Pennsylvania is pushing a parking lot law to protect employees who carry and lock their firearms in their cars while at work, and at least one newspaper editorial writer isn’t too happy with it. Rather than ignoring it, the primary sponsor, Sen. Rich Alloway, is responding directly to the criticism.
Currently, many of our friends and neighbors risk losing their jobs by carrying their firearm with them in their vehicle on their way to work. Twenty-three states have already enacted laws to protect their citizens from losing their jobs, and Pennsylvania should join them.
Today, daily commutes are punctuated by short errands.
Whether at the dry cleaners or at the grocery store, headlines remind us that crime can, and does happen anywhere. Furthermore, many work shifts are during non-traditional hours, when crimes are potentially more likely to occur.
Mr. Major dismisses these concerns as “What if factors” that needlessly frighten people. The irony is that his newspaper is regularly reporting violent crimes, that clearly demonstrate that sometimes the “What if’s†do occur.
My usual counterargument for people who oppose parking lot laws is this: “What other legal products should your employer be able to ban from your privately owned vehicle, and enforce through searching to ensure compliance?”
I like that approach…very similar to the “non smoking workplace” analogy. We don’t allow smoking in the building, but we don’t search your car for cigarettes.
I’ve been somewhat on the fence with parking lot laws but as of late this is where I’m falling. Yes the parking lot is private property but at the same time so is your vehicle. What’s in your vehicle is really none of your employers business as long as it stays in the vehicle.
This is, indeed, a great approach.
“Got a copy of Mother Jones or American Spectator in your car? BOOM, you’re fired!”
I used to think that employers, as property owners, should have the right to disallow whatever they want on their property, just as any homeowner would with his house. But then I started to think about the differences between private residences and businesses, and the thousands of property-rights restrictions business owners already face, and I’ve concluded that the property rights of businesses are not and should not be exactly the same as those of a homeowner’s residence, or even a private club. They’re fundamentally different and should be treated differently.
But, but, but
The liberal elite SURELY knows what is best for us peons…..
Merle
I would be a lot more sympathetic to critics of parking lot bans if they believed in private property and the right of contract generally (like, say, your right to refuse to make gay wedding cakes) and not just for this one special case.
Yeah that’s where I fall. I oppose them on property rights grounds, but if our system allows restrictions on business property rights, then this law should be allowed too.
Remember: violent crime is so severe that we need very restrictive gun control. But it isn’t so bad that law-abiding adults should be allowed to defend themselves from violent criminals. That’s just paranoia.
This.
Clayton: you’re on a roll! Keep it up…
Please help me understand how I could consider myself a responsible gun owner if I leave my firearm in my vehicle while I am not also in the vehicle? This goes against everything we try to teach our children about firearm safety. I don’t believe my employer should dictate what’s in my vehicle, but why would you leave a firearm in your vehicle when you aren’t in positive control of it?
How about you explain to me how having a gun inside of your own locked car is “irresponsible”?
Or if you want to get all “safe storage”
There is a wide variety of locking case products.
They range from ones that are just little boxes taht cable-tie to a chair frame, to full on safes that are, internally, bolted to the body of the vehicle itself.
Yup, you can get a locking case that will resist the most common car break-in, a toolless smash-n-grab, for under $20 at most sporting goods stores.
So you own guns. You keep them in your house or apartment? How do you keep your job if you never leave the house? After all YOU must stay always in ‘positive control’…. right. Do you see that as an exception to YOUR rule. What other exception do you allow?
##Sarcasm off.##
Is your car locked? Is the glove compartment in the car locked? How does this differ from leaving your house locked with a gun locked in a gun safe or cabinet?
By that logic, should we leave our vehicles unattended? Cars get stolen routinely and then used in crimes.
My gun is LESS likely to be stolen from my car in the work parking lot than my house, any of the places I’ve worked in the last 20 years.
Because you can barely see my house from the road, and there is NO ONE ever looking out at my house — unlike the parking lot outside my offices.
Because your boss says you have to?
Lock it to your seat anchors with a cable lock or get a handgun ‘safe’ bolted to the floor and cover it with a t-shirt.
Or do what I used to do and carry it inside. (we had lockers)
Don’t ask, don’t tell.
No business, employer or not, should be able to deny anyone, customer or employee, their inherent right to self-defense.
I don’t think my employer should be able to take away my 2nd amendment right while traveling to & from work. If I can’t have my gun in the car in the lot then I have to leave it home or park off the lot where it is less secure.
This would correct something for people who have permits issued by the city of Philadelphia.