Guns at work

From David Lexington Ky

It is against the law to carry a gun into a Bank. That law really works huh?

Drugs are illegal aren't they? If that law worked we wouldn't need all the rehab facilities. Liberals crack me up.

From Lou -Salyersville, Ky

Please make sure to give your full name and address, because your one of the ones we definately DON'T want to have a gun. You've already thought it out obviously.

From Lou -Ky

If someone is stupid enough to pull a gun because someone cuts them off on the freeway, as you suggest, they don't need a gun, they'll simply use their vehicle. In order to obtain a carry permit, the state police do not one, but 7 background checks, at least thats what I was told when I got mine. As far as charging the seller with murder, what not charge the store where Lorena Bobbit bought her knife at? Theres also a good reason we have been able to withstand the rest of the world as long as we have. They think twice when they know that even if they whip our army, they then have to deal with a large populace who have their own weapons! Face it, as they say, guns don't kill people, peole do. ANYTHING can be a weapon, if you want it to be. including my cast iron skillet and chefs knife or my sons ball bat!

From Lou -Salyersville, Ky

I have a concealed -weapon permit and I think I should have the right to carry my handgun whereever I want, barring Government buildings. I went about this legally, had a background check that said there is nothing about me mentally or legally which would make me dangerous to have a weapon, so Leave me be. Besides, the nutcase criminals aren't going to get a permit, they don't want you to know they have it at all, so in my opinion especially if your doing a job where you are constantly being threatened like this man, then yes, you should be able to have one, with proper training. Just the sight of one on your waist might PREVENT some nutcase from pulling a knife!

From Adam, Sevierville, TN

I work in loss prevention for a department store.I and my fellow L.P. associates get knives pulled on us,threatened and put ourselves in harm way,when approaching and detaining shoplifters.we are not allowed by our employer to have any weapon to defend ourselves on their property or in our vehicles. some of us have hand gun carry permits but they do us no good when we need them.I have been lucky so far but several of my fellow associates have been stabbed and or injured by the criminal who does not obey the rules and laws.we should be allowed to protect ourselves and carry a concealed firearm if we have a permit.In all states..

From Josh, Virginia Beach, VA

With the exception of DoD facilities, I believe concealed weapon/handgun permit holders should be able to carry their firearm ANYWHERE. I have a VA Concealed Handgun Permit and carry my firearm EVERYWHERE that it is legal to do so.

From Paul, Seattle WA

I have no problem with people having guns in their home to protect themselves. If someone is stupid enough to break into a house when the owners are home it seems pretty reasonable to assume that they intend to harm the owners.

The problem with carrying guns outside of the home is that most people do not have the needed self control to prevent themselves from using their guns in a non life threatening situation.

Someone being a jerk and cutting you off on the freeway does not deserve to be shot. Someone calling you names or making fun of you does not deserve to be shot. Any number of similar situations where someone is being a jerk or even being threatening does not amount to a life threatening situation.

Police have the type of training to restrain themselves in situations like this and they are held to a high standard when it comes to shootings. If ordinary citizens want to carry guns then they should be held to the same standard.

If you shoot someone and it was not a clear case of self defense then you should be charged with murder or manslaughter.

Anyone selling a gun to someone without a thorough background check should be charged with accessory to murder if that person kills someone.

There's a good reason the US is so much more violent than most of the rest of the developed world. If the deadliest weapon you can get your hands on is a knife you're going to think twice before allowing a situation to escalate to violence because generally both people are going to get hurt.

From Bill, Muscoda, WI

It is too easy for the media to report only the negative side of any issue. It has been proven time and again how having guns available helps to deter crimes. Some people chose to misuse guns, alcohol, prescription drugs, cars, etc. That doesn't mean that we should or could consider them bad or try to outlaw them. People can be bad not inanimate objects. Don't leave me defenseless because some else did bad.

From Rory, Philly

The government does not have the right to say what an employer can and can't do on his own private property, that land is not owned by the government and thus they should have no control over it. If I'm paying you to be my employee i can stiuplate whatever terms in that contract (as long as they are not harmful to the employee) that i want because I'm not forcing you to work there so you don't have to work there if you really need to bring a gun to work you have the option to find an employer that allows you to bring a gun in your car to work. It's kind of odd that conservatives (stereotypically anyway) are for these kinds of laws when the closest thing they relate to is communist rule, because essentially what the government is saying is that they have control over your property and what you can and can't do with it.

