Walt Disney World Poll

[Guest GLOCKGUY]

POLL... We're losing... biased reporting from O Sentinel

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...6150,post.poll

The biased article...

OrlandoSentinel.com

Walt Disney World fires back on guns at work

Scott Powers and Jason Garcia | Sentinel Staff Writers July 3, 2008 Walt Disney World employees won't be packing any heat in the company parking lots anytime soon.

The giant resort has declared that much of its sprawling property is exempt from a new state law that allows Floridians with concealed-weapons permits to keep firearms locked in their cars at work.

Disney, which has 60,000 employees and a long-standing policy against allowing guns on its land, cites an arcane -- and late-added -- loophole in the new law, which took effect Tuesday.

The company's position stunned backers of the new law, who said Wednesday that they never intended to exempt Florida's largest single-site employer.

"You've got to be kidding me," said state Sen. Durell Peaden, a Panhandle Republican and one of the authors of the bill.

For three years, much of the big-business community in Florida -- including Disney, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation -- had vigorously opposed legislation intended to ensure that employees could store guns in their vehicles while at work. That opposition was offset by strong support from the National Rifle Association, however, and such a bill finally was approved this spring by the state Legislature.

But Disney now contends it is largely unaffected by the measure.

In a memo circulated last week and obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, Disney World Vice President of Public Affairs Shannon McAleavey advised other company executives that, with a few exceptions, "this law does not apply to Walt Disney World Co. owned and leased properties." Consequently, Disney "continues to maintain a zero tolerance policy" for guns. If an employee brings one onto Disney World property without authorization, it could be grounds for termination, the memo states.

In an interview Wednesday, McAleavey said it is a matter of "protecting the safety of our cast and our guests."

Move outrages NRA

The NRA reacted quickly.

The organization issued an alert Wednesday to members under the heading, "Disney Thumbing Nose at the New Florida Gun Law," accusing Disney of being a "prime offender when it comes to firing employees for exercising Second Amendment rights."

Disney cites language within Florida's newly enacted "Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008" that creates an exception for companies whose primary business is to manufacture, use, store or transport explosives regulated under federal law.

"I intended it to exempt places like defense plants, Air Force bases, things like that," said Peaden, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. "But not Disney. Not at all."

But on the same day that the House took its final vote on the gun bill, the exemption for explosives companies was revised so that it also includes "property owned or leased by an employer who has obtained a permit" under federal law for such explosives.

Disney has such a permit, for the extensive fireworks used in its theme parks.

State Rep. Stan Mayfield, a Vero Beach Republican also involved in crafting the final legislation, said lawmakers had agreed to insert that exception at the request of a small group of lawyers representing several businesses and business groups -- including Disney.

But Mayfield said nobody ever intended for the language to spare so much of the Disney resort, which covers about 30,000 acres.

"I don't think anybody that voted for that bill expected Disney to be exempt," Mayfield said.

Disney officials said they have carefully reviewed the language and determined that the law excludes most Disney World property. McAleavey's memo concluded that it exempts "all theme parks, resorts, theme-park and resort parking lots, Cast Member parking lots, administrative offices across the Walt Disney World Resort, Downtown Disney, Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, Celebration and the Disney Reservation Centers" in Orlando and Tampa.

The language does not exempt Disney Vacation Club's Vero Beach Resort, Disney Cruise Line's crew-member parking lots and a couple of other Disney properties in Florida, according to the memo.

Law challenged in court

But McAleavey also noted that the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation are challenging the law in court, and Disney would continue to support that effort. A Tampa judge could rule this month, "and we are hopeful it will be overturned," she wrote.

Other theme parks also might hold appropriate explosives permits because of their fireworks programs.

But Universal Orlando is claiming a different exemption: The resort houses a work-study program, the Universal Education Center, that is staffed by Orange County Public Schools.

