Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

ACCESS CONTROL: Gun Clash on Workplace Property

February 6, 2006
Of all the difficulties U.S. employers face on a daily basis, none can compare to the grim and daunting task of advising an employee’s loved ones that their love one’s life was lost while at work in a violent incident. Just ask someone who has done it.

Not surprisingly, the likelihood for workplace violence to erupt increases exponentially when an agitated individual who seeks instant revenge has immediate access to a gun. Workplaces where guns are permitted are about five times as likely to experience a homicide as those where all weapons are prohibited, according to a study conducted by the University of Chapel Hill.

Will workplaces have to provide gun safes for employees? Several states have or are considering laws to permit workers to bring guns into their work parking lots. Many enterprises have policies against guns on their property.

States Enact Gun-Friendly Laws

Eliminating the “cooling off period” that the employee needs to rationalize his or her thoughts before deploying lethal actions is a recipe for disaster. Yet, ludicrous legislation that flies in the face of this wisdom and permits employees to bring guns onto company parking lots is spreading like wild fire.

The brash campaign being waged by the National Rifle Association (NRA) is based on the Second Amendment. Do we have the right to bear arms? Absolutely, just as we have a right to free speech. Yet, the first amendment does not extend to yelling fire (falsely) in a crowded theatre or making comments in the workplace that are offensive thus creating a hostile work environment.

The NRA is clashing with companies who understand the seriousness of workplace violence and their obligation to provide a safe work environment for their employees. ConocoPhillips and Williams, as two examples, are fighting a law in Oklahoma while the NRA is muscling through legislation in Minnesota, Utah, Wisconsin and Florida. With 57,000 employees in Florida and a policy against weapons on its premises, Disney could be the next company to suit up for battle. South Carolina and Alaska are considering similar versions as well. Ohio’s law was enacted without challenge.

The federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) dictates that companies have a duty to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. But guards who discover weapons as part of an entry search into the parking lot would have their hands tied according to some state and local legislation. Moreover, the legislation criminalizes companies by charging them with a third degree felony (punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine) for prohibiting firearms on company property.

Workplace violence is a leading recognized hazard in the American workplace, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Center for Disease Control. Workplace violence can be avoided by training employers about early intervention and diffusion strategies, not by giving carte blanche to individuals with unknown skills and insufficient education in the safe handling of a firearm. Provisions in these laws need to be made to allow companies to prohibit the presence of weapons on their property for the protection of all who work or visit these sites.

While the effort to challenge these laws must continue, solutions must also be developed that will limit access to firearms while respecting the laws. These stop-gap measures call for the company to:
  • Develop tighter security plans.
  • Designate secure parking areas where guns in vehicles may be stored.
  • Develop protocols for prevention of firearms within the facility.
  • Educate and train security personnel at points of entry.
Challenges to the current statutes may go on for years, but in the meantime, enterprise security professionals and private industry must take extra precautions to provide a safe workplace environment for its employees now.

About The Authors

Jim Ellis and Bruce Ash are vice presidents of Risk Control Strategies, a threat management and risk assessment security consulting firm offering a variety of security solutions to Fortune 1000 corporations with special emphasis on workplace violence prevention, training and response programs. They can be reached at jellis@riskcontrolstrategies.com and bash@riskcontrolstrategies.com, respectively.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Technologies & Solutions
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security camera

40,000 IoT Security Cameras Are Exposed Online

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Negative COVID-19 test

    Visitor management and access control in the hybrid workplace

    See More
  • Using Access and ID Control to Prevent Workplace Violence

    See More
  • Security newswire default

    Voters Divided on Government Role with Gun Control

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 9781138378339.jpg

    Surveillance, Crime and Social Control

  • Physical-Security-and-Safet.gif

    Physical Security and Safety: A Field Guide for the Practitioner

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing