By Gerard Valentino

(This commentary has also been published at CNSNews.com)

Recently, a large well known company fired five workers for having a crucifix in their cars while parked on company property. Although the workers appealed their dismissal through the courts, the search was deemed to be legal and their dismissal was upheld on the grounds that a business can rightfully ban religious paraphernalia on company property.

Fewer than two weeks later a similar incident cost two more people their jobs. Both were fired for having a Kerry-Edwards sticker on their car while parked on their employer''s property. Once again the fired employees sued to get their job back, but the result was the same as the previous case, the courts ruled in favor of the company.

One final case occurred recently in California where a business chose to post a sign that stated people of a certain ethnicity were not welcome as customers. When a man of that ethnicity sued, the business's right to control what happens on their private property was upheld in court.

All three cases mentioned above never really happened. They didn't happen because courts have ruled that a company cannot fire someone for their religious beliefs or keep people from having religious items in their car while on company property. A business also can not deny a person service because of their ethnicity.

Yet, even though there is no threat to public safety, a business can disarm their employees and even go so far as to ban guns in privately owned cars on company property.

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By Gerard Valentino

In the recent Editorial “Shoot it Down” the Columbus Dispatch once again insults the integrity and intelligence of Ohioans. To claim that allowing legally concealed guns in cars is somehow unsafe for law enforcement officers is laughable.

From the story:

Because the new bill would remove the requirements that holstered guns and cases be in plain sight, a driver or passenger could keep a loaded gun on or under a seat, close at hand and ready to confront anyone who walks up to the car.

Troopers and other law-enforcement officers approaching vehicles during a traffic stop have good reason for wanting to see clearly any guns in easy reach.

Many people stopped for various traffic offenses react unreasonably to being detained. Sometimes alcohol and drugs are involved in this irrational behavior. When weapons are at hand, this situation can change from merely confrontational to life-threatening.

The Dispatch once again makes a strong emotional plea to consider officer safety. And once again it is devoid of any facts. We sound like a broken record on the issue because our opponent’s stance against guns has never risen above, “we are scared of guns so you should be too.”

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