But I have to disagree with the NRA's push here in Florida for SB-1103 / HB-503.

Here's the bill in a nutshell. It would prohibit employers from searching your car for a firearm. I believe that the contents of my vehicle or private and should not be required to allow anyone to search it sans warrant. I agree that my employer can terminate our relationship at any time for pretty much any reason except those that violate my civil rights. They can't fire me for my race, gender, or sexual orientation, they sure as hell shouldn't be able to fire me for not letting them violate my privacy (and yes, my vehicle and its contents are still mine, even when parked on their property).

Don't get me wrong, I realize they could just as easily say they fired me because I was too early for work a few years ago, but it puts them in a position to commit perjury if called to court and they would have to weigh that risk which would have a positive effect on limiting that type of behavior.

But this is where the NRA not only falls flat, but bends the truth in their emails to their members.

Here's what I got today

Your Second Amendment rights are at the very heart of this issue. In addition to prohibiting searches of private vehicles in parking lots. The bills also prevent businesses from asking customers or employees to disclose what personal private property is stored in a private vehicle and prevents action against customers and employees who refuse to divulge that private information.  Further, it prohibits action against a customer or employee based on information provided by a third party.

Emphasis mine.

Sorry guys, that's a lie. The bill says NOTHING about searches in general, only about firearms.

Here's the ACTUAL text (available from the link above)

PROHIBITED ACTS.--No public or private entity may
violate the constitutional rights of any customer, employee, or
invitee as provided in paragraphs (a)-(e):
(a)  No public or private entity may prohibit any customer,
employee, or invitee from possessing any legally owned firearm
when such firearm is lawfully possessed and locked inside or
locked to a private motor vehicle in a parking lot and when the
customer, employee, or invitee is lawfully in such area.
(b)  No public or private entity may violate the privacy
rights of a customer, employee, or invitee by verbal or written
inquiry regarding the presence of a firearm inside a private
motor vehicle in a parking lot or by an actual search of a
private motor vehicle in a parking lot to ascertain the presence
of a firearm within the vehicle. Further, no public or private
entity may take any action against a customer, employee, or
invitee based upon verbal or written statements of any party
concerning possession of a firearm stored inside a private motor
vehicle in a parking lot for lawful purposes. A search of a
private motor vehicle in the parking lot of a public or private
entity to ascertain the presence of a firearm within the vehicle
may only be conducted by on-duty law enforcement personnel based
upon due process and must comply with constitutional
protections

Nowhere does it state anything about searches for drugs, porn, or 1 pound summer sausages. In fact, this bill goes through great lengths to ensure only firearms are protected. So, the NRA is twisting the truth to get support for a poorly worded, overly narrow bill. Will the next email blast tell me about Wayne dodging sniper bullets?

Look, I realize the NRA isn't in the business of securing all rights. They've got a very narrow look on life and simply don't have the funds or resources to fight every battle. However, I think bills like this do more damage than they do good. They paint us gun owners as one-track-minded individuals who put "gun ownership" above everything else, which is not the case. I believe in rights and believe they are guaranteed via the ability to meet force with equal force.

I'm pretty disappointed with the NRA on this one. Now that I'm a member, I plan on following up with this since it's jading my view of them pretty early in the race.