AUSTIN – Texans could carry their guns and ammunition to work – as long as they keep them in the car or pickup – under a bill passed unanimously by the Senate on Wednesday.
The measure by Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, would bar businesses from having policies that prohibit their employees from storing legal firearms and ammunition in their locked vehicles outside their place of work.
"People like their firearms in Texas, and if they want to bring them to the workplace, they are going to do it whether there is a policy or not," Hegar said in response to concerns that a disgruntled worker might be encouraged to bring a gun to work to settle a dispute.
He added: "It is not the firearm in the car that causes the problem, it's the individual who possesses the firearm."
About 230,000 Texans have a state license to carry a concealed handgun.
Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, a co-author of the bill, said company policies that prohibit employees with a concealed-handgun license from bringing a gun to work run counter to the original intent of the program – to allow license holders to protect themselves.
"If we continue to see more and more businesses adopt policies like this, pretty soon we are going to render a [concealed-gun license] ineffective. You won't be able to take a gun anywhere," he said.
Hegar said his bill would still allow businesses to bar firearms in company offices and in company vehicles. It would not apply to places where firearms are not permitted by state or federal law, such as a county courthouse or a federal government building.
Asked about the possibility of the measure sparking violence in the workplace, Hegar said cases of shootings in Texas businesses have been rare. One occurred two years ago at the Johnson Space Center in Houston when an engineer brought a handgun into a NASA office building – in violation of NASA policies – and shot and killed another engineer before killing himself.
Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston, said he was concerned that someone might use the law to legally carry dynamite or another explosive to work.
"What happens if somebody brings in dynamite under the provision that allows a person to carry ammunition to work?" he asked, saying such a situation could pose a serious threat at an energy or chemical plant.
Hegar countered: "Under this bill, you are not able to have dynamite in your car. Dynamite is not ammunition."
Employers would be able to ban firearms in vehicles that are parked in a fenced lot with controlled access. But the employer would have to provide alternative parking nearby.
Employers also would be protected from any civil liability for personal injury, death, property destruction or any other damages resulting from an occurrence involving a firearm transported onto their property.
28 comments:
As long as the gun is in the car/pickup and not at work preparing for a front page news article about how a crazy texan's gun was shot during work and kills 2 people, i have nothing against this bill.
This is in my opinion a very good idea. People who really want to take weapons into their vehicle will do so anyway. It's a good thing the government is thinking about how to make the environments into which people will take their weapons safer.
In general, there are a lot of people in Texas who are against gun control so I guess this bill fits right in. I can sort of see the point they make about how having a concealed handgun license is pretty useless if you are still prohibited from concealing a handgun in numerous places, but still... are there really that many people who have a problem with not bringing a gun to work? I guess there are at least 230,000 people who are pushing for this...
I cannot understand why anyone would need to take a firearm to work- there is absolutely no reason for this. The only reason I can see is that Texans think guns are awesome, so they want to tote them around everywhere to intimidate people with them and their big, unnecessary F150 trucks. Bringing guns to work could cause potentially life-threatening problems in the workplace: picture a McDonald's worker coming to work high with a pistol in his car. I don't know about you, but that makes me slightly uncomfortable.
Its sort of useless to be able to bring your gun to work and have to keep it in your car the whole time. I guess it takes the hassle of having to go to your house to pick up your gun, and I also guess it can come in handy if someone tries to harm you in the parking lot. I've just always been a little confused about why people would want to carry guns around with them wherever they go, it just doesn't scream safety. But, I suppose because of this bill we will have a stories later on about how being allowed to carry a gun to work saved someone's life.
I agree with the saying that people are going to bring their guns anyway. So why not just make it legal and fix that problem. Personally i thinking having a gun in my car to protect myself would be a good thing. I would have my gun there all the time. Besides in some of the places we work now days having a gun might be the safest option there is. Im going to bring my gun anyways so i'd rather it be legal. end of story
I think that this is a great law. What is the point of getting a concealed handgun license if you cant even use it? Also if there is some crazy idiot who is planning to come to work with a pistol and shoot the CEO or something like that, then what makes these people think that they are going to follow that rule? "Dang im sick of my boss...i think im gunna kill him.......o wait they just made that stupid rule about no guns in my car. Well i guess i just have to follow the rule and not kill my boss." Wow are some people really this ignorant?!?!? If they are willing to break a murder law, then they are likely to break the company rules too. To me thats common sense, but i guess some people lack in that area.
I find this pretty funny! I thought about when im a lifegaurd in the summer, i would just be sitting in my lifeguard stand with a rifle. Needless to say i dont think thier would be any running or splashing. hahahaha.
I think that the world we live in is dangerous, but relatively safe enough that a person shouldn't practically glue a gun to their palm in fear. Taking your gun to work is ridiculous; you shouldn't need it while you're there, and if it's locked in your car, it won't do you much good. This is just going to make it easier for non-licensed gun owners to use the weapons dangerously (and ANYONE for that matter). Trust our local law enforcement to keep us safe. By carrying guns, you're just making killers more dangerous.
I think that there is some reasonable responses to this law and some difficulty to this as well. For instance, like how Sen. Mario Gallegos is concerned with how people may use this law as a privilege and for safety into a federal crisis. For example, bombs, TNT, etc.
