Despite heavy opposition from employers, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed a new gun law this month, entitled the “Business Security and Employee Privacy Act”.
Nicknamed the “parking lot bill,” the new “guns at work law” becomes effective on July 1, 2008.
Among other things, Georgia’s new gun law permits employees who hold licenses for concealed weapons, to store firearms in their privately-owned and locked vehicles on employer parking lots.
It also restricts employers in enforcing policies that allow them to search employee vehicles for firearms. However, the new gun law has several exceptions that favor Georgia employers.
For example, employers who own their employee parking lots are exempt from the law based on the rights of property owners, while employers who don’t own their employee parking lots may search employee vehicles for weapons under certain circumstances.
The new gun law also does not give employees permission to carry guns or other weapons into the workplace.
To read the text of the Act, refer to HB 89 - Firearms; carrying and possession; change provisions. For legal advice, consult an attorney.
