Workplace Violence & Gun Control
Gun-related violence is one of the leading causes of workplace deaths. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that there were 632 workplace homicides in 2003 - accounting for over one-tenth of all workplace fatalities.
In addition, a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that workplaces that allow workers to carry firearms and other weapons at work were 5-7 times more likely to be the site of an on the job homicide compared to workplaces that prohibit workers from carrying weapons. [“NRA Calls for Boycott of ConocoPhillips; Visit your Neighborhood Phillips 66 Today”]
Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Some sort of “No Gun Policy” at work seems to make the workplace just a tad safer. I like the idea of going to work and not being a little worried about what might be in who’s briefcase.
If you aren’t a Federal Marshall, a hunter, a law enforcer, or a security guard, why would you need to bring a gun to work?
Apparently there are two states (Oklahoma and Kentucky) that prohibit businesses from banning weapons on their own property. Several companies including ConocoPhillips are fighting the Oklahoma 2003 law in Federal Court
“ConocoPhillips supports the Second Amendment and respects the rights of law abiding citizens to own guns,” the Houston-based oil company says in a written statement. “Our primary concern is the safety of all our employees. We are simply trying to provide a safe and secure working environment for our employees by keeping guns out of our facilities, including our company parking lots.” [“Worker right or workplace danger?”]
In response, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has called for a boycott of ConocoPhillips, despite evidence that workplace gun bans do lower risk to employees.
Businesses should have a reasonable right to restrict what employees can and can’t do on their own property (just like I do not allow anyone to smoke in my home). If my employer can tell me what I can and can’t wear or pierce or tattoo then they should also be able to make rules that will protect me while I’m in their dress-code, right? I think it’s even more important that they have control over what gets brought on their property since they are the ones libale if someone is shot or injured while on the property.
Anyway, I’m off to find a Conoco or Phillips 66 gas station to fill up my Jeep. 
On a personal note, having once been mugged at gunpoint and realizing at the time that even if I had been armed, there was nothing I could have done, plus having nearly been shot in a New Year’s Eve celebration (bullets that get disharged have to go somewhere, folks!), I have no liking for weapons and my friends back home knew that guns were not welcome in my home. Yet they still came to visit and quite often.
Tags: gun control, workplace violence, NRA, boycott
