Indiana Gun Law Doesn’t Protect Fired Caterpillar Worker

Caterpillar Inc. lawfully fired a worker who left a loaded handgun inside his vehicle in a company parking lot, Indiana’s second highest court held March 3, rejecting arguments that an Indiana statute or the state’s public policy prohibited the termination (Caterpillar Inc. v. Sudlow, 2016 BL 64122, Ind. Ct. App., 79A02-1507-CT-801).

The appellate court declined an invitation to hold that workers who engage in “reasonable and responsible” gun ownership are protected against discharge.

An Indiana statute gives employees a right to store firearms and ammunition “out of plain sight in the employee’s locked vehicle.” However, the Indiana Court ...