Oklahoma AG: Law Allowing Guns in Vehicles at Workplaces Will Stand

A 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that allows Oklahomans to store firearms in locked vehicles parked on company property will stand after the filing deadline passed for further legal appeals, Attorney General Drew Edmondson announced.

Edmondson’s office, in partnership with the National Rifle Association (NRA), defended the constitutionality of two Oklahoma gun laws that prohibit businesses from forbidding their employees to store firearms in locked vehicles parked on company property.

A federal lawsuit filed in 2004 claimed the statutes were unconstitutional and preempted by federal statutes. The federal district court rejected the plaintiffs’ constitutional arguments but found that the statutes were preempted by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA).

Edmondson and the NRA then took the case to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, asking the circuit court to overturn the lower court’s OSHA preemption ruling.

Earlier this year, the court granted Edmondson’s request and reversed the district court’s decision regarding OSHA.

The plaintiffs, Ramsey Winch Inc., Auto Crane Co., ConocoPhillips, Norris, DP Manufacturing Inc., and Tulsa Winch Inc., could have appealed the ruling to the United States Supreme Court within 90 days, but that has deadline passed.

“We will continue to vigorously defend the Second Amendment right of every American to keep and bear arms,” Edmondson said. “I am grateful to the NRA for their expertise and support in this effort.”

Source: Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office

Latest Comments

• May 27, 2009 at 12:29 pm

  CLARENCE LEE CLINE says:

  I would suggest that everyone type in GUN FACTS in the box and click on search. there are more gun facts there than you can read in a week. most if not all of them are well ba... read more
• May 26, 2009 at 2:50 am

  Dave says:

  I just love the blind comments about how damned smart the "founding fathers" were and that had the ability to foresee how society would develop. The suggestion is that nobody ... read more
• May 26, 2009 at 12:02 pm

  bob says:

  always amazing to me the number of people (like Amy) who think it's okay to pick and choose which of the Bill of Rights we need to have. they like their free speech, but don't... read more