Manatee moves forward with options to allow county workers to carry concealed guns on the job
Manatee County officials will soon review different options that would allow county employees to carry guns while at work so they could stop a shooter if there were an attack.
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to move the policy forward, and board members later this year will hold a public meeting to hear feedback from residents and make a final decision on the proposal.
Following a request from commissioners in May, County Attorney Bill Clague’s staff spent the past two months researching the issue and looking into other Florida counties that have similar policies in place. He explained that Orange, Osceola and Palm Beach counties allow county employees to carry firearms.
“Although not required to do so pursuant to the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or pursuant to Florida law, the County may adopt a policy permitting licensed County employees to carry concealed firearms in the workplace,” Clague wrote in a July 15 memo to commissioners.
Next month, the board will consider two options — one that fully authorizes concealed carry for employees and at least one other approach based on future input from the county sheriff.
Currently, employees are banned from bringing guns into the workplace, but residents are allowed to enter county buildings while carrying concealed firearms.
County leaders push for new gun policy
Commissioner James Satcher first proposed the updated policy, arguing that county employees should have the right to defend themselves in the event of an active shooter situation. Speaking with his fellow board members Tuesday, he pointed to the 22-year-old man who used his weapon to shoot and kill a gunman who opened fire at an Indiana mall as an example.
“With about 2,000 employees, we’re making them sitting ducks,” Satcher said. “I don’t believe in making our employees sitting ducks or soft targets.”
More than 20 people, most of them wearing red shirts supporting the Moms Demand Action gun violence prevention group, spoke during public comment to oppose the proposal.
“Guns don’t belong in a building like this, besides the hands of a law enforcement officer. It’s an accident waiting to happen,” said Liv Coleman, of Bradenton.
“I appreciate your story, but we can’t really go by anecdotes, because statistically, more guns mean more gun deaths,” Bradenton resident Shannon Keever told Satcher. “It’s the leading cause of death in this country. We can’t ignore that.”
The League of Women Voters of Manatee County, the Manatee County Democratic Party and the Manatee NAACP have all issued statements opposing the county’s proposal.
Commissioner Reggie Bellamy also pleaded with board members to drop the idea. In a previous meeting, he said he wanted to avoid a scenario where county employees get involved in a shootout.
“Do not bring gun violence to our community – we have enough of it going on now,” Bellamy said. “We need security screenings and reform. We do not want to open our citizens and staff up to the wild Wild West.”
But most commissioners said they were in favor of having administration officials put together a draft policy that will codify a county employee’s right to concealed carry while at work.
“We want to keep Florida safe. We want to keep it free ... and we want to protect our citizens as best as we can,” said Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who noted that Manatee Sheriff Rick Wells offered to help institute basic training classes for county employees interested in carrying weapons at work.
Commissioner George Kruse pointed to the other counties that already have similar policies as proof that allowing employees to carry guns can be successful.
“These aren’t small little towns in the middle of the state. These are mainstream communities that believe protecting their employees is a good idea,” Kruse said.
Commissioners voted 6-1 to direct County Administrator Scott Hopes to meet with the county attorney and the sheriff and come back with different options for an amendment to the county’s personnel policy that would allow licensed employees to carry firearms at work. Hopes will present those options during a public meeting within the next 30 days.
This story was originally published July 26, 2022 at 4:07 PM.
