Warthen, M8

Read Case Study 8.4 “Have Gun, Will Travel….to Work’

Answer the following questions in your post:   Questions 2, 3 and 4 at the end of the Case.   For question 4, since it is being debated at the state and federal levels, answer it in relation to schools and teachers

2. Moral or legal right to park cars w/ guns in them in company parking lot?   If so, what about the property rights and safety concerns of employers?   Would it be a good idea to let them stow guns in their cars?   Do companies have good grounds for being concerned about weapons in their parking lots?

I don’t really think it is a moral right that employees can have a gun in their car in the company parking lot, it seems to be a much more legal issue.   Morally, it seems okay, if the employee(s) can be trusted, then they should have the right to have this weapon in their vehicle, in case of self defense, of course considering if they have the license to carry a firearm.   Legally it is kind of scary as it can apply to a variety of employees and companies.   I think it is all up to the employer, but it also depends on what kind of business the people are in.   Location may also be a factor.

If employees don’t have this right already, I think it would be good policy to let companies allow them to stow guns in their cars.   First of all, the weapons are in their cars, not on their person.   The risk that this comes with though would be car theft/break-ins on the company property.   I think that would certainly concern some employers.   Factors taken into that would be how tight security is on their property.

3. Would banning guns from parking lots actually “take a wrecking ball to the Second Amendment” or nullify the right of people who have weapons for self-defense?   Does the state legislature have the right to get involved, or should the matter be left to companies and employees to settle?

I don’t think banning guns from parking lots would actually take a wrecking ball to the Second Amendment.   It would be legitimate to ban guns from some parking lots, like universities, grocery stores, etc.   Those kinds of places with lesser security should be where the law is stronger, and that could have some potential in bringing some prevention of issues with guns.   It might bring up some questions for those people that do carry a firearm wherever they go, but even that still seems almost crazy.   If it were left to the companies and the employees, that might be the better way to go, and maybe the easier way to solve the problems.   Companies and people that work for those companies might come to a solution easier than the state legislature.   Also, it could be better for just the companies and employees to settle it, as the rules for the guns in parking lots could vary easier from location to location.

4. Are there circumstances in which bringing guns not only into the parking lot but also the workplace itself might be reasonable?   Or would the presence of guns automatically violate the rights of other employees that are guaranteed a safe working environment?

Similar to the previous questions, I think it all depends on the location, type of business, or workplace, to determine whether it would be reasonable or not to bring the guns onto the parking lot or inside the buildings.   But, in relation to just schools and teachers, it shouldn’t be lawful that the teachers bring firearms into the premises.   People might say that it would be best if some or all teachers were allowed, and it would be secure if teachers underwent background checks, or took gun safety classes, but the thing is, that won’t make it 100% safe.   Who is to say a teacher won’t commit a school shooting?   As awful as it sounds, it could certainly happen.   All it could take would be a student or anybody to cross the line, and a serious injury or death is just a trigger pull away…   So yes, bringing firearms into the workplace, or having armed employees, would likely violate the rights of other employees, or even customers, a guaranteed safe environment.