My work as a video editor often lands me in unusual places. The last two days I've spent in several different chemical plants around Louisiana shooting interviews with plant managers, workers, and other people regarding safety. I had the opportunity to sit and have lunch with two of the top managers in charge of safety for this company.
I'd prefer not to say which company I was working for, just that it was a major one. Here's the short version of my story: You're not going to be taking your guns to any of their plants come August 15th when SB51 goes into effect.
Now the long version... Knowing what I was getting into, I decided to spend the two days completely unarmed. It was not worth the risk to our company to be caught with a weapon in my possession and I had actual work to do so I just didn't want that to always be on my mind. With that said, I could easily have carried my 2 guns and three extra mags without a problem. I was never searched or asked any questions however I was constantly bombared with signs about no firearms, ammunition, or cell phones. The cell phone ban was openly ignored by pretty much everyone.
On Day 1 during an interview on camera, one of the main safety managers confessed to being a gun fanatic and related a story about how he had to learn to shoot left handed after being blinded in one eye because of a plant accident. I made a point to ask him more about making that transition to left hand during lunch. As expected, that opened the door to more gun talk and I was quite excited to learn he has a clear 400yds to shoot on his property just a few minutes outside of Baton Rouge. I was even more excited when he invited me to come anytime to shoot. So timidly, I ask the two managers about SB51... blank stares. They had no idea what I was talking about. I briefed them on the new law but they just repeated the rules "No Guns (or ammunition) on Plant Grounds. Period." I pushed it further, the law says you have to provide an alternative lot or lock up area for the firearms. That's when the senior manager got testy and started spewing out OSHA codes and Federal regulations that supersede anything the State may pass. Bottom line, if this guy has anything to say about it, firearms aren't coming into his parking lots.
So I pushed them further, why not? Why can't employees be allowed to protect themselves? Their response, "Most of these guys don't have a brain. You don't want them out there with guns. Trust me." Of course, I found that somewhat offensive. I've often been told I don't have a brain either. What does that have to do with anything. So I ask if there are often fights between workers? They said not very often because their policy is they fire anyone on the spot who gets in a fight. Even if they don't start it? Yep.
So now he starts a story about how a good friend of theirs was "attacked" in the parking lot and he punched the guy to get away. He was fired. For defending himself in a parking lot? Yep. "Those are the rules. If you throw a punch you're fired no matter the circumstances." You can't fight off an attacker? "You can run away."
Riiight... End of my story. I really don't want to say which company this was so please don't push me for it. Just passing along the info.
I'd prefer not to say which company I was working for, just that it was a major one. Here's the short version of my story: You're not going to be taking your guns to any of their plants come August 15th when SB51 goes into effect.
Now the long version... Knowing what I was getting into, I decided to spend the two days completely unarmed. It was not worth the risk to our company to be caught with a weapon in my possession and I had actual work to do so I just didn't want that to always be on my mind. With that said, I could easily have carried my 2 guns and three extra mags without a problem. I was never searched or asked any questions however I was constantly bombared with signs about no firearms, ammunition, or cell phones. The cell phone ban was openly ignored by pretty much everyone.
On Day 1 during an interview on camera, one of the main safety managers confessed to being a gun fanatic and related a story about how he had to learn to shoot left handed after being blinded in one eye because of a plant accident. I made a point to ask him more about making that transition to left hand during lunch. As expected, that opened the door to more gun talk and I was quite excited to learn he has a clear 400yds to shoot on his property just a few minutes outside of Baton Rouge. I was even more excited when he invited me to come anytime to shoot. So timidly, I ask the two managers about SB51... blank stares. They had no idea what I was talking about. I briefed them on the new law but they just repeated the rules "No Guns (or ammunition) on Plant Grounds. Period." I pushed it further, the law says you have to provide an alternative lot or lock up area for the firearms. That's when the senior manager got testy and started spewing out OSHA codes and Federal regulations that supersede anything the State may pass. Bottom line, if this guy has anything to say about it, firearms aren't coming into his parking lots.
So I pushed them further, why not? Why can't employees be allowed to protect themselves? Their response, "Most of these guys don't have a brain. You don't want them out there with guns. Trust me." Of course, I found that somewhat offensive. I've often been told I don't have a brain either. What does that have to do with anything. So I ask if there are often fights between workers? They said not very often because their policy is they fire anyone on the spot who gets in a fight. Even if they don't start it? Yep.
So now he starts a story about how a good friend of theirs was "attacked" in the parking lot and he punched the guy to get away. He was fired. For defending himself in a parking lot? Yep. "Those are the rules. If you throw a punch you're fired no matter the circumstances." You can't fight off an attacker? "You can run away."
Riiight... End of my story. I really don't want to say which company this was so please don't push me for it. Just passing along the info.
I wonder how that works.
