Take Your Gun To Work? Two States Say Yes

(CBS)  New gun laws are front and center in two states this summer. These laws don't restrict access to guns, but expand where residents can carry their weapons, even to their workplaces. CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports on the legal showdown between gun rights and property rights that is about to take place in Federal Courts in Georgia and Florida.

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Ann Stone is no Annie Oakley, just a Georgia mother, edgy about safety. So wherever she goes, she wants to take her .357 magnum.

"If there's a man that's going to attack me, there's nothing I can do personally, but if I have a gun, of course I can," Stone said.

Just this month, Georgia and Florida expanded state gun laws. People can now bring guns to work, so long as they leave them in their parked cars, joining gun owners in six other states with similar laws.

"They have the right to defend themselves and their families." said State Representative Tim Beardon, who wrote Georgia's new gun law.

Beardon, a former cop, says criminals benefited from restrictions on citizens carrying weapons,

"And it's about time that we started standing up for the innocent, law-abiding citizens instead of making excuses for the criminals all the time," Beardon said.

So, what's the worry? Guns within easy reach will lead to workplace shootings, some critics say. Just last month, a Kentucky plastics factory worker got angry, and got his gun in his car. He killed his supervisor, four co-workers, and then himself.

That's Larry Levine's nightmare.

"It's that ready access to a firearm that frightens us," Levine said.

Levine is an executive with Brandsmart, an appliance chain in Georgia and Florida. Even this NRA member wants guns kept away from his stores.

"Our company has the right to make the rules," Levine said. "Same as in your house. You may tell people that come to visit you they are not allowed to bring a firearm in the house."

Georgia's new gun law has more sticking points: whether firearms belong inside restaurants that serve alcohol; public transportation; and even the world's busiest airport in Atlanta.

The issue is whether people can carry guns in the common areas -- from the parking lots right up to security checkpoints -- not beyond, Strassmann reports. But for now, get caught carrrying a gun anywhere inside this airport, and you're in for trouble.

Ben Decosta runs this airport and oversees its security.

"They need to know who the good guys and the bad guys are, and have no mistake about it," Decosta said.

He's fighting in court to keep guns out. Decosta says even an accidental discharge would cause bedlam.

"It doesn't make any sense to bring in dangerous weapons in with people who are civilian and untrained," Decosta said.

But, to Tim Bearden, it makes perfect sense.

"Property's great, but nothing's better than your life," Beardon said.

And to Ann Stone, that's what it's all about. Feeling like she's not a target for trouble.

[massman1971]

Lets think about Licenses and what that means, It means permission by big government to either own, carry, buy or all the above and does anyone know states that have strict license laws like MA, NJ, NY, MD, CA, Ill and RI have higher crime rates, Any Agency can do a mental health back ground check with your state ID or Drivers License where that ID or license is more on the federal basis unlike a Pistol/Revolver license, License to carry firearms or CCW License, If you knew of any good gun laws then you would see that Vermont have the laws that all 50 states need not license laws that only give in to the sheep!

[highacres1]

We should have our guns or gun with us anytime and anyplace we choose. For me that is allways. I am a 63 year old mother of five. We are a family that carries guns. We have not used them in any irresponsible way. I hope we will never have too. If you need your gun then you should have it. I can think of several national situations where one gun would have saved the lives of many. You anti gun people should worry about the pollution and other acts of deathly consiquinces that are committed daily by our government and big business.

[duh1177]

This is a difficult issue to work with. Anti-Gun people say that they want guns completely removed from the society to completely eliminate the threat. That''s not gonna be possible. We made marijuana and cocaine and meth illegal, but they are still illegally imported, what''s to stop people from illegally importing guns?

Pro-Gun forces say that everyone should have a gun so that people can defend themselves against other armed assaulters. That''s not gonna be possible either. Anyone who''s had a bad day is gonna start shooting if he has the opportunity, if he is unstable and cannot resist the urge. It''s hard.

