NRA, Disney Duel Over Florida Gun Law

jay-allbritton

Jay Allbritton

Contributor
Posted:
07/4/08
What part of the 2nd Amendment does Mickey Mouse not understand? That's the question the NRA wants answered in light of the decision made by Walt Disney World to prohibit their employees from keeping fire arms in their cars while they work. This decision comes in spite of a new state law--The Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008--that went into affect in Florida on Tuesday allowing state residents to do just that.

Disney contends that its property is exempt from the law due to an exception for companies who have a federal permit for explosives. Disney has that permit because they put on fireworks displays frequently. Republican state Senator Durell Peaden thinks Disney is hiding behind a technicality. "I intended it to exempt places like defense plants, Air Force bases, things like that," he said, adding, "but not Disney. Not at all."

When the news of Disney's defiance hit NRA headquarters, their PR department came out with guns blazing. They quickly issued a memo to members titled, "Disney Thumbing Nose at the New Florida Gun Law." The memo accused Disney of being a "prime offender when it comes to firing employees for exercising Second Amendment rights." Disney also supports a court challenge to the new law.

In case you were wondering, SeaWorld supports the law.

The NRA will need all their ammo, because in addition to their battle with Disney the group also has plans for a pitched legal battle against the city of San Francisco and also plans to spend $40 million on the Presidential election.