Walt Disney World fires back on guns at work

[crazy4wdw]

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Walt Disney World fires back on guns at work
Scott Powers and Jason Garcia | Sentinel Staff Writers
July 3, 2008

Walt Disney World employees won't be packing any heat in the company parking lots anytime soon.

The giant resort has declared that much of its sprawling property is exempt from a new state law that allows Floridians with concealed-weapons permits to keep firearms locked in their cars at work.

Disney, which has 60,000 employees and a long-standing policy against allowing guns on its land, cites an arcane -- and late-added -- loophole in the new law, which took effect Tuesday.

The company's position stunned backers of the new law, who said Wednesday that they never intended to exempt Florida's largest single-site employer.

Despite new law, Disney says no to guns in cars

For three years, much of the big-business community in Florida -- including Disney, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation -- had vigorously opposed legislation intended to ensure that employees could store guns in their vehicles while at work. That opposition was offset by strong support from the National Rifle Association, however, and such a bill finally was approved this spring by the state Legislature.

But Disney now contends it is largely unaffected by the measure.

In a memo circulated last week and obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, Disney World Vice President of Public Affairs Shannon McAleavey advised other company executives that, with a few exceptions, "this law does not apply to Walt Disney World Co. owned and leased properties." Consequently, Disney "continues to maintain a zero tolerance policy" for guns. If an employee brings one onto Disney World property without authorization, it could be grounds for termination, the memo states.

In an interview Wednesday, McAleavey said it is a matter of "protecting the safety of our cast and our guests."

The NRA reacted quickly.

The organization issued an alert Wednesday to members under the heading, "Disney Thumbing Nose at the New Florida Gun Law," accusing Disney of being a "prime offender when it comes to firing employees for exercising Second Amendment rights."

Disney cites language within Florida's newly enacted "Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008" that creates an exception for companies whose primary business is to manufacture, use, store or transport explosives regulated under federal law.

"I intended it to exempt places like defense plants, Air Force bases, things like that," said Peaden, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. "But not Disney. Not at all."

But on the same day that the House took its final vote on the gun bill, the exemption for explosives companies was revised so that it also includes "property owned or leased by an employer who has obtained a permit" under federal law for such explosives.

Disney has such a permit, for the extensive fireworks used in its theme parks.

State Rep. Stan Mayfield, a Vero Beach Republican also involved in crafting the final legislation, said lawmakers had agreed to insert that exception at the request of a small group of lawyers representing several businesses and business groups -- including Disney.

But Mayfield said nobody ever intended for the language to spare so much of the Disney resort, which covers about 30,000 acres.

"I don't think anybody that voted for that bill expected Disney to be exempt," Mayfield said.

Disney officials said they have carefully reviewed the language and determined that the law excludes most Disney World property. McAleavey's memo concluded that it exempts "all theme parks, resorts, theme-park and resort parking lots, Cast Member parking lots, administrative offices across the Walt Disney World Resort, Downtown Disney, Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, Celebration and the Disney Reservation Centers" in Orlando and Tampa.

The language does not exempt Disney Vacation Club's Vero Beach Resort, Disney Cruise Line's crew-member parking lots and a couple of other Disney properties in Florida, according to the memo.

law challenged in court

But McAleavey also noted that the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation are challenging the law in court, and Disney would continue to support that effort. A Tampa judge could rule this month, "and we are hopeful it will be overturned," she wrote.

Other theme parks also might hold appropriate explosives permits because of their fireworks programs.

But Universal Orlando is claiming a different exemption: The resort houses a work-study program, the Universal Education Center, that is staffed by Orange County Public Schools.

"We are required to follow school-district policies," spokesman Tom Schroder said. "The Orange County Public School System is exempt from this law. We have so informed our team members."

SeaWorld takes an entirely different approach: That company supports the rights of its employees or visitors to transport legal firearms in their cars, "and we have for some time," spokeswoman Becca Bides said.

Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441. Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5664.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Good for Disney. What a stupid law anyway, says me, the gun-controlled-and-happy-about-it Canadian.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Thank goodness Disney did take that stand. If for nothing else (the least being) insurance reasons. Is one reason for this law - so companies are not held as more reliable for security? (Not that anyone could not have a gun in their car without others knowing about it anyway.)
But I am glad Disney openly does not condone it.

This however surprises me:
"SeaWorld takes an entirely different approach: That company supports the rights of its employees or visitors to transport legal firearms in their cars, "and we have for some time," spokeswoman Becca Bides said."


I cannot imagine any business in their right mind wanting weapons on property (other than obvious ones such as police or the NRA).

Thank goodness SW employees have rights at taking pot shots if they choose to do so. Afterall there are not enough daily shootings around Orlando.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Yet even more support for law abiding citizens to be unable to defend themselves. Sad.

Do ya think this will stop Disney employees with bad intentions from carrying in their cars?

I'm the guy you should want on isle 3 when you're at the cash register and a robber pulls a gun. Why doesn't anybody seem to get that (rhetorical question)?

 

[Uncleromulus]

It's mostly the courts and lawyers (including prosecutors) that don't get it. They see that as "vigilantism".
They would much rather see 10 folks killed in aisle 2 while it takes the police 20 minutes to arrive on the scene and figure out who (and where) the gunman is.
And if you in aisle 3 managed to do something to prevent further killings and save lives, YOU would find yourself prosecuted for taking the law into your own hands.
But I gather you already know that---

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

It's mostly the courts and lawyers (including prosecutors) that don't get it. They see that as "vigilantism".
They would much rather see 10 folks killed in aisle 2 while it takes the police 20 minutes to arrive on the scene and figure out who (and where) the gunman is.
And if you in aisle 3 managed to do something to prevent further killings and save lives, YOU would find yourself prosecuted for taking the law into your own hands.
But I gather you already know that---

I see your point Uncle and you know I respect your opinions BUT the guys that I know who have concealed weapons permits are the LAST guys I'd want trying to save me as I'm quite sure I'd never make it through their 'Rambo' minded plan at heroism. These guys (the one's that I know - and I know 4 of them, for sure) are basically, well...Nutsy.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I really don't see all that many people being shot up at WDW so I'm not sure what the argument is for forcing WDW to allow concealed weapons on their property.

 

[schmitty]

Haha, good job Disney. Disney is doing a great job making sure they follow the law to its fullest.

 

[zulemara]

Go Disney! Fight the machine. There is no reason people need to have guns in their cars at the #1 vacation destination worldwide. You want to attract criminals to the now defunct PI? Let them legally have weapons in their car, that'll do it! The next thing you know Disney security will be carrying firearms.

 

[mitros]

Another of our rights being trampled on.....Rest assured the criminal will have his gun.

 

[TSR6]

Go Disney! Fight the machine. There is no reason people need to have guns in their cars at the #1 vacation destination worldwide. You want to attract criminals to the now defunct PI? Let them legally have weapons in their car, that'll do it! The next thing you know Disney security will be carrying firearms.

You have to realize that this ban ONLY covers Disney Employees. This does not cover the random people who come in from Downtown Disney. The Florida statutes say it is completely legal to have a firearm in your vehicle on Disney Property.

HOWEVER, as an employee of Walt Disney World, Co. you have absolutely no protection legally as far as keeping a gun in your vehicle. The loophole allows individual companies with such permits to make their own decisions about firearms on their properties. Disney made their decision.

So to summarize it:
-Everyone else can still have guns in their cars on WDW property (guests).
-Disney Cast Members still cannot
-Disney Cast Members who took the proper CCW courses cannot protect themselves on their way to and from work.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Another of our rights being trampled on.....Rest assured the criminal will have his gun.

Yeah, your "right".

 

[fla4fun]

Personally, I'm not happy about this law as it stands now. I would rather it stipulated that you could apply for a permit that would allow you to have your firearm with you, and you would have to go through training to get the permit. Once you have the training and permit, then if you want it in your car, OK fine. While I understand people want protection and they want that protection with them, I would have liked to know they were required to be trained in using that protection.

