“If someone’s that crazy, hopefully the sheriff didn’t give a pistol permit in the first place”

<img src="http://www.legislature.state.al.us/graphics/senatepics/bedford_r.jpeg" align="right">An Alabama lawmaker is again pushing legislation that would let employees take handguns to work.

The Montgomery Advertiser reported Friday that state Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, said the bill is aimed at increasing personal safety.

“I think it’s necessary so people will have peace of mind when they’re traveling to and from work,” he said.

The Business Council of Alabama opposes the measure, said President Bill Canary.

“At a time when the business community in all sectors should be focused on creating jobs, we instead are dealing with this unnecessary legislation which erodes the constitutional property rights of businesses,” Canary said in a statement. “Alabama businesses are already struggling with burdensome regulations that impact productivity and increase costs.”

It seems to us that the problem here is these "burdensome regulations" themselves, and not the rights of the people needing further infringement. We also notice that the wording of this article, using words like "give a permit" and to "let employees" and giving someone "peace of mind" makes it sound like a gift of the government, to the people. And the item claims that the state representative is "pushing" this bill into law (isn't "pushing" a drug term?) This is not the case.

The bill that is under discussion would prevent businesses from discriminating against employees who choose to peacefully exercise a protected right, namely, to keep and bear arms.

We can hope all we want that the sheriff doesn't do lots of things. But this isn't a strategy -- it's just a hope.

The strategy would include words like "freedom" and "safe" and "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Read more at http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2012/11/23/ala-lawmaker-pushing-for-allowing...