A bill that would forbid employers from asking a potential employee if they own a firearm passed out of committee this week.The legislation, House Bill 1025, is in response to President Barack Obama asking potential cabinet members if they owned or possessed a firearm, and if so, for its registration information on their background application.
Rep. Rex Duncan, author of the bill, criticized Obama’s question as an infringement on Second Amendment rights and wants to make sure no Oklahoma employers, both public and private, are allowed to ask a similar question on a job application.
“I was deeply offended by President Obama’s question,” said Duncan, R-Sand Springs. “I think Oklahoma employers are smarter than to ask a question like that as a term of employment, but this legislation will make sure.”
“It is inappropriate for any employer to exploit an employment application to determine a person's job eligibility or to breach their privacy and constitutional rights,” said Chris W. Cox, the executive director of the National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action. “Gun owners and hunters are grateful for the leadership of Representative Duncan for his efforts to preserve their privacy and Second Amendment rights.”
The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee this week and will next be heard for a full vote on the House floor.
1 comment:
I'm a strong supporter of gun owners' rights, and I agree that the Oministration's questions were inappropriate...and sinister, considering Obama's clear intention to make it more difficult for citizens to arm themselves.
However, we need to be careful, in the process of protecting one individual liberty, NOT to restrict other individual liberties. I'm not sure we need to add to the list of questions that employers are prohibited by law from asking potential employees.
A better alternative would be to work to elect officials who respect the Constitution in upcoming local and national elections.
Just my two cents.
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