All you get with this is a bunch of untrained Floridiots running around with loaded guns ready to go off at any moment. I work with some people with quick tempers. Now I have to wonder if these same people are going to come back from a "break" with a weapon because you didn't take their phone message right (believe me, they go off on their co-workers for less already). Now I have to guess "do they" or "don't they". At least before, we had the hope that their weapons were at home and we had a chance of getting through the day unharmed. How many people know how to transport a firearm safely? If you are transporting it safely, how long is it going to take you to get it ready to fire in an emergency? I live here and I watch the news, and I still don't see how this law really helps anyone be any safer.

Does anyone see metal detectors in the future at the Disney gates as a result of this law? I can see where that could be a possibility.

 

[mitros]

What a great country we live in. We all have the right to state our feelings. God bless America!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Indeed!
Mitros is quite correct--your criminal will ALWAYS get his gun. The private citizen simply wanting a CHANCE to defend himself remains essentially helpless.
Pirate: I guess that I'd rather take a chance at an aisle#3 Rambo shooting me while trying to help, than knowing I was a certain victim because there wasn't a police officer anywhere near and no chance of any arriviing in any time to do me any good. In fact, if I were ever in aisle#2, I really would like to have my own gun. As it is now, these sort of killers can simply blast away until they run out of ammo, or have the courtesy to kill themselves.

Anyway--Florida law being what it is, it dosen't seem "fair" to me to have WDW ban guns in their employees cars while virtually anyone else can (and probably does) have guns in theirs.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Anyway--Florida law being what it is, it dosen't seem "fair" to me to have WDW ban guns in their employees cars while virtually anyone else can (and probably does) have guns in theirs.

I disagree with your view of gun control but that's not really what I'm commenting on. My question is: Do you really think that the majority of people who visit WDW have guns in their cars?

 

[Uncleromulus]

Who knows?
IF the law allows it IN FLORIDA, I'm sure a lot of locals do--or would if WDW would permit it.
Otherwise why would WDW fight the law??
Sea World has the proper outlook, I think.

 

[JohnBJr]

Most companies have "bring your daughter (or son) to work days". My State apparently feels it is necessary to have "bring your firearm to work day - everyday"!
We just got back from July 4th at the Boardwalk Villas. We go very often, are DVC members, Annual Passholders, etc. I look at the employees carefully, try to visualize them stopping what they are doing, running to their cars, popping open the trunk and running back to the fastpass line at Space Mountain to apprehend the gun-toting nut who has decided to sneak his or her firearm past the security checkpoints. Or an employee at the Contemporary dashing to the parking lot to load his shotgun and run back into the hotel in hot pursuit of the sniper on the observation deck!
Many gun rights advocates apparently picture themselves as some modern day John Waynes, saving the day by mowing down the bad guy who has seized a hostage at the Toy Story Mania ride. But if you hold any of their scenarios up to the light of reality, what you really see is a fantasy concocted in the minds of folks who watch too many Charles Bronson movies. In order for their heroic acts to actually happen, they would have to be a) carrying a gun on their person, b) in the perfect spot at the perfect time and c) fully trained to determine what, when and who to shoot. Law enforcement trains for months and years to learn this and they still drop their weapons, shoot themselves, shoot innocents bystanders and have other accidents. No, I'm sorry, I'm with Disney. A well armed populace is not going to make Disney World a safer place! And Disney certainly has the right to set rules for their employees. If the Second Amendment makes it ok for Disney employees to bring firearms to work, maybe the First Amendment should allow Disney employees to wear "Stop the War" or "Impeach Bush" pins next to their Trading Pins! Wait, I don't hear anyone arguing for that because we know Disney is not the place for that!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Well said, John!

 

[safetymom]

http://www.wesh.com/news/16804300/detail.html

CM raises money for his defense at gun show.