This law might be helpful in the crisis of crime, but at the same time increase the rate of crime on the streets and now at work.
This bill is almost the same as the "Alcohol" and the "Tabasco" bill. They all can be useful and enduring to the world, but can also be a difficult time to the community as well.
I wonder what other people have to say about all these laws? Are they beneficial or are they a disaster waiting to happen?
I dont like guns. I really dont understand why you would need to bring a gun with you to work an leave it in the car thats scary. I agree with the man that was talking about if someone felt the bill gave them right to bring explosives to work or something. Theres people out there that would do something like that. Then what? What happens if that happens? Gosh well i dont agree with this bill i think bad things wil come from it.
Most people will bring guns to work if they want to, regardless of legislation. And we're only talking about licensed people being allowed to bring their registered guns to work in their vehicles. These are people who have already had to prove that they can be responsible with guns. Though I don't like the idea of our high McDonald's employee, I also realize that the liklihood of a high McDonald's employee having a CHL is low.
Take a look at this:
http://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdps/TxdpsChlNewAppManager
i just do not see the benefit that comes out of this bill. i believe this will ultimately bring out more gun related crimes and deaths in the end because now people will be allowed to carry a gun. but thats just my take on this.
This is so unbelievably stupid. Anyone that thinks this will make people safer is very confused. Will everyone admit that the world was a safer place (in some respects) before guns existed, or were available to the public? Doesn't it then stand to reason that with less guns in public areas, we will be safer to a degree? Is this bill a sister bill to the one allowing concealed weapons on college campuses? Because they are both equally ludicrous (and from Texas). I would be sickened if there was even the slightest chance a bill like this could even be considered-but now look, one of them has already been passed.
May Common Sense bless those in the Senate without it.
This bill makes makes me feel uneasy, but I suppose it is true that if people want to bring their guns to shoot people they will do so regardless if it is legal or not. However, I think that this bill invites more road rage killings- people will have their firearms accessible in their cars, and seriously angry people tend to act rashly.
The jelly fish in me makes me queasy to think that the guy driving next to me could pull out a gun if I cut him off. As this is Texas I respect the right to own a gun, but I can't help but think that this is more of an interest group backed (NRA anyone?)bill than a representation of most Texans view on gun rights...That's just me...call me a flower-power-hippie, that has a nice ring to it actually...
I believe that the requirements for a concealed carry license should by higher because of this bill. A gun vendor should be able to trust that they are not selling a gun to a psychopath. This could cause some potential threats to the safety of other coworkers (we can't just joke about shooting each other anymore..)Although I have no real problems with this bill, it's the mentality of the person who has the gun is the only worry I have.
i think people are gonna take their gun with them regardless of what anybody else says. what's the point in making a law if people are gonna break them anyways
Passing this bill is so stupid!!! Why would anyone need to protect themselves at work? Yes, I understand there may be situations where an employee is quarreling with another but that is was corporate offices are for. They have the authority to handle the situation whether it is a verbal warning or termination. However, it is ok to protect youself at home which is a totally different place.
No..no.no. This type of thing is too dangerous. I agree with the right to bear arms but not to take it in the work area. You never know when some crazy "texan" might just snap and go to his car and unleash a mass amount of bullets through the windows and bystanders. This bill is too risky on so many levels. I am now even more afraid to go around public places now. Employers also would be protected from any civil liability for personal injury, death, or property? That just seems outrageous to me. Seems like they know that something MIGHT happen. Makes me wonder...
~Isaac
No..no.no. This type of thing is too dangerous. I agree with the right to bear arms but not to take it in the work area. You never know when some crazy "texan" might just snap and go to his car and unleash a mass amount of bullets through the windows and bystanders. This bill is too risky on so many levels. I am now even more afraid to go around public places now. Employers also would be protected from any civil liability for personal injury, death, or property? That just seems outrageous to me. Seems like they know that something MIGHT happen. Makes me wonder...
~Isaac
I like it. I for one feel safer that law abideing citizens will be able to protect themselves with a gun from people looking to break the law with a gun. There is a beautiful symmetry about it. I also wander what this will do for workplace moral...
I think that being able to bring your gun to work is a good idea, because like the sentors said if a Texan wants to bring a gun their work in their car they will, even if they are breaking the law.
This seems like it will cause issues, but however not too big of a deal.
"Buy the shoes, or I'll shoot."
"Do the blog, or else!"
I think this is a good bill to pass because it could make the enviroment more safe and the workers could feel more safe.
Oh, so what? It's now legal to bring a gun to work. It's Texas! Everyone has a gun in some place or another and it is a reality that there are many people that even prior to this law were carrying their guns in their cars. But this guy suggesting that people are going to bring dynamite! Come on mister.haha. The only people with dynamite are crazy anyways and thats definitely inevitable with or witout the law. Tough...
Oh, so what? It's now legal to bring a gun to work. It's Texas! Everyone has a gun in some place or another and it is a reality that there are many people that even prior to this law were carrying their guns in their cars. But this guy suggesting that people are going to bring dynamite! Come on mister.haha. The only people with dynamite are crazy anyways and thats definitely inevitable with or witout the law. Tough...
I really dont see anything coming good from this. Bad things like just getting mad might turn into a massacre even. Thats not you would to have at your job. Most likely people will not feel safe anymore. And you should feel some what safe at your job.
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