"We are required to follow school-district policies," spokesman Tom Schroder said. "The Orange County Public School System is exempt from this law. We have so informed our team members."

SeaWorld takes an entirely different approach: That company supports the rights of its employees or visitors to transport legal firearms in their cars, "and we have for some time," spokeswoman Becca Bides said.

Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441. Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel.com or

[Guest GLOCKGUY]

Universal is claiming it's a school, now? Guess they better quit selling alcohol, then!

[Guest nraforlife]

BS...

[BryanP]

SeaWorld takes an entirely different approach: That company supports the rights of its employees or visitors to transport legal firearms in their cars, "and we have for some time," spokeswoman Becca Bides said.

Well, I guess given a choice between Disney, Universal and Seaworld I know where I'll spend my vacation dollars.

[Fallguy]

Well, I guess given a choice between Disney, Universal and Seaworld I know where I'll spend my vacation dollars.

Yep!!

[Falcon1]

Voted yes. Current results:

• Should Disney be allowed to carry guns to work?
  Yes. All other employees are able to. (2534 responses)
  76.6%
  No. It's too dangerous for visitors. (739 responses)
  22.3%
  Not sure (36 responses)
  1.1%
  
  • 3309 total responses
    

[skipsfirearms]

What a bunch of BS BS BS BS...........

[Guest ProguninTN]

What a bunch of BS BS BS BS...........

I voted. I support "My property, my rules" thinking, but I also support "you're not going to be responsible for my safety to and from your property, so I'm going to keep my gun in my vehicle" thinking. Compromise could work if companies were willing to do so.

[Magiccarpetrides]

I will give it Disney's lawyers...they pulled one over on Florida...thats for sure....I would say your HCP employees will just be doin the ol' "dont ask, dont tell".

[Guest ProguninTN]

I will give it Disney's lawyers...they pulled one over on Florida...thats for sure....I would say your HCP employees will just be doin the ol' "dont ask, dont tell".

Been there, done that.

[Guest nraforlife]

Been there, done that.

+1 - NO job is worth your life.

[Mike.357]

yawn, not going to Florida, not going to Disney. Don't much care.

I left Florida and as such do not worry about what goes on in that hell hole.

[SHbicycle]

Are there any laws like this in TN?

[Im Neero]

This is stupid, but I've gotta say, I'm impressed with this move. It sounds legit to me, unless new legislation is passed.

[Fallguy]

Are there any laws like this in TN?

Not to my knowledge as far as explosives and handguns.

Seems like a loophole Disney lawyers had up their sleeves from the start.

[Guest page90lx]

Done 84.6% for it.

[Guest durdensfriend]

I work for a company where we're not allowed to have a firearm on company property at all based on some "Code of Conduct" agreement I had to sign when I started... needless to say my full size 1911 goes in the glove compartment every morning when I get to work and right back on my hip when I leave. HA!

[Guest BG38357]

Should Disney employees with concealed-weapons permits be allowed to keep their guns in their cars while at work?

Yes. All other employees are able to. (17154 responses)

81.8%

No. It's too dangerous for visitors. (3650 responses)

17.4%

Not sure (171 responses)

0.8%

• 20975 total responses
  

Looking better. But for me, forget Disney since they aren't people friendly.

[Guest roger519]

i say don't patronise business that don't abide by the laws.and our beliefs.

[Volzfan]

Yes. All other employees are able to. (19600 responses)

80.9%

No. It's too dangerous for visitors. (4434 responses)

18.3%

Not sure (194 responses)

0.8%

• 24228 total responses (Results not scientific)
  

I won't be going to Disney. EVER!

[Guest ProguninTN]

I work for a company where we're not allowed to have a firearm on company property at all based on some "Code of Conduct" agreement I had to sign when I started... needless to say my full size 1911 goes in the glove compartment every morning when I get to work and right back on my hip when I leave. HA!

The old "Don' Ask Don't Tell" strategy, eh ? Been there, done that.