Legislative update

[rockman6]

Read today about this speech by the Lt Governor:

The Lieutenant Governor also made an impassioned statement supporting the rights of Tennesseans with permits to carry a weapon to be able to carry the weapon – in a locked car – onto an employer’s private parking lot. He acknowledged business owner concerns with private property rights and liability but felt that the right to carry the weapon was paramount and that the other issues “could be addressed.”

Bill

Edited January 20, 2012 by rockman6
color change request

[QuietDan]

Politics is often called "the art of the possible" and "vehicle carry" seems a very possible goal at this time in this environment.

It seems to me, that if an employer has a parking lot that's open to the public, he's already divested himself of some property rights to it. The property owner may have rights over the ground, but I have a right to have what I wish inside my car.

They do this in Texas with Castle Doctrine. You have Castle Doctrine rights over your house and property, over the interior of your vehicle, and over your business, and can use deadly force if you are challenged in any of those places.

They could jump start the debate by just stealing the language outright from the Texas statutes. I'm sure Texas wouldn't mind.

[Oh Shoot]

....They do this in Texas with Castle Doctrine. You have Castle Doctrine rights over your house and property, over the interior of your vehicle, and over your business, and can use deadly force if you are challenged in any of those places....

You can in TN too. Just can't legally have the gun in the first place without a permit. 'Course if you use the gun in a good shoot, you can't be charged with the original illegal carry. Only the geniuses on the hill could see this as legislative logic.

Real core issue though, is getting fired for doing it. That and Class B 'meanor for carrying past a sign.

- OS

[Guest HvyMtl]

Sigh, Rockman6, please change the color of your post, its hard to read. Thanks!

Back on topic: Although I agree with the Lt. Gov., the Speaker of the House is not pro-gun. Without her support, there will be no new laws removing the limits on gun owners.

[Guest pfries]

Real core issue though, is getting fired for doing it. That and Class B 'meanor for carrying past a sign.

- OS

Many employers that restrict this do not have signs posted in these cases unless the employee hand book carries weight of law... now if the legislature addresses thoeswith signage that would be a huge step but I cannot see that coming out of this.

[Oh Shoot]

Many employers that restrict this do not have signs posted in these cases unless the employee hand book carries weight of law... now if the legislature addresses thoeswith signage that would be a huge step but I cannot see that coming out of this.

Well, if the hill gives you right to possession in car, but still allows employer to post parking lot, is anything gained?

- OS

[Guest pfries]

Well, if the hill gives you right to possession in car, but still allows employer to post parking lot, is anything gained?

- OS

I could actually see it causing more problems if they do not make it so they cannot post the Lot. If a company’s hand is twisted to allow the weapons in an employee’s/individuals vehicle there is the potential that some may post parking lots at say convenience stores and such. This would turn it into a major blow to gun rights. As always, any gun legislation can be a slippery slope if not copiously scrutinized.

[Oh Shoot]

I could actually see it causing more problems if they do not make it so they cannot post the Lot. If a company’s hand is twisted to allow the weapons in an employee’s/individuals vehicle there is the potential that some may post parking lots at say convenience stores and such. This would turn it into a major blow to gun rights. As always, any gun legislation can be a slippery slope if not copiously scrutinized.

See that's the problem we have that the other states don't that have passed "parking lot" bills - we're quite unique with our criminalization of carrying past a no firearms sign. The only other ones I know of are in Texas and Arizona, but that has to do with "bars" only. And of course the federal one.

- OS

[GKar]

IIRC, last session's HB2021 (before it was gutted and reduced to pomp and circumstance by numerous RINOs in the waning days of the session) was worded such that the posting status of the employer's property was irrelevant ("Notwithstanding [the relevant TCA citation for posting..." - 1359,maybe?] as to keeping a firearm locked and out-of-sight in a vehicle (for those having a valid HCP).