples]

6. Good point...

I think folks are starting to realize that these super-rights granted corporations, that are somehow supposed to trump individual rights, are themselves, unConstitutional.

This could ultimately open up a whole new can of worms, including drug testing, etc., & I think unions are playing it very smart. In too many cases, things like drug testing largely effect certain Americans...mostly blue collar types, under the guise of safety, & many of them union members.

The Chamber of Commerce neocon types have tried every trick in the book, to try to slice & dice, working class Americans, & organized labor, & it makes my heart swell, to see the middle class fight back.

The more I see Americans, of all persuasions, choose to bury the hatchet & go after these multi-national corporate types, the more I like it.

[BlueCollar]

11. I work at an airport and I'm Union

Does the second amendment allow me to carry a weapon into my place of employment?

Personally, I think this issue is easily dealt with...Don't allow employees to carry/transport weapons into secured areas. In unsecured areas employees should be required to comply with company rules...whatever they may be...

Don't like the rule...Find another job with a company that will let you transport firearms onto the property.

just my $.02

[benEzra]

12. This isn't about being allowed to carry at work...

it's about being allowed to have a gun ON THE WAY TO AND FROM WORK, but keeping it locked away in your car in the parking lot during the day. A number of employers have recently said that you can't have a gun locked in your trunk in your own car, even if your car isn't parked on company property (!).

BTW, it's perfectly legal to have a gun in your trunk in an airport parking lot in nearly every state.

[BlueCollar]

13. I hear you

The issue comes down to "management rights" clauses in a contract..


very sticky

[OKthatsIT]

7. GOOD. I'll wager they never ask the Teamsters!!!

Teamsters have lots of guns. And I'll wager we'll be hearing about them soon...since Bush is opening the borders for mexican truckers to move into their(Teamsters) territory.

[w4rma]

8. Very good. (nt)

[benEzra]

9. GOOD.

Any legal items you have locked inside your own car at work is your own damn business.

[hogwyld]

14. I have to support the employers on this one

It is their property, and they can dictate what you can have. If you don't like it, you can always look for another job. There are also huge liability issues here. What happens if if an employee get laid off and decided to take matters into his own hands? Could the killed/injured employees sue the company for allowing guns on their property? Some would claim a 2nd amendment issue which is bunk. You can get fired for looking at porn, which is a 1st amendment issue.

[benEzra]

16. But you can't be fired for having porn LOCKED IN YOUR TRUNK.

Again, this isn't about carrying guns in work; it's about being allowed to carry on the trip to and from work, or on after-work errands, and leaving your gun locked in your trunk while you're actually at work.

A lot of the employers with such policies even extend it to people who park on non-company property.

[wageslave71]

15. Hmmmm,

It's easy to see both sides of this issue. I live in a state where a person can be issued a concealed carry permit. That makes it legal to carry a concealed handgun up and down the street, but almost every business (and, of course, all government buildings)display a sign prohibiting firearms. While you do have the right to carry a gun to and from your destination, it would probably be against the rules (some say law)to carry one AT your destination.

This is the same dilemma faced by these employees. The question is, which of them will be foolish enough to inform their employer that they have a firearm in the parking lot? Without randomly searching vehicles, these employers can waste all the ink and hot air they want, but anyone with enough common sense to conceal their weapon and keep their mouth shut can do as they please.

[guitar man]

17. I can see a need

in certain instances, to be able to keep your gun in your car at work.

I had a job years ago where I was working the graveyard shift, and to get to the job, I had to drive through the absoulute worst crime-ridden neighborhoods in town,middle of the night, there was no way around it.

There was no way in hell I would have gone through there without being armed.

So, in a situation like that, just where are you supposed to leave your gun once you get to work?