I don''t know much about the application process of acquiring a firearm, I''m a minor, and my family doesn''t have guns, so bear my ignorance. My opinion is that the application for getting a gun lisence should become more strict, especially on the topic of the mental health. Anyone without a very sound mind should not be in possession of a gun. And gun stores should be very adamant in only selling guns to people with licenses.

While it may not stop everything, it''s the only option that I can see.

[massman1971]

Anyone who supports not allowing legal people to protect them selves with their legal firearm is a NAMBLA member and should move out of this country like to south America, You also keep your crime rate there. Anti-Gun nut bags are NAMBLA supporters.

[grampadrgn]

The preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America DOES NOT begin with "We the Corporation..."
The only reference to property in the Bill of Rights states that property may not be taken without due process and just compensation. There is nothing about property owners being able to overrule the constitution!!!

[woodpiggie]

I was about to send NRA-ILA $50.00. It just became $100.00

[gruntpain177]

NO MORE GUNS.....PERIOD... Guns and people kill.Guns must be removed from society.


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Posted by kazar70 at 10:22 PM : Jul 27, 2008




Well I suggest that you kill yourself, as this will allow the start of a more safe nation.

[gruntpain177]

If you are against guns that''s great. I''m glad you are, that means that criminals can focus their attention on your ignorant azz instead of me and my family. To all of you anti-gun folks out there, your opinions are based on nothing more than regurgitated garbage. You all cry the same thing over and over. You base your incorrect facts on fear, thoughts and feeling. Whereas we base ours on FACTS. As for those of you who want to make derogatory commints about the very nice lady Mrs. Stone I want to tell you this. You said she would not have to worry about these things if she dresses more Christian and and covers her ankles. I say you need to worry more about your own christian values. You obviously have work to in that area of your life as God has said "thou shalt not judge." If you were truly christian than you would hold your tounge about the manner in which she dresses. For it is not your place to judge, that is Gods. Are you trying to take his place after my guns are gone?

[gruntpain177]

If you had half a brain you would realize what this is about. If your workplace will not allow you to keep your gun in your car at work, they are effectively denying your right to carry to and from work.
Posted by Archangel-45 at 12:32 PM : Jul 28, 2008

Gee, Archangel--I guess the half of brain I do have belongs to you and contains the part about reading comprehension. The article says the law will join 6 other states in allowing people to keep weapons in their parked cars. Unless people are going to be accosted by criminals in traffic or after they get back into their cars--according to this article, they are going to be as helpless as they ever were. Like I said, are they going to plead or bargain for the right to get back to their cars and get their guns?

From the article: "Just this month, Georgia and Florida expanded state gun laws. People can now bring guns to work, so long as they leave them in their parked cars, joining gun owners in six other states with similar laws."

Just let me know when you leave your half brain back--I realize my keeping in deprives you of all the sense you might have had. ROTFLMAO



is this in english?

[rodom2]

Look at the Supreme Court & Constitution of the USA provides "The People" in the way of protection from murder by criminals and madmen:
In 1856, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that local law enforcement had no duty to protect individuals but only a general duty to enforce the laws. South vs. Maryland, 59 US{HOW} 396, 15 L. Ed. 433 {1856}. A U. S. Federal Appeals Court declared in 1982: "There is no constitutional right to be protected by the state against being murdered by criminals or madmen." Bowers vs. devote, U. S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit 686 F. 2d 616 {1982}
The Constitution and the Supreme Court throws personal protection directly into the hands and responsibility of the citizen. We are nothing more than sheep awaiting the slaughter.
Jesus believed in the value of Self-Defense & the most recent interpretation of one of the Ten Commandments is, Thou Shall not Murder.
It is our duty from God and Man to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm and from murder. The Bible give us the right to protect ourselves from murder. The Declaration of Independence recognizes our God given right to Self-Defense and the Constitution gives us the 2nd Amendment and the Right to Arms for use in personal and family protection.
Everything in life states that the Leftists are absolutely wrong in their attempt to disarm the population and if they become serious about their task, we need to become equally serious about our task and fight for our God given rights.