Guns at Work? Hope for Sanity

While he did not yet stop the so-called Bring Your Gun to Work law, U.S. Judge Robert Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida provided some hope to employers committed to keeping their workplaces safe. During a hearing Thursday in which business representatives asked for an injunction against the new law, Hinkle stated the law is so poorly written that it is "stupid."

The law applies to most Florida businesses. It permits employees and other people visiting a business to maintain concealed weapons inside their vehicles while on a parking lot owned by the business. Many business groups, employers and attorneys strongly oppose the law and view it as a blow to workplace safety. Just the other day in Kentucky, five employees were shot dead by an angry co-worker who authorities believe used a gun he kept in his car while at work. I don't want to see this scenario repeated in our state.

This article appeared in the June 27, 2008 issue of the Orlando Sentinel.