Fairfax, VA—Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry (D) signed into law today a National Rifle Association (NRA)-backed bill to prohibit employers from banning locked firearms in company parking lots. The law comes as an improvement of a similar bill passed last year, and is originally the result of last year’s firings of Weyerhauser employees for storing personal firearms in their cars on company property.
The new law provides employer liability protection against third party criminal acts, while allowing individual employees to sue their employer for non-compliance. In the event that an employee sues and wins the right to store a locked firearm in the company parking lot, the bill also requires the employer to cover court costs and attorney’s fees.
“We are pleased to see the State of Oklahoma guarantee such protection to law-abiding citizens who choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “It’s a shame several honest citizens were wrongly fired from their jobs, but Oklahoma gun owners can now store their firearms without fear of reprisal from employers.”
The bill received overwhelming bi-partisan support in the state legislature, passing 95-5 in the State House and 44-0 in the Senate.
“NRA would like to thank all the pro-freedom legislators in Oklahoma City,” continued Cox. “We particularly want to thank Representative Greg Piatt (R) and Senator Jay Paul Gumm (D) for their leadership on this bill, and Governor Brad Henry for signing it into law.”
--nra--
More Like This From Around The NRA
