.jpg){kind=logo}
According to Reuters, the Florida Congress has just passed a law to allow Floridians to bring their (registered) guns to work, provided that they keep them in their car. The law can still die if Florida's governor, Charlie Crist, decides to veto it. But just from the way he looks, that doesn't seem likely.The purpose of the law is to prevent business owners from prohibiting people from keeping their semi-automatics locked in their cars on private business property. The law actually applies not only to the business' employees, but also to customers and other individuals "invited" to the premises.
There are so many things wrong with this, I don't even know where to begin. Proponents of the measure claim that the law will provide people with additional self-protection in case of an emergency as well as uphold their Constitutional right to bear arms. First of all, I can't remember a time where I was at work, thought to myself "dang I wish I had my gat right now," and it was for self-defense purposes. Usually it's when I'm in a boring meeting or someone is getting on my nerves (not at ZAZZLE, but other places I've worked lol).
Sure there are times where people have shot up the workplace, but they are usually disgruntled workers! At least before when the boss fired someone, he could give his other employees 30 minutes to an hour to dip out before dude came back from his house with his heat. But now Florida's allowing those crazy employees to take a one minute stroll to the parking lot to get strapped up??? How much sense does that make?
Plus, what are the workers going to do if someone does come into the office spraying bullets? It's not like they are gonna run out to their car and come back doing their favorite Jack Bauer impersonation. No, if they are fortunate enough to make it to their car, they are most definitely driving home. It just seems to me that allowing guns on the premises will just increase the likelihood of office rampages and not "protect" people from them.
And of course the National Rifle Associate (NRA) is very excited about this new law. In fact, they were the ones who pushed it through Florida Congress. I bet Charlton Heston is LOL right now from the dark fiery depths of... Naw I'm not gonna even take it there. Speaking of getting shot at:
Anyways, in my best Hubie Brown impersonation, I'll say this. If you are a worker in Florida, you had better be kind and sweet to all of your coworkers, because you never know when that one slight or offensive comment will leave you looking like swiss cheese... I'm just sayin'...
Yup, this is the world we live in...
3 comments:
Perhaps you could justify your concerns of "office rampages" with documented instances of such occurrences in states that have already enacted similar laws. For example, Kentucky state law forbids employers from prohibiting employees from storing firearms in their vehicles, even if those vehicles are stored on company property. If your concerns are justified, then you should be able to cite instances of workplace violence stemming from this allowance. Please do so.
"Office rampages" are very rare occurrences and obviously the people who commit these acts are not the most well adjusted citizens, but why make it easier for them? Can you show that laws like the Kentucky one you mention actually reduce the instance of "office rampages?" If a disgruntled employee goes to his car gets his gun comes into the office and starts shooting what good is it to have a gun in your car?
M. S_ this law is already in existence and dimensio asked to be shown evidence that this law provoked any workplace violence; a fair request given the blog. Your assertion that firearms in the car are to protect against workplace violence is flawed, as it is not. This law only allows for the citizen to bring a legally owned object to their vehicle parked on work the work premises. The other part of your post is akin to the teacher punishing the class because of one child. A person mentally unwound enough to “go postal” will not be stopped by having to go home. Whether they get fired and come back in 5 minutes unannounced and shoot up the place or scenario two get fired and show up in 30 minutes again unannounced produces the same results: A criminally insane individual showing up and catching people off guard. This law changes nothing, other than granting law abiding citizens the right to again carry their firearms in their vehicle on work premises.
While some see this law as something we need because firearms are scary, I as someone who’s grown up with firearms all my life and see them as tools akin this law to telling me not to bring a hammer and nails to work or leave my leveler at home. It just seems odd. Happy Cinco de Mayo.
Nice post Ben.
Post a Comment