Packing Heat in the Parking Lot

Michael Abcarian, managing partner of the Dallas office, was interviewed for a podcast on Employee Benefit News about a new Texas gun law that allows individuals to store handguns and ammunition in locked vehicles on workplace parking lots. The law does not allow employees to have firearms on any company property other than in their privately owned, locked vehicle. Mike said that this is the time for employers to make sure their company policies are in order. Employers should have a well established zero tolerance policy against violence in the workplace. He also addressed the potential for similar legislation in other states and indicated that there are still legal challenges under this law regarding the responsibilities and liabilities of the employer. He said there will probably be a lot of issues yet to be decided by the courts on circumstances that are not black and white under the statute.