Two weeks after a professor was charged with fatally shooting three colleagues at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the Alabama Senate passed legislation Thursday that would make it easier for people to keep guns in their cars.

At the urging of the National Rifle Association, Democratic Sen. Roger Bedford of Russellville got the Senate to vote 26-2 for his bill.

"This vote is about one thing only: Do you support Second Amendment rights?" Bedford told the Senate.

His bill would ban businesses from having policies that prohibit legal firearms from being transported to the businesses' parking lots. But the guns must be locked out of sight in the glove box or trunk of private vehicles.

Sen. Dell Marsh, R-Anniston, said many companies, including his own firm, Industrial Plating Co., have policies against bringing guns to work because they want to provide a safe workplace. He criticized the bill, but ended up voting for it.

Bedford's bill still must pass the House and be signed by the governor to become law. Bedford is optimistic about its chances because a similar bill passed the House 72-0 last year and died in the Senate after drawing opposition from some business groups concerned about workplace safety.

Bedford said this year's bill had more success because all members of the Legislature are standing for election and NRA members have been calling senators about the vote.

"The legal gun owners in Alabama want their rights protected," Bedford said.

NRA spokeswoman Alexa Fritts said 12 states have similar laws: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Georgia, Louisiana, Utah, and Idaho. She said the laws safeguard people's right to protect themselves and address security concerns for workers who commute at odd hours.

In Huntsville, a UAH professor is accused of killing three co-workers and wounding three others when she carried a handgun into a faculty meeting Feb. 12.

The shooting wasn't mentioned during the debate. Asked about it afterward, Bedford told reporters his bill could enhance safety because someone considering shooting in a workplace might think twice if they knew others could get guns quickly from their cars.

Bedford's bill exempts electric utilities at the request of Alabama Power Co.

The Business Council of Alabama, a statewide business organization, is opposing the legislation. Senior Vice President Anita Archie said the bill treads on the private property rights of business owners who want to keep their employees safe.

"What is to prevent an employee from going to the car and bringing in a gun?" she said.

Bedford said a bigger concern is the safety of workers who want protection in case they have a vehicle breakdown during their commute.

"Many single moms going to and from early shifts and late shifts need that protection," he said.

Fritts said that in addition to Alabama, legislatures are considering similar bills in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, South Dakota, Tennessee and South Carolina.