LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The NRA is taking aim at Disney. A new law just went on the books in Florida that says people are allowed to bring their guns to work, but it's not the case at Central Florida's largest employer.
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The controversial new law says people can take their guns to work if they keep them locked away in their cars, but Disney says it's exempt and its 62,000 employees had better keep their guns at home.
Central Florida's largest employer says it's exempt because the park has fireworks on its property. The NRA and Disney have a different take on the exemption in the law and it may end up in court. In the meantime, Disney isn't taking any chances. It sent an email to all of its workers telling them not to bring guns to work.
"It seems too dangerous," Disney guest Jim Loe told Eyewitness News. "You got all these kids here. You don't need people with guns at a kids' theme park."
Most of the Disney guests Eyewitness News talked to don't like the idea of employees having guns around kids.
"Sometimes there are employees who are disgruntled and you may never know when they may snap," Disney guest Alicia Ratliff told Eyewitness News.
However, some Disney workers think their rights are being violated. They didn't want to talk on camera out of fear they would get fired, but they did contact the NRA.
"Disney is behind the movement to do everything it can to stop this law, to continue to violate the law and the rights of their employees," said NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer.
The law says a company is exempt if combustible or explosive materials are its primary business.
"Clearly, fireworks is not Disney's primary business," Hammer said.
But Disney says it's protected by the second half of the exemption that excludes an employer who has obtained a permit to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing or dealing in explosive materials.
A statement from Disney sent to Channel 9 on Wednesday afternoon says, "This new Florida Law does not apply to most areas of our Company, as all Walt Disney World Co. owned and leased properties are exempt from the new Florida law. We are not alone. Several types of institutions and businesses are exempt from the legislation – including properties owned or leased by an employer with permits for the manufacture and/or storage combustible materials such as fireworks. As you know, the safety of our Cast and Guests is our top priority and we don't want that to be compromised. We will continue to maintain our zero tolerance policy for guns and workplace violence on Walt Disney World Co. property."
The NRA is not backing down. It says Disney displays fireworks, but it does not make them or sell them and therefore the company is not protected. The NRA is hoping the State Attorney General will agree and force the company to change its policy.
It's the Attorney General's job to enforce the new gun law and he can go after companies that break it in civil court. That means Disney employees could try to sue, but that's a scary prospect. The law is written so the loser of a lawsuit would have to pay all court costs and attorney fees.