Texas Senate Bill 730

[AggieJustin]

There is a bill in front of the Texas Senate that would prohibit employers from banning their employees from having a legal firearm in their vehicle in the office parking lot. The bill either prevents employers from prohibiting their employees from having the gun in the vehicle, or they must provide facilities for storing the gun during the day if the parking lot is "restricted access".

The only part that doesn't make sense to me is that when they define methods for restricting or limiting access to a parking lot, they list "sign" as a method along with gate, fence, security station. As if the sign really restricts people from entering the parking lot if they aren't authorized.

Here is a link to the bill on the Texas Senate website: SB 730 (http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB730)

[Fronty Owner]

Oklahoma pass a similar law and a federal judge blocked it.
Dont hold your breath.

[AggieJustin]

Interesting. I heard Oklahoma and Louisiana passed similar laws, but never heard about the federal judge blocking it.

Waiting to hear back from the local senator about his take on the bill.

[Fronty Owner]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071006_1_A1_hHeis85083

latest I had heard. Albeit 5 years old, as far as I know its still blocked.

[AggieJustin]

Interesting news in the latest e-mail from NRA:
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Major Victory for American Workers Right to Self-Defense

Fairfax, Va. – Today, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in support of allowing employees to store legally owned firearms in locked, private motor vehicles while parked in employer parking lots. This decision upholds NRA-backed legislation passed in 2004.

“This is a victory for the millions of American workers who have been denied the right to protect themselves while commuting between their homes and their workplace,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “This effort was aimed at skirting the will of the American people, and the intent of legislatures across this country while eviscerating Right-to-Carry laws. This ruling is a slap at the corporate elitists who have no regard for the constitutional rights of law abiding American workers.”

In March 2004, the Oklahoma legislature passed an amendment holding employers criminally liable for prohibiting employees from storing firearms in locked vehicles on company property. A number of corporations subsequently filed suit in opposition to the new laws, alleging they were: unconstitutionally vague; an unconstitutional taking of private property; and preempted by various federal statutes. The lower court ruled in favor of the injunction.

“This issue was contrived by the gun control lobby who goaded corporations into doing their dirty work for them,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “However, this ruling is a vindication for every hardworking and lawful man and woman whose basic right to self-defense was taken away on a whim by corporate lawyers. NRA is prepared to defend this right and to ensure the safety of every American worker.”

In October 2008, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and Attorney General Drew Edmondson appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals the lower court decision to strike down the NRA-backed worker protection laws. Today’s proceedings handed down by Circuit Judges Paul J. Kelly, Bobby R. Baldock, and Michael W. McConnell reversed the lower court’s grant of a permanent injunction.