A federal appeals court says Oklahoma’s law allowing employees to have guns at work in their locked vehicles isn’t pre-empted by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision overturns a ruling by a district court which barred enforcement of the law.
“OSHA is aware of the controversy surrounding firearms in the workplace and has consciously decided not to adopt a standard (banning firearms from the workplace),” the judges wrote.
Businesses in Oklahoma, including Weyerhauser Corp. and ConocoPhillips, had sought to have the law thrown out.
A ConocoPhillips spokesman told The Oklahoman, “The safety of our employees is a top priority of ConocoPhillips and we are disappointed with [the] decision.”
The law allows nonfelons to lock legal guns in their vehicles while parked at work.
It was in response to Weyerhauser’s reported firing of eight workers who violated company policy by having guns in their vehicles at work.