From corbett

Weapons are just that, regardless if it is a gun or a sharp pencil, and a
lack of convienence does not make them less deadly. The gun, even though it
is a mighty power, should not catch so much criticism. Next time you are in
town, try going into your local court house carrying an ax or sledgehammer.
When the workforce moves from five days a week to six, eight hours a day
to ten, and the economy still causes the American man to suffer, stress
rises. Today there is less time for religon, less time for family, and less
time for friends. Illegal immigrants and overpopulation from childbirths
just add to the root problem. People today do not know how to socialize,
and more and more they are reacting violently. Americans do not pocess the
morals needed to live in harmony, most are sadly losing the ability to cope
with life.
Our judicial system only makes matters worse. If your spouse divorces you
today, you must make adjustments to your lifestyle, maybe you have to rent
an apartment, pay lawer fees, pay alimony and so on. You struggle with more
bills than you can afford, while dealing with your over bearing boss at
work. Three months of declining numbers at work and suddenly your without a
paycheck, you can't find a job, and half of the illegals in your town are
driving a lexus. You know in the back of your head that a gun will only
make things worse, but then you consider the justice system. You are
guaranteed to get free shelter over your head, free food each day, no bills
to pay, no job to struggle with, only new friends that you can socialize and
bond with each day……Go figure.

From Dave Stone, Atlanta, Ga.

Copy the laws of the rugged hunters of Australia. Enact a small tax on each weapon and cut legality off at anything larger than 30/06's. Limit hand guns only to ranchers to kill varmints after proving ranching as your main source of income.
Get caught without a legal, taxed weapon ($25/yr), or a handgun, and do the time; no if's ands or buts.
It works in Aussie and England, and Fr. and Italy and Germany.
Home protection and hunting are maintained.
Why are Americans so afraid of the word 'change?' It's why the rest of the world is passing us by. Most hide behind their fears and inadequacys. Do their 80 year old arthritic mothers pack heat?

From AM Huntintington,in

It wasn't GOD that made man equal;It was SAM COLT.
BLUE LAWS:GUN LAWS Wheres the FREEDOM.

From Bill, London

The bare facts are that of 100% of all gun deaths in the US each year, the breakdown is:

55% suicide
40% murdering someone, of which, 95% of that is someone you know
3% accidents/errors
2% police shootings and shootings by citizens of threats

So, more than 99 people die for every one "possibly saved" by having a gun? Crazy.

In the UK, handguns are absolutely illegal. Some criminals have them, sure. But there is almost ZERO gun murder outside gang shootings, etc, because criminals know that no one has a gun, and the penalties for using one are so high. Thus it is FAR SAFER here.

From JC, Kissimmee. Orlando

How stupid can we get! People w/l to carry will leave their guns at home and others will do as well. Are we retarded or what in the world have we been smoking. Take the guns away from the criminals and not away from law abiding people. Give the people the right, it’s the right thing to do…

From JCC Albuaueraue, NM

It is unfortunate that people believe a written policy provides physical protection. A gun locked in the car does me no good at work but can proved protection to and from work. These policies typically go beyond guns and include any form of weapon including pepper spray. Read your policy carefully so you will not be surprised. The issue is that the policy does not allow me to protect myself to and from work. Do the companies understand that with an exclusion policy that they are now liable for my safety to and from work? People need to spend some time thinking through all of the consequences. Having people trained in CPR and having an AED available may save a heart attack victim. A policy against heart attacks will not.

From charles kolb highland, michigan

does anyone here really think that a "gun" makes a concious decision to go out and shoot some one ? it is not the gun causing the problem , it is the people using them . im all for a safe work environment , but what really constitutes a safe environment to begin with . as in anything we do or anywhere we go , there is a certain amouont of danger to be encountered . lets put the blame where it really lays . on the individuals themselves . as for gun control if you outlaw guns only outlaws will have them , then what happens next ? point to ponder my friends

From Don

This is more an abberation than an everyday event. These things are good
to write about cause they are FRONT PAGE and happen so infrequently.
However, the everyday crimes are OLD HAT stuff. If this was a break in and
robbery it wuld have been on page three or four, you and I both know this as
fact. What makes this of interest is simply he has NO record.

Actually, a far better story would've been, what problems led up to this
event! An internal conflict not handled properly – what? Whateverhappened
to coflict resolution in the workplace?

From Robert Cady

Typical CNN anti-gun bias. Perhaps your next article will reflect the
number of times these weapons were used to stop someone from killing others.

From Steven Iles

Just a thought…if someone is the type of person willing to harm people
at work over an argument…then I do not thing a law, or an employer rule,
will stop the employee from having a gun at work. Just as "gun free" zones
do not keep guns out, as can be readily attested to by those killed in gun
free zones over the last year…including every person killed by gunfire in
Washington DC, or in the recent mall shootings. If someone wants to cause
injury to someone else, an illegal act all by itself, that person will
certainly have no aversion to breaking a minor law. I must say a simple,
commonsense response like that should have been mentioned in the article.

From bob shepard rockingham nc

This is no time to take the right of a gun owner to bear a weapon to protect themselves at work. i am a mgr of a business in nc. our state says you do not have the right to be armed when faced with robbery. we need a nation wide store clerk protection act that frees companys from being sued and clerks. as the old saying goes when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns. sorry i got mine and know how to use it thanks to the us army

From Donnie Jones Longview, Tx.

