By By Jon Gillooly
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
ATLANTA - The National Rifle Association flew in its heavy hitters to lobby Georgia lawmakers on Monday to allow individual workers to transport legal firearms to and from their place of employment as long as the weapons are kept locked in the vehicle.
NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and NRA chief lobbyist Chris Cox argued that the bill, which is sponsored by state Rep. Timothy Bearden (R-Villa Rica), would protect employees from retaliation from management if they chose to keep firearms in their cars as they came to work.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce has blasted the bill, arguing that it tramples property rights.
"We're talking about the right of working-class employees to protect themselves, and this is something these companies should be in favor of, the Chamber ought to be in favor of," La Pierre said. "I mean, they're putting their employees in the position of making a Hobson's choice between their Constitutional rights, their freedoms and their right to protect themselves and their jobs."
LaPierre said one such bill originated several years ago after the Weyerhaeuser Corp. fired a dozen workers in Oklahoma after guns were found in their cars.
"A lot of good people, without even knowing about it, went to work that day and ended up fired, and that's wrong. They fired them on the first day of deer season, which is outrageous," LaPierre said.
He criticized "corporate Seattle attorneys" who were pressured to draft the policy by such organizations as The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
The NRA chief described the issue as a battle between elite corporations and the working class.
State Sen. John Wiles (R-Kennesaw) stood next to LaPierre on Monday during a news conference on the bill, HB 89, at the Capitol.
Wiles said there is a good chance the bill will pass the legislature this session.
"I believe this legislative body understands the importance of the Second Amendment and understands that government should not get in the way of someone protecting their families and their selves from criminal acts," Wiles said.
State Rep. Steve "Thunder" Tumlin (R-Marietta), chairman of Cobb's legislative delegation, said Second Amendment issues usually get strong consideration in the General Assembly.
"I'd say the House will pass it, and the Senate will sure look at it," Tumlin said.
State Rep. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) said recent newspaper columns by opponents falsely portrayed the role of the property owners under the bill.
"I have read on numerous occasions that HB 89 violates private property rights. It does not," Rogers said.
He said the bill only prevents an employer from discriminating against the employee with respect to keeping a lawful firearm locked in the employee's private vehicle in a public access parking lot.
"If the employer owns the property he/she may ban all weapons on the property at any time," Rogers said.
jgillooly@mdjonline.com
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Posted Comments
Just what we need more postal employees with guns. Why not work on things the mainstream citizens need like water and better roads and transportation to get to work.
Senator Rogers should reread the amended SB 89. It would forbid an employer from having a no gun in the parking lot policy. Senator Wiles thinks everything challenges the 2nd amendment. MDJ should report on how much money both senators received from the NRA.
Just what we need, wider roads, more pavement, less trees, and fewer rights.
The text of this article takes on a different meaning than the diatribe Joe Fleming wrote on the same subject last week. There was nothing of substance, or even the truth, in what Mr. Fleming wrote. One thing that can be said about the NRA is that their representatives do not have to be manulipative and untruthful to present the facts. The same cannot be said about people like Mr. Fleming.
Can anybody explain to me exactly how SB89 is an improvement in Georgia gun rights? This sounds like nothing more than a rearrangement of the dining room chairs.