NRA officials coming to Oklahoma to support fired employees

Saturday, July 30th 2005, 8:25 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The National Rifle Association plans to start a campaign for every state to pass laws like one in Oklahoma that allows workers to keep firearms in their vehicles at work.

The Oklahoma law is tied up in litigation and has not gone into effect.

Two top NRA officials plan to launch the campaign in Idabel. Wood products workers were fired near Idabel three years ago for having guns in their vehicles.

Twelve employees at a Weyerhaeuser plant in Valliant were fired after a search turned up guns in their vehicles parked on the company's property.

State Representative Jerry Ellis introduced a bill in 2004 that prohibits companies from preventing workers from carrying legal firearms in their vehicles.

The bill passed the Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Brad Henry, but several companies, including Conoco-Phillips, sued to stop it.

A final ruling has not been issued in the case.