Quote those statistics to someone who is in bed when some bad guy breaks into their bedroom in the middle of the night and wants to rob and kill them and see how much protection it gives them!

From Matthew, Houston,TX

With all the recent shootings around the nation, my co-workers and I have discussed several what-if scenarios. Because several of them are licensed to carry concealed hand guns, I don't worry much about something like this happening at my workplace. With the recent ruling on the second amendment by the supreme court, it will be interesting to see what changes occur in the next few years.

From kiel h Mesa AZ

I happen to be a sword collector as well as being knowledgeable in their use. We could BAN all guns on the face of this planet and burn them all and I guarantee I could take a sword, walk into a place like that and STILL do similar amounts of damage.

Give me a knife, same thing. Heck a pencil can be used as an effective weapon.

Point is, no matter what is at hand, a person that has purposed to commit violence on themselves or others will find a way. It doesn't matter what implement was used.

From Anonymous

THERE WILL BE A BIG SHOOTING,HUNTING,OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW (S.H.O.T.
SHOW) COME THIS JUANARY,2009 DOWN THERE IN ORLANDO,FLORIDA FOR DEALERS
ONLY(FOR POLICE OFFICERS DOWN TO THE DEER HUNTERS TOO) MY DECEASED FATHER
WAS A HUNTER/FISHERMAN OVER HERE IN LOUISIANA; WE WENT THRU HURRICANE
"BETSY" AND RECENTLY I WENT THRU HURRICANE KATRINA (AUGUST 2005); I STAYED
HERE FOR FIVE DAYS AFTER KATRINA HIT NEW ORLEANS, I LOST MY BUSINESS NOT
ONLY TO THE "FLOOD" WATERS" BUT MAINLY FROM THOSE "LOOTERS" WHO WERE
ALSO LOOTING A LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. MAYBE IF I HAD A
GUN AT HAND (DEER HUNTING RIFLE) OR EVEN THAT DREADED AK-47, I COULD HAVE
SAVED SOMETHING BESIDES STANDING UP THERE EMPTY-HANDED, WAITING FOR THE
"LOCAL" COPS TO SHOW UP TO "PROTECT AND SERVE" WHICH IS NOT guaranteed
BUY THAT U.S.CONSTITUTION; MAYBE WE ALL SHOULD GO "UNARMED" FOR ANOTHER
PEARL HARBOR BECAUSE THAT IS THEE ONLY WAY SOME FOREIGN NATION WILL CONQUER
THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT!!!! A LOUISIANA "KATRINA"
SURVIVOR NOW GUN OWNER/DEER HUNTER

From Ed Ashcraft

One possible scenario that I haven't seen discussed is one in which an employee is prohibited from having a gun in the workplace and who is killed or injured by someone who doesn't abide by the prohibition. Consider the possibility of the injured or killed employee or his estate suing the employer for failing to protect the employee and preventing him from having the means to protect himself. If an employer prevents someone who is otherwise legally allowed to carry a weapon for personal protection from doing so they should be held liable for the employee's injury or death.

Ed Ashcraft
Owner
Ashcraft Companies

From Bill Ford

This is not a complex nor is it an issue. The U.S. Constitutuion sepcifically states citizens have the inalienable right to bear arms. No complexity nor issue attaches except to those that want to do away with inalienable rights and replace them with revocable privilege.

Thanks.

From Amy Haimerl, Senior Editor, FSB

Bill,

Thank you for writing; we appreciate your comments, though most of them do not seem targeted at this particular article. I must say, our story did not take a stand either way. What it did was look at a complex issue that is dividing many small-business owners. Many who are gun advocates don’t want the government telling them what they can and cannot do on their property; while others see the right to bear arms trumping private property laws. We didn’t posit the correct opinion, we simply brought the debate to light, considering the new laws that are going into effect.

Best,

Amy Haimerl
Senior Editor, FSB

From Bill Ford

As usual gun control advocates are not presenting the truth or the real issue. How many victimes were killed or injured by criminals with guns last year. What happens when the victims are armed?

The U.S. Constitution trumps any employer. You do not lose or rescind your inalienbale right to bear arms by going to work.

The question is not about postal employees. The question remains are we going to have inalienable rights or not?

It may interest you to know that the Japanese declined to attack the west coast in 1942 because they were aware that American citizens were armed. Vigilantes and guerillas would have cost them heavy casualties. If people like your firm had your way we would now be speaking Japanese.

Bill Ford

P.S. China and Russia and Germany did not have an armed citzenry. 70,000,000; 30,000,000 and 10,000,000 died under gun control governments. Any qestions?

From David Wells, VA

As a small business owner in VA. I would 'chime' in with the gentleman from Crawfordville, FL. "I have no problem with law-abiding citizens carrying firearms secured in "THEIR personal vehicles (which is their personal property) on my property.

