Disney Employee Suspended After Bringing Gun To Work

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

wftv.com
http://www.wftv.com/news/16792006/detail.html

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A new state law went on the books Tuesday, saying people could bring guns to work if they kept them locked in their car. Still, Wednesday, Disney said it was exempt from the new law and its 62,000 employees needed to keep their guns at home.

Friday, a worker who protested the park’s decision told Channel 9 he was suspended.

The worker was well aware that he could end up losing his job when he took the gun to work Friday morning, but said that the principle at stake means enough to him that he was willing to take the risk. Especially on the day we celebrate this country and our freedoms.

As he pulled into work, Edwin Sotomayor recorded Sheriff’s Deputies and Disney managers waiting for him. After he refused a car search, managers drove Sotomayor to their offices, questioned him further, and then sent him to his normal post. Four hours into his shift, Sotomayor says he was suspended.

Disney told employees it is exempt from the new law that allows them to bring a gun to work because it stores fireworks on site.

Disney told Channel 9 he was suspended because he wouldn’t cooperate with their investigation. They also said he could be fired for carrying the gun that he says is about safety on his ride to work.

Sotomayor says he’s willing to test case for the new law, even if It means losing his job and going to work.

Disney is investigating this case internally. While Disney employee files are confidential, sources day Sotomayor has been disciplined by Disney in the past. Sotomayor insists he is testing this law on his own, and hasn’t been contacted by groups like the NRA.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I respect his personal integrity...

 

[mitros]

As do I......

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I would have done the same thing given the circumstances. All one needs to change their mind about guns is to experience a car-jacking first hand.
If I had not had my 380 on me when I was car-jacked... I hate to think what would have happened.

 

[IMACM]

Living in Florida, I don't blame him one bit for carrying a gun!!

 

[Dznefreek]

Living in Florida, I don't blame him one bit for carrying a gun!!

and what exactly does that mean . . . . . .

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

and what exactly does that mean . . . . . .

I didnt type this, but I'll answer it from my POV. I do WDW 3-4 times a year. We always drive. Now, this may sound stupid, but it seems shortly after crossing the FL state line the drivers suddenly turn aggressive.
I don't necessarily blame FL drivers... I think a lot of those road-ragers are NON Floridians who "just want to get there!!!" They've been driving a LONG time, and since they are FINALLY in FL... "Look out! Here I come!!! Get the #@$% outta my way!!!" "The kids are fighting, my legs and neck hurt, and WDW is only 15 minutes from the state line... right!?!?!?! MOVE!!!! I just want to get there already!!!!!!"

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

And... after 8 hours in the minivan with 2 bickering autistic kids who have been at each other's throats for 8 straight hours..... relentlessly... like hyenas fighting over a fresh fallen zebra... I'm one of them!!!!
If you meet me on the road during those two last LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG hours of the trip... you might say the same things about NC drivers!!!!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

The CM obviously wanted to be caught. How else is anyone going to know anyone has a gun in their car? Someone could have an arsenal in their car for all anyone knows, despite what employee policy and rules are. It's not like they search anyone's vehicle.
To me just stinks of another sue and try to get rich scheme, but "really" fighting for the rights of all gun carrying citizens.
The NRA vs Disney should be interesting though. However unless the law is changed, I don't see how the NRA or the CM has any stand.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I was thinking when I read this that he probably spouted off to someone how they (Disney) wouldn't stop him from bringing his gun. Otherwise, it probably never would have gotten to that point. A simple solution would be to hide it right before you pull in the parking lot. A handgun is small enough to do that. Unless they had reason to suspect, they probably would have done a quick check, and never found it. I once carried a knife in Disney accidentally. It was a small knife, and I had forgotten about it. I was scared to death, but I was too close to the gate when I discovered it in my pocket, and I just figured chances are they will never know. If I had tried to hide it, or such, THAT would have looked far more suspicious. They didn't find it. (whew!) At home I carry one as part of my career. Its second nature. My point is security is NEVER perfect with that many people to check.

 

[KYMickey]

....I once carried a knife in Disney accidentally. It was a small knife, and I had forgotten about it. I was scared to death, but I was too close to the gate when I discovered it in my pocket, and I just figured chances are they will never know....

I've actually gone through Disney Security several times with my Leatherman and never had a problem. I've actually even showed it to security and it was not a problem. Are small knives actually prevented or just "not" recommended?

 

[disneymom1981]

The CM obviously wanted to be caught. How else is anyone going to know anyone has a gun in their car? Someone could have an arsenal in their car for all anyone knows, despite what employee policy and rules are. It's not like they search anyone's vehicle.
To me just stinks of another sue and try to get rich scheme, but "really" fighting for the rights of all gun carrying citizens.
The NRA vs Disney should be interesting though. However unless the law is changed, I don't see how the NRA or the CM has any stand.

Don't get too cocky. Disney has dogs that are trained to alert to a vehicle with a gun in it. Drugs too. At any given moment they can walk the dogs through any parking lot. Cast members have been terminated in the past for guns and drugs in their cars. Top managers too. Just keep that in mind if you want to test the system.

 

[DancingBear]

Disney has dogs that are trained to alert to a vehicle with a gun in it.

Really? I didn't know such things existed.

 

[DancingBear]

I didnt type this, but I'll answer it from my POV. I do WDW 3-4 times a year. We always drive. Now, this may sound stupid, but it seems shortly after crossing the FL state line the drivers suddenly turn aggressive.

But you can take comfort that a lot of them may be armed.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Not worried about "being cocky". I never even handled a gun.
Just saying I am not aware of any CMs car being searched at random (or anytime for that matter). I am sure they have and do if they have a reason.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I toast his willingness to stand for principle.
2) I will make no judgment as to whether the principle is good or not.
3) I do think that Disney lobbied had to get an exemption to the new law.
4) Maybe this test case can reverse the exemption.

NOTE: I detest the Disney comment that he had been disciplined previously. I think this is letting out personnel info without permission, and for solely propoganda purposes. Plus, "discipline" could have been a reprimand for absenteeism or littering. Either is hardly a felonious act.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We'll-he tested the system knowing that at this stage, he'd lose.
Hopefully at some point the Disney "exemption" from what is law in most of the rest of Florida will be reversed.

 

[Dis-Wiz]

But you can take comfort that a lot of them may be armed.

That's exactly what I was thinking...

 

[safetymom]

I think he asked to be suspended and Disney granted his wish. He didn't need to go on TV stating what he planned to do.

At this time Disney has said no firearms in the car for CM's. He broke the rules.

Personally I don't think everyone in FL needs a gun. I think we are going to see lots of accidents and shootings because of this.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Personally I don't think everyone in FL needs a gun. I think we are going to see lots of accidents and shootings because of this.

People who start road rage may carry a gun, and people who carry a gun may start road rage. Either way I don't think any law will affect it either way. Lots of hunters carry rifles in their trucks, but most road rage is with handguns. Its the people, not the guns or the laws, and people will be people, both good and bad. I don't think the law will affect anything. I carry a handgun in my car, and I have a bad temper. If guns were banned I'd still carry my gun, and I'd still have a temper.
This is looking more and more like an NRA discussion rather than a Disney discussion.