Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signed a new law last week barring employers from banning their workers from keeping guns inside their cars while on work premises. Citing the 2nd Amendment of the U.S Constitution, Daniels stated that barring weapons in cars while on the job was not a “compelling reason” to infringe upon the constitutional right.
Critics of the law pointed at the shooting that took place at the Portage Department of Workforce Development. An employee there, reportedly upset with his review, retrieved his firearm from his vehicle and allegedly tried to kill his boss.
The law goes into effect on July 1st and does not apply to all workplaces. Daycares, colleges, prisons, federal buildings, and other such employers can still maintain the firearm bans. Other workplaces, however, cannot ban firearms as long as they are secured within a trunk, locked vehicle, or glovebox belonging to the owner.
Gun laws are a sticky subject. States and the federal government are always trying to balance the right guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment with public safety. States pass laws to manage the ownership of firearms and these result in numerous regulations and laws on the books.
When you own a firearm there are strict guidelines for how and when you can use it. Being caught in violation of one of the gun laws can be a serious damper on your future. While there are some misdemeanor gun crimes, the majority of these offenses are felonies.
And if you think judges are lenient on firearm crimes: think again. Prosecutors and judges want to keep their communities safe and prosecutors especially don’t want to seem easy or light on gun crimes. If you are charged with an offense like this, a consultation with a criminal defense attorney should be at the top of your to-do list.
Give us a call to discuss the charges against you and how we might be able to work together to solve your Indiana criminal legal problem.