I would find legislation allowing business to restrict my right to carry in or on my personal property more instrusive of my rights, than the argument of property rights.

My 2cents
David Wells

From Nathan Roberts, Tulsa, OK

Being from Oklahoma I learned of the Weyerhaeuser incident early on. I cant help but believe that this company was trying to get rid of a particular employee or employees. springing the search on the first day of hunting season is a bit harsh. That being said the company owner has the right to limit what is on his or her property. Likewise the employee has the right to personal protection. Being an employee with a concealed weapon license, I have a pistol in my car at work. The owner of the company knows this and has never had a problem with it. Its a question of trust and loyalty. If an employer doesn't trust an employee with a firearm, the employee doesn't need to work there. vice versa, I would never work for a company that would not let me have a firearm in my car.

From Mark A Roberts, CPA, CFA

Sirs:
I have a loaded handgun most of the time in my office at work and when working at any of my portfolio companies. I have re-written employee handbooks in several instances to allow properly permitted employees to have loaded handguns on company property with proper written notification to the designated company HR department head. Why? It is safer.
It is safer. Workers with a permit (CCW) to carry a concealed weapon are trained, tend to be the most reliable employees and least likely to lose their tempers. Arguments and heated tempers don’t escalate for these folks for the reason that they realize the potential repercussions. This point is also supported by several formal studies that show that there has NEVER been an improper shooting by someone with a CCW permit.
It is safer. Employees or non- employees who are unstable and who may be potentially dangerous are least likely to show up on company property with a firearm or any other means to put my employees at risk when they know or even suspect that anyone is armed. It is a fact. In every school shooting, employee shooting, or most shootings in general, the shooter ALWAYS relies on the assumption that no one else is armed.
It is safer. If a workplace violence event does occur, what would be the proper action when you have only seconds to act but the police are minutes away?

As an illustrative anecdote; growing up I often had a shotgun and shells in my trunk while attending high school. In those crisp October and November days, a half a dozen of us would hunt early in the morning before going to classes at school. We just put the guns in our trunks or on the gun rack of our trucks. In all those years, no one was ever shot or even threatened with a firearm at our high school. Yet school boy fist fights were regular occurrences. It is no surprise to me that all of us turned out just fine. Of course if my son and his friends did exactly the same thing we did in high school they could be arrested for multiple federal and state felonies. The existence and possession of firearms hasn’t changed so I would ask you, what has?

With Regards,

Mark A. Roberts, CPA, CFA
Roberts & Company, LLC

From Marcus Rutledge

Hello,

I just had this discussion with my co-worker last week. I drive from city to city to service Lowe's stores. I have a Florida issued Concealed -weapon permit and carry my gun in my car everyday. I truly feel as if anything could happen while working in different cities, so I carry my gun for protection. Anyone with a Florida concealed weapon permit should have the right to carry no matter where they are Laws have been made when we had to take the two hour course, get finger printed, and pay the $117.00.

Thanks,
Marcus.

From Nom Deplume

While I agree that gun ownership is a right, this is a tough one. I am a gun owner and a republican, but I also support private property rights, including the rights of employers to specify terms of employment. Fact is, if they want to keep guns of their own property, they should have that right. They will be sued if some employee 'goes postal' and kills someone at work; they have the right to limit that liability.

From Dan, Orange CA

Gun control does not reduce murders. It only changes what your murdered with. If I bring a gun to my work to go hunting.I'll park it in the street that's just rediculous. however a nation without arms is a nation on it's knee's. What makes a slave and what makes a master? One has a gun the other one doesn't.

From Joe, Monroe, MI

in arizona you can wear a gun on your hip and there are no mass murders and if you think a law is going to keep someone from killing another person you are only fooling yourself, my friends dad was killed with a comb that had a pointed handle for $30. people it strangled, beat to death, stabbed, ran over and shot, let's not forget bombed too.

From John

I think the fact that we are discussing the issue of guns in the work place is insane!

But this is just another example of the cancer that has infected our moral and civil sensibilites in this country.

We have gone from a great can do, work your way up attitude to every man, woman and child for themselves. The one who has the most bullets wins.

We are becoming a nation divided internally, and we all know where that will lead to, eh Ceasar

From William Hock, Breckenridge, Co

Life is dangerous- that's why – regardless of what may happen- guns should be allowed everywhere. If management pushes workers over the line, then there will be consequences, as in Kentucky. I agree with the guy from Houston that workers should wear guns on their belts, and then we won't need to clog up the courts with frivolous lawsuits and complaints. In the Old West, such matters were settled with more resolution than today's pussyfoot atmosphere.

From Gary Franklin, Mooresburg, Tn.

Jesus said" I sent you out first without money or sword, but now I tell you sell what you have and buy one" meanining the deciples would have to defend themselves against those who attack them for preaching the Gospel.
A changed heart is the answer, not banning guns.

