Legal Research

As you may recall, yours truly recently posted about Florida's newly enacted Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008 that took effect July 1st, 2008.

Unsurprisingly, the state's largest single-site employer (a.k.a. Walt Disney World) maintains that much of its sprawling resort complex, which includes about 30,000 acres and employs 60,000 workers, is exempt from the law.  Having lost the initial battle to the hard-lobbying NRA, Disney's legal counsel is now citing language within the new law that creates an exception for companies whose primary business is to manufacture, use, store or transport explosives regulated under federal law and hold a special permit to engage in said activities. 

However, there are a few exceptions to the long-standing gun ban at Disney-held properties.  According to a memo issued by Disney World Vice President of Public Affairs Shannon McAleavey, the new law's language does not exempt Disney Vacation Club's Vero Beach Resort, Disney Cruise Line's crew-member parking lots as well as a couple of other Disney properties in Florida.

On the other hand, gun afficionados who consider firearms an essential part of a day of fun at a family-oriented theme park are welcome to pack heat at SeaWorld which has announced its support of the new law.  Phew!  What a relief!  After all, what's more essential at a family-oriented theme park than a Glock? [insert eye roll here]