Have you heard? There’s a new gun law in Florida and Disney’s Parks are standing firm on their policy which is enraging the National Rifle Association. So what’s the brouhaha all about? Florida has a new gun law that says Floridians who already possess concealed-weapons permits, the Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008, can keep their guns locked in their cars while they are work. Disney is shaking their head and saying no, they will remain exempt from this law because the company has a zero tolerance policy towards bringing firearms to work.
You think?
I’m sorry NRA, but I do not want Mickey Mouse packing on his person or in his car. Cast members who bring a firearm to work will be dismissed immediately. Disney World Vice President of Public Affairs Shannon McAleavey was quoted in one online article stating that the policy of zero tolerance was a matter of “protecting the safety of our casts and our guests.”
So what does the NRA have to do with it? They accuse Disney of violating their employees Second Amendment Rights. They’ve issued an alert to their members finding fault with Disney’s stance. Now the law stipulates in the language that companies who have a primary business in manufacture, use or storing of explosives regulated by federal law are exempt. Disney is using this language to defend their properties because they have special permits for their extensive fireworks – you know those huge pyrotechnic displays that occur nightly at all their theme parks?
So Disney has stated the law 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 …” They are not using this language to exempt their Disney Cruise Line’s crew-member parking lots and a couple of other smaller Disney properties.
Frankly, Guns Don’t Belong at Disney
Second amendment rights activists like the NRA need to take a breather. Guns don’t belong at Disney. I don’t want guns at Disney. I don’t want a frustrated Cast Member who’s had a bad day just have to walk out to their car to return with their sub-machine gun that they have a concealed permit to carry and walking back in to harm others or themselves.
Sometimes, I think people just get a little bent. The second amendment says we won’t prevent the arming of militias for defense – Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the Disney Princesses don’t need to be armed.
Do you agree with Disney’s stance on maintaining their exempt status on Florida’s latest gun law?