NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill allowing people with handgun carry permits to store firearms in their vehicles no matter where they are parked.
The signing comes despite questions about whether the legislation affects employment law in Tennessee because the measure would allow workers to store guns in their cars while parked in their employers' parking lots.
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville and four fellow Republican co-sponsors on Thursday submitted a letter for inclusion into the Senate Journal elaborating on their legislative intent for the measure.
While the letter states the bill does not seek to alter the state's "employment-at-will doctrine," it notes that businesses could run into trouble if they seek to enforce a gun ban on their property.
"Employers who terminate employees just for exercising this right may violate the state's clear public policy that handgun carry permit holders are allowed to transport and store firearms or ammunition," the sponsors wrote.
That analysis appears to conflict with statements by the main House sponsor who stressed in committee and during floor debate that the bill wouldn't affect employers' abilities to fire anyone.
The legislation was approved 28-5 in the Senate and 72-22 in the House last month. It's scheduled to take effect July 1.
blue56ford writes:
March 15, 2013
6:30 PM
Another right taken away from private property owners, what's next bring porn to work. Well it doesn't really matter I have enough money to close my business,lay off 11 good workers [not terminate],and stop adding to the local economy just because I have no say on what can and can't be brought on my property that I worked 32 years to build and pay for. I own guns but I have never been to scared to walk down the street with out one on me. I hope some of you gun toten cowboys have a job for 11 good people.
Tau'ri writes:
March 15, 2013
6:47 PM
I find it very disturbing that next to this article on the front page of the JC Press is an article about a baby being accidentally shot by the baby's father.
jambi writes:
March 15, 2013
6:57 PM
blue56ford: So because a law passes that does not affect you at all you're going to put 11 people out of work? You are the worst kind of cry baby I have ever seen. The fact is people probably have already had guns in their cars in your parking lot. Get over it. If you don't want them to carry inside your building that is fine, but a persons car is their private property and they have just as much right to have a gun in there as you do to not allow guns in your building. Cry some more.. Liberal minds are so self centered and paranoid.
blue56ford writes:
March 15, 2013
7:31 PM
jambi First I'm not a liberal I have been a registered republican for 38 years. I just happen to belive that property that I paid for,built, and pay taxes on, that I should have a right to say what can and can't be stored on it. So don't start your childish political garbage. And yes it does affect me, I'm losing control of my own property.
truthful writes:
March 15, 2013
7:36 PM
(blue56ford ) It sounds to me like you need a new crew if you can`t trust them to store a gun on your property . Are you that bad of a employer that your afraid one of your employees may turn on you . These permits are for law abiding people that are trust worthy and have good back ground in their lifes
tazlady60 writes:
March 15, 2013
8:00 PM
IT is what it is, nothing we can do to reverse their decisions, but it will end up being a BIG mistake, i have nothing against good honest law abiding people to have or carry a gun permit, but we all know people do get crazy at times, i would hate to be in walmarts parking lot and one of these law abiding ppl decides to waste afew ppl for not parking right, but then its nothing new, passing the law only made it legal, because its been going on a very long time.
Raven writes:
March 16, 2013
11:55 AM
Um...tazlady60...this law changes nothing. Law abiding people don't kill others with guns. As you said, crazy people do...a law makes no difference to them. That is why all this talk of "gun control" is stupid. Criminals don't care about laws, they will still get guns and they will still kill.
What we need is better mental health care, but we can't lock people up anymore or the ACLU will cry foul and sue. THAT is the real problem.
provided.