From Gary Franklin, Mooresburg, Tn.

Man made laws will not change the heart of man. You know it and I know it,lets not kid each other.

From Gary Franklin, Mooresburg, Tn.

It has worked in the opinion of this person.Show me the numbers.

From chris colon aibonito,p.r.

yes,guns can stop another gun not a law. but when a law is broken then punishment shall prevail,but when life is threatend then the right to protect it should prevail.

From Steve, Moorpark, CA

I'm happy that everyone feels the need to pack a pistol. It's really the best solution to overpopulation. Fire away gents. Just stop all that blathering about God and rights. It's really all about killing other people. After all how many folks go deer-hunting with a handgun?

From Greg, KC, MO

Mike from Aus, You are kidding right? Have you looked at the crime statistics lately? They have shot through the roof. What worries me about things like this shooting is what is wrong with people anymore. Nobody cares about doing the right thing or about human life. Mike now that guns are banned, whats next? Oh wait, swords are already getting talked about…..

From Geoff, San Diego, CA

I believe statistics support that banning guns actually decreases gun-related deaths substantially. The key is to make the penalties for illegal possession of firearms to be substantial, and then enforces these penalties.

"The right to bear arms" is an ignorant and dated misconception that only ends of causing the deaths of thousands of Americans on a yearly basis. There is no need for the averages citizen to carry a firearm. None.

From Mark, Cedar Rapids, IA

If I was so upset at my boss that I wanted to shoot him up and others in my company, How would a law, or company policy against guns in cars in the company parking lot stop me?

The only thing laws and policies like this do, is harass employees who have no intent of doing anything and would like to keep a gun locked safely in the car.

These reports are so silly.

From David Penninger, Houston Tx

It's funny to me how people respond to such an incident. If people were allowed to carry small arms ON THEIR BELT the bad guys would never get away with shooting large quantities of people. I know that conflicts with our dreamy notion of a utopian society but we better more used to the fact that utopia is a dream place.

From LF Las Vegas

This debate is much more complex than a simple question of having the right to bring weapons into your business. YES we have a right to bear arms and YES I agree with the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn the outdated D.C. law. Property owners and businesses also have an obligation to protect their employees. Ever heard of OSHA?

From Jeremy, Los Gatos CA

Yes, carrying a gun in the car concealed is fine and would provide a means of self defense and public protection. A friend of mine would have been car jacked and possibly killed at knife point had he not had a gun in his glove box and pulled it when the guy tried to pull his door open. Seeing the business end of the gun was enough to send the guy running. Here in California, in the City of Turlock, two or three cars stopped when they saw a maniac beating a young toddler to death. Their attempts to pull the guy off failed…by time the police arrived by chopper some 6 minutes after the 911s were called in and shot the guy, it was too late. The toddler was gone. Had someone been carrying a gun, they could have perhaps saved this innocent toddler's life. Five minutes was all it took to end a life…law abiding citizens who carry concealed can not only defend themselves but also help prevent tragedies like this. People defend themselves with guns every week. In Austin, TX a law was passed to allow Concealed Carry in government buildings. Why…the government acknowledged that they cannot protect the individuals from harm. It is the individual's responsibility to protect themselves. Police protect the public at large not individuals (no body guards).

From Mike Nichols,Tasmania,Aus

As an interested observer of the debate which continues in the US regarding the application of gun laws,it is always interesting to observe the various perspectives presented including:
the invoking of god,the US constitution,the behaviour of criminal elements and deranged individuals.
from the perspective of US citizens this all no doubt seems reasonable because it has been the nature of the debate for so long.But it is really a matter of the ready availability of an effective killing technology which the real issue.
the potential consequence will always exist however the magnitude can be better managed with control over the availablity of the technology ,otherwise allow individuals the right to carry more substantial armaments
After the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania where 35 were killed by one man with an SLR,Australian gun laws were uniformly changed to good effect ,it was about removal of the technology from the general population – and it has worked!
I wish you all the best with your debate.

From Kevin from Minnesota

Humans are the only species that have created mechanical devices with the intent killing fellow humans. And billions of dollars are spent in perfecting the art of those death-inflicting devices. Aren't we supposed to be the intelligent species? Hey, I'm a hunter, and I have 5 firearms and a compound bow in my home. But I balk at the idea of private ownership of assault weapons and concealed carry as testosterone boosters. Guns don't kill people. Idiots with guns and the lack of sensible regulations, however, do kill people. Had sensible regulations been in place five decades ago, law-abiding citizens wouldn't feel compelled to have a handgun in the night stand "just in case".

From Ed, Williamsburg, VA

There is a common theme here: that gun laws only infringe on the rights of those that obey the law. Criminals do not follow the law, and will not, no matter how many laws are put on the books. Law-abiding gun-owners, however, suffer the restriction of being less able to protect their own life and the lives of others.

