H. 3994 is called the “Transportation and Storage of Firearms in a Locked Vehicle” bill. H. 3994 states “A person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity may not establish a policy or rule that prohibits a person, except a convicted felon, from transporting and storing firearms in a locked vehicle on property set aside for the vehicle.” This bill seeks to protect the rights of gun owners to possess a firearm in a private vehicle. A legal benefit to property owners is that since the law will deny a property owner the power to prohibit firearms in vehicles, the property owner can not be held legally liable for the misuse of firearms pulled from a vehicle. This will deny an attorney the option of trying to hold a wealthy property owner liable for the misuse of firearms pulled from a vehicle on the property.
Unfortunately, the bill is poorly drafted and needs to be amended. How does one enter or exit a locked vehicle? To ensure the intent of the law is also the language of the law, the bill needs to be amended to read “a locked or attended vehicle” as was done in S. 593, not just a locked vehicle. Then, a person can legally enter and exit his vehicle.
GrassRoots GunRights strongly supports H. 3994. As more and more businesses provide the only available parking on site and as public parking disappears, it is critically important that the right to keep and bear arms in private vehicles be protected in a real world practical manner.