Texas AG Opinion on Employer Parking Lot Bill

[C-dub]

They also forbid anyone from keeping their gun in their car in parking lots that don't belong to them and in our personal vehicles on any company related business.

I'm confused about the first part of that sentence "They also forbid anyone from keeping their gun in their car in parking lots that don't belong to them".

Are they saying that you can't keep a gun in your personal car even if you park in someone else's parking lot?

Yes. They consider coming to and from work company business, although we are not paid for the mileage or time.

They also consider the property to be fenced and we do have security personnel onsite 24/7. However, the property is not entirely fenced. Most of the entrances have controlled entry, but no security personnel. Only an ID badge with RFID is needed to gain entry into the employee parking lot in a car, truck, or van. Parking in parking lots across the street is forbidden. If discovered you will be required to move you vehicle into the company lot or face possible termination. Anyone can enter the visitor lot and then walk anywhere in that or the employee parking lot. Anyone can walk or ride a bicycle or motorcycle onto the property without an ID.

Security personnel are not to stop anyone. They are only there as a deterrence and are supposed to call the police if needed. I'm not positive, but there might also be more handicapped security personnel that walk with a cane than we have handicapped employees. Nothing wrong with that, I just note it as an example of their capability. The security people are contracted and not actual employees of our company and are also forbidden to carry a gun.

All this sounds bad and it might be compared to most, but otherwise I have a GREAT job and you all know what the economy is like.

[Heartland Patriot]

They also forbid anyone from keeping their gun in their car in parking lots that don't belong to them and in our personal vehicles on any company related business.

I'm confused about the first part of that sentence "They also forbid anyone from keeping their gun in their car in parking lots that don't belong to them".

Are they saying that you can't keep a gun in your personal car even if you park in someone else's parking lot?

Yes. They consider coming to and from work company business, although we are not paid for the mileage or time.

They also consider the property to be fenced and we do have security personnel onsite 24/7. However, the property is not entirely fenced. Most of the entrances have controlled entry, but no security personnel. Only an ID badge with RFID is needed to gain entry into the employee parking lot in a car, truck, or van. Parking in parking lots across the street is forbidden. If discovered you will be required to move you vehicle into the company lot or face possible termination. Anyone can enter the visitor lot and then walk anywhere in that or the employee parking lot. Anyone can walk or ride a bicycle or motorcycle onto the property without an ID.

Security personnel are not to stop anyone. They are only there as a deterrence and are supposed to call the police if needed. I'm not positive, but there might also be more handicapped security personnel that walk with a cane than we have handicapped employees. Nothing wrong with that, I just note it as an example of their capability. The security people are contracted and not actual employees of our company and are also forbidden to carry a gun.

All this sounds bad and it might be compared to most, but otherwise I have a GREAT job and you all know what the economy is like.

Don't feel alone. Because of the economy, I took a job in Lake Charles, La. The company I work for has a "no guns on company property" policy with vehicles being subject to search. And being Louisiana and all, I don't think that anything protects me there at all. So, I lock it up in a case, with a trigger lock as well, each work day before I leave the hotel I stay in when I'm down there...I don't dare take a chance because as much as I don't like working 7 hours from home, I think I'd like not working even less. Hard to pay bills without money.

[Abraham]

Does anyone know why many employers are so anti-gun in personal vehicles?

Certainly, I can speculate, but I've not read any concrete reasoning...

Anyone know?

Thanks!

[anygunanywhere]

Does anyone know why many employers are so anti-gun in personal vehicles?

Certainly, I can speculate, but I've not read any concrete reasoning...

Anyone know?

Thanks!

It is not about safety. It is about CONTROL. Employers, especially HR are all about CONTROL.

Anygunanywhere

[bizarrenormality]

That's true. Especially in larger companies. the HR department is a magnet for control freaks and micromanagers.

[XinTX]

Well, part of my job takes me onto some Federal property from time to time. Having a gun in your car is a MAJOR no-no. They'd likely prosecute since they had a fatal shooting/hostage situation about 5 years back. So I can't really carry one in the car anway.

[C-dub]

Does anyone know why many employers are so anti-gun in personal vehicles?

Certainly, I can speculate, but I've not read any concrete reasoning...

Anyone know?

Thanks!

It is not about safety. It is about CONTROL. Employers, especially HR are all about CONTROL.

Anygunanywhere

It is largely about control, but I'm not sure it is the HR folks that have that problem. They are just the keepers of and implement the policies. I don't think they are usually the policy makers. Although, they do get a bit of a high from implementing them.

I think it is the higher ups like the Board of Directors or CEO's and whatnot. There is also the $$$ concern regarding liability. I thought we had put the issue of insurance companies requiring a premises be gun-free to bed, but it might have more to do with the bean counters and the fear, however irrational, or threat of a liability law suit if a shooting did occur on company property.

Because there has been no court ruling against a company for not allowing someone to carry that could have defended themselves from an attack on company property they don't even see that possibility as a liability.

[glbedd53]

Thanks Charles.

[doc540]

bottom line - fear of liability

add to the mix a dash of "fear of retaliation" for how the corporation may be treating their employees like expendable resources

[fizteach]

What about teachers on school parking lots who are subject to being fired if found to have a weapon on the school parking lot?

[Keith B]

What about teachers on school parking lots who are subject to being fired if found to have a weapon on the school parking lot?

Still the same. The law is pretty clear on that.

[alvins]

texas maybe an "at will" state but they can still terminate you for no reason.so how are you going to deal with that?

the company i work for is based out of new jersey so asking about guns is asking for trouble.and yes they forbid guns in the building,parking lot, your car,company car, and reserve the right to search your car for any reason.They only lease space in the building and parking lot. They dont have the 30.06 signes but I could park on the street but its nice to keep your car out of the sun during the day.

[Ameer]

texas maybe an "at will" state but they can still terminate you for no reason.so how are you going to deal with that?

What do you mean "but"? That's what "at will" employment means. Either party can end it with no reason needed.