As a concealed handgun owner with a number of training courses and certifications to prove my proficiency, I carry whenever I leave my home and have a weapon close by when I am at home. While some anti-gunners would call me paranoid, I simply feel that I am prepared should the worst come. The police cannot be there 24/7, and with a shortage of officers, response times can be 5-10 minutes. When someone is trying to attack you, or has a weapon pointed at you SECONDS COUNT! I REFUSE to roll over and die…..it is my right to be able to protect myself, wherever and whenever that may be.

Look at the numbers: Virginia has a large number of CHP-holders (concealed handgun permit) and we have one of the LOWEST crime rates in the country. Now look at Washington D.C.– their crime rate is astronomical and their citizens are FORBIDDEN to own handguns for protection. Coincidence? I think not.

From Han, Houston TX

I got a Lehman's regional office right across the hall from my office. I would like to be able to carry a gun to work, just in case…

From Robert M. Noonan Houston Texas

To K.Anderson below.

Violence is rarely the solution to any problem, but when it is, it is the only solution. God created man. Samuel Colt made them equal.

From Robert M. Noonan

Guns cause violence like pens cause misspellings. Stringent even draconian gun laws should be passed to put away forever those who commit their special little crime with a gun. But the right to determine what is on your property ends with my property. Police need my permission or a warrant to search my cars. Employers stand no higher than the police.

From Tom, Fort Worth, Texas

A tragedy indeed, but I wonder what the outcome would have been if an armed security officer was present at the plant, or a trusted member of management or supervision with prior military/police training and a concealed handgun license was armed? Any disgruntled employee could injur or kill many employees in the parking lot with their vehicle. What would the response be then, no more cars at work? The key is to have managers and supervisors who are not afraid to discipline their employees in a constructive way and teach employees how to notice co-workers who are not acting in a responsible manner. This involvement will bring down workplace violence, not banning guns.

From ck Dallas, TX

Jerry,

If you can't carry a firearm in your car, how are you going to ever hunt?

If you think outlawing guns in cars will solve the problem, you should lobby to outlaw armed robbery and murder. Oops, they are already illegal. What makes you think a criminal or nutcase will pay any more attention to a law against carrying a gun in the car than they do the laws against robbery and murder?

From Tom Hollingshead

Criminals will always use guns. Banning guns keeps them from law abiding citizens, not criminals. Let law abiding citizens defend themselves against criminals. All the statistics gathered during the past 20-30 years show right to carry laws decrease gun violence. All you have to do is read the research and statistics. It is all available on the net.

From Alan, Tempe, AZ

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. An inanimate object, such as a gun, has no intrinsic ability to take a life.

I am a gun owner. I possess a CCW. I carry a handgun in my truck and occassionally on my person. I am a law-abiding citizen. I settle disagreements every day without a firearm. Guns are not the problem here…the individuals making a conscious decision to use a gun to settle a dispute are the core problem.

It slays me that people still think guns are the problem and that banning them from the workplace or any other venue will solve it. People are the real issue…irresponsible people!

Education and training are the keys to responsible gun ownership and use. However, I fully support psych exams for gun ownership…

From Jim, Salt Lake City, UT

When you outlaw guns the criminals line right up an give them up… RIGHT… I'm in a State that is very pro gun and we have one of the lowest crime rates. You can count the number of incidents of misuse by persons with conceal carry permits over the last 10 years on one hand (and have fingers left over). By having more responsible citizens armed, the criminals think twice about hasseling people.

From BDMiller

Once again it is the gun that killed. The person who is intent on killing will do so regardless of the law. I feel no warm and fuzzy feeling knowing that guns are banned on or in a business. I do feel less protected in general knowing I could become a victim without increased odds of some sort of outside prevention, i.e. a licensed gun carrying citizen. Wake up America, its the criminal or terrorist who kills, by any means…not the Gun!

From Diane, Virginia

Since allowing citizens the freedom to carry concealed weapons in the glove compartment you will continue to see a rise in employees who are disgruntle or dismissed from a job will retaliate at against their supervisors or employees. I personally feel that weapons should be kept in your home only with a permit. I feel that there are too many people who have mental issues that should not be allowed to have a weapon of any sort.

From Jeff, California

I can't believe that some people still think laws will prevent this type of stuff from happening. Four key words for those of you that do feel that way – "Criminals don't obey laws!". Completely destroy all handguns on the face of the earth and this story would have likely been about a guy stabbing his fellow employees to death. It's sad and unfortunate but there is no way to absolutely prevent this stuff from happening.

From Mallah Goindoo, West Palm Beach, Florida

Unless there is danger to someone's life on the way to work and back home, there is no need to keep a gun in a car. I own a weapon for which I have a permit but it is kept at home as protection in the event that my life is put in danger. There is absolutely no need to have my gun in the car. I feel that the real issue at hand is being overlooked, this is not about guns but just maybe has to do with the current crisis in our country today, that is putting extreme stress on its citizens that they are losing their rational. Lets focus on the fixing the problems in the country and not on GUNS.

