Fairfax, Va. – Governor Rick Perry signed a National Rifle Association backed measure that allows employees to store legally owned firearms in their locked, privately owned motor vehicles while parked at workplace parking lots into law.
“I’d like to thank Gov. Perry for signing this bill and for recognizing that a worker’s individual and constitutional right to self-defense does not end when they drive onto their employer’s property,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA Institute for Legislative Action. “This common-sense effort has been a top legislative priority for the NRA, because it is good public policy that provides workers with a means of viable self defense while commuting between their homes, their workplace and anywhere in-between.”
Senate Bill 321 prohibits employers from adopting and enforcing policies against employees who safely and lawfully store a firearm in their privately owned, locked vehicle while on an employer’s parking lot. This includes concealed handgun licensees who carry their firearm during their commute to and from work for personal protection, Texas sportsmen who hunt before or after work and competitive and recreational shooters who stop at the local shooting range before heading home for the day. The effective date of this legislation is September 1, 2011.
“Thanks to Governor Perry and bill sponsors Sen. Glenn Hegar and Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt, Texans now have the option to have a firearm in their car for self-defense, for recreational pursuits after work or for any other lawful purpose,” concluded Cox.
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Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.