Parking-lot owners would be unable to have policies against guns in vehicles under a bill passed by a Senate committee Tuesday.

"Some people have characterized this as gun versus property rights," said Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Eagle Mountain. "Really, though, it's a life right versus a property right. A balance between life and property. When you put appropriate issues on the scales, you find that life does weigh heavier than property."

The bill does not apply to school grounds, state and local government entities or religious organizations. It requires that the person with the gun be legally allowed to possess and transport the gun, that the vehicle be locked or that the gun is in a locked container and that the gun is not in plain view. The bill also has exceptions for secured parking lots.

Tom Bingham, president of the Utah Manufacturers Association, said that schools, churches and government entities ban weapons from their grounds and doesn't think they are any more safe than other parking lots.

"Recently, Utah had a shooting in a church parking lot," said Bingham, referring to a shooting in Lehi this month. "Are church parking lots more safe than work parking lots then? If so, let's make them safe for everyone and allow guns on them."

Monica Whalen, president of the Employers Council, said this bill does not strike the hoped-for balance between employer and employee rights. Whalen pointed out that employers now have the right to make special exceptions for employees to bring firearms onto company property if they feel it is necessary.

"If a woman feels she needs special protection from an ex-husband and wants to leave a gun in her car, employers will make exceptions to fit specific circumstances," Whalen said. "We find that Utah employers are reasonable, hard-working entities that act in the best interest of their employees. I would urge you to leave the decision to be left in the hands of the employers."

Bill Clayton of the Gun Owners of Utah said employees are often caught between two scenarios. The first being defenseless during the day when they're not at work, on the drive or other places they stop along the way, or keeping a weapon in their private car and risk getting fired.

"It doesn't affect the operation of the business," Clayton said. "At least two school shooting sprees were ended successfully by private citizens who retrieved guns from their private cars and ended the spree."