In a 93-page ruling last week a federal judge threw out an Oklahoma state law forcing companies to allow employees to bring guns to work.

U.S. District Judge Terence Kern determined that the law contradicts federal workplace safety requirements established in the 1970 Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The suit was initially filed by Whirlpool Co in 2004. Later Williams Co. and ConocoPhillips joined the suit, however both Whirlpool and Williams eventually dropped out, leaving ConocoPhillips as the sole plaintiff.

Soon after the suit was filed, the National Rifle Association (NRA) spearheaded a protest against Conoco Phillips by urging members to boycott Conoco gas stations. Conoco Phillips responded by reminding the NRA that retail gas stations that sell Conoco gasoline are not owned by the company, and therefore the boycott is affecting innocent businesses.

Similar gun laws have passed in Alaska, Kansas, Kentucky and Minnesota. All were created after eight Oklahoma employees were fired by Weyerhauser Corp. in 2002 after leaving guns in their cars parked in company parking lots. Although an appeal is likely, similar suits are expected to be filed in those states following Kern’s decision.