Florida lawmakers pass "take your guns to work" law By Michael Peltier
45 minutes ago



TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - Most Florida residents would be allowed to take guns to work under a measure passed by Florida lawmakers on Wednesday.

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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 now goes to Republican Gov. Charlie Crist to sign into law.

Backed by the National Rifle Association and some labor 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 applies to employees, customers and those invited to the business establishment as long as they have a permit to carry the weapon.

Backers say the measure upholds the vision of the authors of the U.S. Constitution, who made the right to bear arms part of the Bill of Rights.

"The second thing they wrote about in that constitution was the right to bear arms," said Sen. Durell Peaden, a Republican from Crestview, Florida. "It was what was dear in their hearts."

The measure exempts a number of workplaces including nuclear power plants, prisons, schools and companies whose business involves homeland security.

Critics say the measure usurps business owners' rights to determine what happens on their property and puts workers and managers at risk from disgruntled employees.

Dozens of workplace shootings occur every year in the United States and studies have shown that job sites where guns are permitted are more likely to suffer workplace homicides than those where guns are prohibited.

"This is an attempt to trample upon the property rights of property owners and attempt to make it more difficult to protect the workers in a workplace and those who visit our retail establishments," said Sen. Ted Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat.

Oklahoma, Alaska, Kentucky, and Mississippi have similar laws, although in Oklahoma, an appellate court barred the state from enforcing the legislation on grounds that it was unconstitutional.

Florida business groups are urging the governor to veto the measure, saying owners should be allowed to determine what happens 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.

(Editing by Tom Brown and Eric Walsh)

That's a good thing. What if I wanna kill someone at work. Drive all the way home, get my gun, drive all the way back then do it?
I might have changed my mind by then.

__________________
Manu Chao - Bongo Bong

"Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." - Oscar Wilde

"Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise." - Sir Francis Bacon

thats a bad thing!

Those bad people don't care about laws anyway and so this is a good thing because it allows those still living conform to the rules to protect themselves. The police can not protect people, they usually arrive when everything is already over, and, if lucky, may catch those people responsible later on.

__________________
In times of universal deceit the love of truth becomes the most radical of all ideologies.

Still a Caveman? - Your Mind is Controlled - The Brainwashing of the West - Your thoughts are not your own

Veritax Vox Liberabit

I'm moving to Florida. Finally intelligence in politics.

agreed at home and on the street your protected but what about work? huh? old rick from accounting rocks up after being fired and tries to shoot up the place what are you gonna do? although he'll probable take out about 20 people while your running to your car boot, its still a step in the right direction..

.... but ....

I would PROBABLY shoot you before you got a round off ...

.... I would need more guns ...

I have

• a Glock for a suit ...
• a sub compact Bersa for t-shirts
• but nothing in between for a loose fitting Hawaiian shirt!

Terrible law - more expense to accessorize!

__________________
Have You Been To The "VORTEX COMMUNITY"?

Go with a Taurus Model 605. It is small enough to fit in the pocket of those shorts, and packs a punch. Good piece.

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Jones:- We're going to teach them climbing, abseiling, canoeing, archery, shooting...

Interviewer:- Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible isn't it?

Jones:- I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the range.

Interviewer:- Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?
You're equipping them to become violent killers.

Jones:- Well, you're equipped to be a prostitute but you're not one are you?

its a good think. i bet i would get any smart talking from my manager if he knows i have a bad temper and gun on me.

Now. See..... You do understand that it was joke don't you?

__________________
Manu Chao - Bongo Bong

"Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." - Oscar Wilde

"Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise." - Sir Francis Bacon