New Oklahoma Self-Defense Bill

[Heartland Patriot]

If this has been posted in some other fashion, and I missed it, please inform me.

It seems that the Governor of Oklahoma signed a new self-defense bill. It seems it takes the "Castle Doctrine" protections accorded to your dwelling in OK and extends it to the workplace. That way, if you do defend yourself from deadly force WITH deadly force at work, you have a defense under the law in both criminal AND civil avenues. Can someone who is more Texas law knowledgeable than me please compare our laws to this new one in Oklahoma? I understand ours makes it legal to defend yourself, up to and including deadly force, anywhere you it is lawful for you to be...does it also protect you from your (perhaps out-of-state corporate) bosses saying, "YOUR FIRED"! just because you defended yourself? These are the sorts of things that confuse me, and on a topic this serious, I'd rather I had things perfectly clear. Thanks in advance, hope I get some good discussion on this one.

[ScottDLS]

If this has been posted in some other fashion, and I missed it, please inform me.

It seems that the Governor of Oklahoma signed a new self-defense bill. It seems it takes the "Castle Doctrine" protections accorded to your dwelling in OK and extends it to the workplace. That way, if you do defend yourself from deadly force WITH deadly force at work, you have a defense under the law in both criminal AND civil avenues. Can someone who is more Texas law knowledgeable than me please compare our laws to this new one in Oklahoma? I understand ours makes it legal to defend yourself, up to and including deadly force, anywhere you it is lawful for you to be...does it also protect you from your (perhaps out-of-state corporate) bosses saying, "YOUR FIRED"! just because you defended yourself? These are the sorts of things that confuse me, and on a topic this serious, I'd rather I had things perfectly clear. Thanks in advance, hope I get some good discussion on this one.

You could probably find some info over at the Oklahoma Shooters Forum. They have a fairly active discussion board over there last time I checked it out.

http://www.okshooters.com/forum.php

[sjfcontrol]

To answer your question, at least in Texas, your boss can fire you for (almost) any reason, or lack of a reason he wants to.

[Heartland Patriot]

To answer your question, at least in Texas, your boss can fire you for (almost) any reason, or lack of a reason he wants to.

I understand that in Texas, you can be fired pretty easily "for cause". I take that to mean that they have a reason to fire you such as late to work, sloppy work, loafing on the job, etc. However, what I am getting at is, does our Castle Doctrine law protect you from being fired specifically because you defended yourself either IN the workplace OR if out and about on company business. It would seem the OK bill does exactly that...unless I am misunderstanding their bill. I think it is entirely appropriate for companies to not have to keep non-productive workers on the payroll, but if its a life-or-death situation, how is that your fault? See what I'm getting at?

[Beiruty]

To answer your question, at least in Texas, your boss can fire you for (almost) any reason, or lack of a reason he wants to.

I understand that in Texas, you can be fired pretty easily "for cause". I take that to mean that they have a reason to fire you such as late to work, sloppy work, loafing on the job, etc. However, what I am getting at is, does our Castle Doctrine law protect you from being fired specifically because you defended yourself either IN the workplace OR if out and about on company business. It would seem the OK bill does exactly that...unless I am misunderstanding their bill. I think it is entirely appropriate for companies to not have to keep non-productive workers on the payroll, but if its a life-or-death situation, how is that your fault? See what I'm getting at?

In TX, you can be fired for any reason or no reason.

[sjfcontrol]

To answer your question, at least in Texas, your boss can fire you for (almost) any reason, or lack of a reason he wants to.

I understand that in Texas, you can be fired pretty easily "for cause". I take that to mean that they have a reason to fire you such as late to work, sloppy work, loafing on the job, etc. However, what I am getting at is, does our Castle Doctrine law protect you from being fired specifically because you defended yourself either IN the workplace OR if out and about on company business. It would seem the OK bill does exactly that...unless I am misunderstanding their bill. I think it is entirely appropriate for companies to not have to keep non-productive workers on the payroll, but if its a life-or-death situation, how is that your fault? See what I'm getting at?

Texas Castle law only protects the person from legal issues, not employment problems. Like i said, you can be fired for any reason other than a few protected civil rights issues. (Or no reason at all.)