Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

The Truth About Georgia “Parking Lot” Legislation

Sunday, January 6, 2008

NRA began promoting “parking lot” legislation in Georgia in 2006. In 2007, a Senate bill (SB 43) died in committee, but a House bill (HB 89) has been carried over to the 2008 session.Major Provisions of HB 89
  • Protects Constitutional Rights: HB 89 protects employees and the general public against searches of their private vehicles. It does not prevent constitutionally valid law enforcement searches, searches with an employee’s consent to prevent workplace pilfering, or emergency searches to prevent an immediate threat to human health, life or safety.
  • Protects Employees: HB 89 prevents employers from restricting employees’ self-defense and firearm rights with respect to guns in parked vehicles.
    • It does not affect firearm possession in offices, factories, stores or other actual workplaces.
    • The provision doesn’t apply to vehicles in secure, restricted-access lots, or to sensitive workplaces such as jails and prisons, defense contracting firms, and other places with special homeland security protections. HB 89 also allows restrictions on specific employees based on disciplinary issues.
    • In many cases, the state requires employers to provide parking in the first place. It is inconsistent to require businesses to provide public parking, then let businesses exclude certain types of lawfully owned and lawfully possessed property from customers’ and employees’ vehicles.
  • Protects Business: Georgia law already strongly protects landowners and employers from liability for the criminal acts of others. HB 89 strengthens those protections.
    • Under current Georgia statutes and case law, landowners are only liable to visitors for “failure to exercise ordinary care” in keeping their property safe. Property owners do not have to protect against unforeseeable criminal acts.
    • HB 89 protects employers and property owners from liability for misuse of a firearm, unless the employer himself commits a crime with a firearm, or unless the employer anticipated and failed to prevent an armed criminal act by a specific individual on the premises.
    • HB 89 specifies that it creates no “new duty on the part of the employer” or property owner, and that employers or property owners have no obligation to implement any new security measures. New security measures couldn’t be held against the company in court. And if an employer or property owner was sued over criminal use of firearms in the workplace, and won the suit, the losing plaintiff would have to pay all of the defendant’s legal expenses. Corporations and insurers should welcome these provisions, not oppose them.
Responses to Criticism
  • Some have claimed that a “parking lot” bill would raise insurance costs. But insurance markets set premiums based on real world costs. Figures from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Labor Statistics prove that corporate firearm policies can’t have much effect in the real world:
    • Over the last decade, workplace homicide rates have been cut in half.
    • Violent crime, especially homicide, has generally declined for over 30 years, and workplace violent crime has decreased even faster.
    • Most gun-related violent crimes in workplaces are committed by non-employees. According to DOJ, 84% of all workplace murders are committed by strangers; only 7% are committed by current or former employees. Naturally, strangers and former employees are not bound by any company policy.
    • Most workplace homicides occur during robberies or attempted robberies, according to DOJ. Obviously, armed robbers disregard any corporate policy against possessing firearms.
  • If anything, HB 89’s liability protections would reduce insurance costs.
TRENDING NOW
Colorado: General Assembly Continues to Follow California's Lead; Semi-Auto Ban Scheduled For Hearing

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Colorado: General Assembly Continues to Follow California's Lead; Semi-Auto Ban Scheduled For Hearing

The Colorado General Assembly continues to follow California's lead when it comes to gun control, this year already pushing for an 11% Excise tax on firearms/ammunition and now pursuing a ban on commonly owned semi-automatic ...

Wisconsin: Legislation Updating the Definition of Muzzloader Signed by Governor Evers

Friday, March 15, 2024

Wisconsin: Legislation Updating the Definition of Muzzloader Signed by Governor Evers

Yesterday, the governor signed Wisconsin Act 116, formally Senate Bill 587, into law. This legislation establishes a new definition for “muzzleloaders” that would allow for the use of innovative technological advancements that could benefit sportsmen, ...

Maine: NRA Fires Back Against Gun Grabbers

Friday, March 15, 2024

Maine: NRA Fires Back Against Gun Grabbers

For months, anti-gun politicians and gun-grabbing groups have been running wild in Augusta, spreading misinformation about firearms in a desperate attempt to pass the most extreme gun-control in the country. The proposals carry the same theme, ...

Delaware: Senate Passes Maryland-Style Permit to Purchase Scheme

Friday, March 15, 2024

Delaware: Senate Passes Maryland-Style Permit to Purchase Scheme

Last night, the Delaware Senate passed Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) by a vote of 15 to 6. This extreme legislation will impose a Maryland-style “handgun qualified purchase card” and a handgun transfer ...

Virginia: More than a Dozen Anti-Gun Bills Sent to the Governor!

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Virginia: More than a Dozen Anti-Gun Bills Sent to the Governor!

The newly elected Virginia General Assembly has prioritized restricting law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights and has made good on that priority this session. This year, dozens of anti-gun bills have been considered in both chambers ...

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Introduced in General Assembly

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Introduced in General Assembly

Anti-Gun extremist State Reps. Tim Hernandez (D-04) and Elisabeth Epps (D-06) introduced House Bill 24-1292, a bill banning the manufacturing, importing, purchasing, selling, offering to sell, or transferring ownership of so called “assault weapons”. 

Washington Post’s Somewhat Pro-Gun Column Inadvertently Exposes Problem with Mandatory Storage Laws

News  

Monday, March 11, 2024

Washington Post’s Somewhat Pro-Gun Column Inadvertently Exposes Problem with Mandatory Storage Laws

We generally don’t expect to see the Washington Post say anything positive about firearms or law-abiding gun owners, although there are occasional Op-Eds from pro-Second Amendment lawmakers, unbiased researchers and Constitutional scholars, and the like.

Appropriations Bill Passes with Language Protecting Veterans’ Second Amendment Rights

News  

Monday, March 11, 2024

Appropriations Bill Passes with Language Protecting Veterans’ Second Amendment Rights

Last week, Congress approved a package of legislation to fund various government agencies that corrects a longstanding and shameful practice that had been depriving American veterans of their Second Amendment rights since 1998.

Colorado: Mandatory Storage Bill Passes Committee and Hearings Postponed Due to Weather

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Colorado: Mandatory Storage Bill Passes Committee and Hearings Postponed Due to Weather

Today, HB 24-1348 which mandates how firearms must be stored in unattended vehicles, passed out of the House Judiciary Committee and is now eligible for a final vote on the House Floor. Please contact your lawmakers by using the ...

Utah: Governor Cox Signs Legislation Protecting Financial Privacy of Gun Owners!

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Utah: Governor Cox Signs Legislation Protecting Financial Privacy of Gun Owners!

Today, Governor Spencer Cox signed HB 406, legislation that provides important financial privacy protections for gun owners when purchasing firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition. The NRA would like to thank Governor Cox for signing this ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.