From Bill G, Hunterdon, NJ

When someone gets shot, it's always a tragedy. That said, No law can stop a bullet or deranged person. Gun bans, public or private, obviously don't work. Americans have the right to self defense, and to keep and bear arms. We do NOT have the right to resolve conflicts with violence. I think it's very simple, the 2nd amendment says we have the right to arms, and plenty of other laws against shooting people. In workplaces, however, you give up many rights (free speech, peaceable assembly, etc.)and have to follow rules in exchange for employment. If you don't like it, you have the freedom to work elsewhere.

From Robert Nashville, TN

So if anyone can have a gun anywhere, what's next? Grenades, grenade launchers, rocket launchers, land mines, missles, bombs, etc.?
Guns kill people. That is their purpose. You do not need to kill anyone at work. You should not be allowed to bring a gun to work. Having a gun does NOT make you safer (check the statistics, not the lies from the NRA). Escalation does not make ANYONE safer.

And for the inconsiderate jerks who think they should be able to keep a gun in their car so they can go hunting after work, I ask you this – is someone elses LIFE really worth less than your mild inconvenience?

From Joe Sarcasm, SE Pennsylvania

But wait … Atlantis had a rule banning guns on the property. So, how could this shooting have possibly happened.

Maybe they should have made two or three other rules about guns, that would have made this tragedy not happen… right?

From K. Anderson

I think that guns kept in a person's car is just another way Satan has deceived us into destroying us. Allowing guns to be carried in cars or concealed on our bodies is not the solution to gun violence. The real solution is very simple, if there are no guns then there would be no gun violence. In America, where gun violence is the highest in the world, organizations like the NRA promotes gun ownership and they use the constitutiion to back their views. Most of the members of the NRA are white men and most of them feel that the best solution to a problem is to shoot it. Fear has always been a problem for these people and when a person is fearful of anything they will do anything to calm that fear and if what is causing that fear is another human being then they resort back to what they feel is the best solution to that problem, 'shoot them'. White males in this country have more weapons than the military. Ever since the the slaying of Abel by Cain there has been violence in the world. If there had been guns at that time in history mankind would never had made it to the twentieth century. If we continue using guns and believing that guns are a necessary part of human life then we will eventually destroy all of mankind. The Constitution is very important to American life but it was written by the same kind of men who feel that fear of anything justfies destroying it. The rules or laws of life that are even more important for us to live by are the laws written by God, the Ten Commandments. If we all follow those laws then there would be no need for guns because the premise of the Ten Commandments is Love, and when you love someone you won't hurt or kill them. A perfect world is one where there are no guns, such as Heaven. Hurting and killing is not of God and doing anything that is not of God will prevent you from entering that perfect world called Heaven. We should be more about teaching people to love and care for one another instead of destroying them in the name of peace. Violence and wars will never bring about peace.

From Jerry Hampton Crestwood, Ky

As a hunter and gun owner I think everyone should have the right to own a gun but they don't need to carry them around in their cars.If you own a gun it should be stored at home in a safe place away from children.If you become to familiar with your gun then it becomes a weapon.

From vgs, south ogden, utah

My take on guns at work is the same as my take on guns at church, ball games, or anywhere else open to the public where my safety is not guaranteed. Do you think that a law or rule against guns in an establishment will deter a disturbed individual from using one to kill? The issue that I see all news writers miss is the difference between a person licensed and trained to carry a gun for protection versus all others. Had the shooter been confronted with a person, man or woman, who was trained and licensed to carry a gun for protection, that killer-coward would not have slaughtered six people but would have been stopped in his tracks by a trained and licensed concealed firearms person who knew how to handle and use a gun. More off-duty and disturbed police officers have wantonly killed people than all licensed concealed firearms persons in the U.S. I do see a need, however, to tighten controls on issuring carry licenses; for example, here in Utah where I live, out-of-staters who cannot be tracked are issued licenses that I believe should be restricted to Utah residents only.

From Charles Petrik, Norcross, GA

Atlantis Plastics may PRETEND that there are "NO WEAPONS ALLOWED" at their company, but I know that you will find mant weapons at any company. I refer to scissors, letter openers, chairs, etc.

I went to schools where state law stated that weapons were illegal on school grounds. School officials WOULD RETURN WEAPONS FOUND ON HOODLUMS, WHILE TRYING TO FRAME INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR THE OFFENSE! (I should point out that this was in Illinois-FAMOUS for imprisoning innocent people.)

