Manatee NAACP: New gun policy for county staff would create a ‘wild west environment’
The Manatee County Chapter of the NAACP has come out against a recent proposal that would allow county government employees to carry guns while at work.
The Manatee County Commission voted earlier this month to consider revising the firearm policy for employees later this summer. In a press release provided to the Bradenton Herald on Wednesday, Manatee NAACP President Luther Wilkins denounced the idea as “creating a potentially wild west environment.”
“The Manatee County NAACP is committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens and the prevention of anyone’s constitutional rights from ever being violated,” Wilkins wrote. “Therefore, the Manatee County NAACP is strongly opposed to the institution of an ordinance that allows county employees (with concealed carry permits) to carry firearms in the workplace environment.”
Commissioner James Satcher raised the idea in a public meeting earlier this month, pointing to the county’s current policy, which requires employees to enter the workplace without weapons.
“We see that gun-free zones should be called criminal empowerment zones. They basically just let the bad guys know exactly where to target,” Satcher said at the meeting. “I feel we have a similar situation right now with 2,000 county employees that are not allowed to exercise their Second Amendment rights while they’re at work.”
Gun-free zones have long been a talking point for Second Amendment advocates, such as the National Rifle Association, who argue that any area that bans guns is unsafe. In 2017, Florida lawmakers briefly considered a bill that aimed to eliminate gun-free zones throughout the state.
Some Manatee County board members said they were wary of updating the county’s policy regarding employees’ ability to carry guns.
Satcher’s proposal followed a similar commitment from Gov. Ron DeSantis, who promised to sign a constitutional carry bill into law before he leaves office. A constitutional carry law would allow most people to buy a gun without applying for a permit or taking gun training lessons.
Commissioner Reggie Bellamy warned that the proposed change could lead to scenarios involving a shootout between employees or a disgruntled county staffer. In a prepared statement, the local NAACP said it had similar concerns.
“A better solution for the county would be to institute metal detectors at entrances and continue to utilize full-time paid law enforcement officers during business hours, as used during commission meetings. There are better solutions than what was proposed,” Wilkins wrote.
Reached for comment Thursday, Satcher dismissed the NAACP’s concerns, arguing that the policy would make employees safer.
“The truth is criminals couldn’t care less what our rules are. They don’t wake up in the morning checking up on county policy,” Satcher said.
The board will host a public meeting on July 26 to discuss how revising the firearm policy would affect government operations. County staff are expected to share a presentation that weighs the pros and cons of the change before the board makes a final decision.
Pointing to the board’s Republican majority, Satcher said he hopes his fellow board members will not be convinced to vote against the policy revision.
“I think it should be a no-brainer for a Republican elected official,” he explained. “Part of the core of conservative belief is that you’re better off having the freedom to take care of yourself rather than relying on government regulation.”
This story was originally published May 26, 2022 at 3:31 PM.