I live in a "no guns allowed" rental property. When hunters were seen with rifles/shotguns being moved from home to car, they were evicted. When Hoodlums were shooting at other residents units or automobiles, NOTHING WAS DONE!! When the Hoodlums shot at a POLICE CAR SEVERAL TIMES, the managers criticized ME FOR HELPING THE POLICE TO IDENTIFY THE BAD PEOPLE!!

My point is that the anti-gun people of the world, ONLY WANT TO STOP LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, WHILE COVERING UP FOR THE FELONS!!! I SEE THIS EVERYWHERE I LOOK!
Corporations ALWAYS BEHAVE IN THIS SAME WAY, HELPING CRIMINALS WHILE HURTING THE DECENT PEOPLE! THIS IS WHY THERE IS SOOO MANY SHOOTINGS!! INJUSTICE!

From Brian, Fennville, MI

Spokeswoman for Atlantis Plastics stated, "Employee safety is a priority at Atlantis. We do not allow weapons of any kind in our facilities." Does anyone see the irony here? Atlantis Plastic’s policy of not allowing weapons in the facility did not stop Wesley Higdon from entering the facility with his gun. If guns were not allowed in the parking lot, Wesley still wouldn’t have been stopped from retrieving his gun from another location and returning. Laws and policies only affect those who submit to the governing authority. Criminals are criminals because they have refused to submit to the law. They aren’t going to be stopped by banning guns or adding additional restrictions to them! Gun bans only put law abiding citizens at a disadvantage to criminals.

From Scott , Garnett,Ks

I really wish people would investigate these stories a little more. Did the man in Ky have a conceal and carry permit? If not he is a prime example why others should be allowed to carry. If he didn't have a permit he was in violation of the law. In most states you are not allowed to keep a loaded gun in your car. The other people in the work place had no way of protecting thesmselves. If you look at the supreme court ruling in the D.C. area where a ban had been in effect for 32 years there were the same number of handgun deaths. So your telling me the ban was effective? For the criminal maybe. I'm sorry but the police cannot protect a person 24 hours a day. If you ban guns what should be next? The biggest terrroist act on american soil (911) was carried out with box cutters. But you don't see many groups trying to ban them. It's a sad fact that man will always find a way to murder his fellow man. The gun is a tool like any other, it depends on whose hands its in.

From James Horne

There has been no mention in the media about wide spread use of less than lethal force as a measure to temper violence.

Sadly, tasers and similar devices have not achieved the widespread popularity of firearms.

As a Florida Resident, with a concealed carry permit you may anticipate a particular bias.

My father had been a firearms instructor in the military and taught me the responsibilities of weaponry at a young age. It is my considered opinion that resposible ownership and responsible use of lethal force within the law should not be abridged.

I would go so far as advocate weapons training for all citizens qualified for gun ownership. The failure as I see it is that the gun weilding idiot had no real reason to expect that his impulse to slaughter would be met with serious resistance. As chaos in society increases it is predictable that violence will increase.

In my opinion, safety becomes the responsibility all the way down the line to the individual. It would assume that there was no armed security and no time for police response.

Cowboy justice, and vigilante justice are not good things.

There may however be a point in time where individual force of arms affirmed by the recent Supreme Court decision may spell the difference between social order and chaos.

In the case of the Ky story, whether or not the law would have permitted it, the individual inclined to mayhem may well have kept his weapon at the ready.

What may have been the outcome if the murder/suicide had met a room with others with tasers or firearms?

The underlying premise is that a society is as strong as the individuals cooperating within it. Deferring responsibility has it's perils.

Laws help, but only when there is obedience to the law.

From JW, N Vernon, IN

No guns at work in Indiana, but it is done all the time. The company will fire you if it catches you having a gun in your car in the company parking lot, but they don't look too hard and you don't talk about it either if you are smart. Anyone who is nuts enough to shot coworkers will go home and get a gun, it doesn't have to be in their car at work. This has happened more times than the other way around. What is a person to do about carrying a gun for personal protection if they can not have in their car on the way to or from work because they can not have it in their car in the parking lot at work?

From Some Cline, Quantico VA

Yes, I think that employees have the right to bring weapons to work, if they have the needed credentials to carry one. Incidents like the one in Kentucky are tragic, but who's to say that gunman wouldnt have gone back to his home came back to work and done the same thing. Preventing people from having their concealed weapons on their employer's property isn't going to prevent violence in the workplace, screening applicants more thoroughly would be a better solution.

From Manuel N. Vazquez, Bemidji, MN.

I have worked the evening shift in convenience stores most of my life. My employer should not have the ability to take away the means to protect my life and limb without assuming all liability for my protection. Cameras will only record the incident.

From Charles, Irvine Ca

A nut case is a nut case. How he/she decides to violate someone has nothing to do with gun control. Controlling guns only gives more power to to criminals (check statistics). States that allow concealed weapons have reduced violent crimes (keeps the criminals guessing). I agree that certain people should not be allowed to own guns. Although let's be real, they will still obtain them if they want to.