BOCC Advances Proposal to Allow County Staff to Conceal Carry

BRADENTON – The Manatee County Commission decided to move forward with discussions and a future plan to implement a county employee policy that would permit employees who possess a concealed carry permit to arm themselves while at work.

Commissioner James Satcher argued that such a policy would allow county employees to protect themselves at work, as well as being in keeping with the Constitution’s Second Amendment providing a citizen's right to bear arms. Satcher first proposed the policy change for government workers back in May.

The county has historically not allowed its employees to carry a weapon while working, although they cannot be prevented from allowing them to keep a firearm locked in their car while at work.

At the onset of what became a lengthy discussion among commissioners on the potential of such a policy change, it was clear that at least four of the seven commissioners were in support of such a policy change. Satcher, who had hoped to get approval in Tuesday's meeting to immediately implement the change, made a motion for approval before the start of the discussion.

While Commissioners George Kruse, Vanessa Baugh, and Kevin Van Ostenbridge each spoke favorably of Satcher's proposal–proving his motion would, at some point, likely have the majority support of the board–the discussion spanned several hours and it became clear that the support of Satcher's proposal would require more work before implementation. The majority of board members Tuesday wished to first have more specific details, a discussion of options for implementation, and a future meeting on the topic, before final approval and implementation.

"We talk about guns in the building, but this is a discussion about employees having guns in the building, citizens can have guns in this building," Kruse argued, pointing out that in his view, a change to policy that allowed for employees to carry concealed firearms while on the clock would not make the county’s building less safe, but might allow for any employee to defend themselves against citizens with bad intent who are already permitted to conceal carry while in the building.

Commissioner Baugh stated that she personally spoke with Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells and said he told her that it was his opinion that having licensed armed employees in the building in the event of an emergency would be "great." Baugh also told the board that in their conversation, the sheriff offered to hold training classes for any county employee with a concealed weapons permit who did wish to carry while it work if the policy change goes into effect. Baugh said the sheriff’s offer of training for employees was a large part of solidifying her support of Satcher’s proposal.

Commissioner Reggie Bellamy did not agree, however. Bellamy expressed his concerns over the increased risk for potential incidents and/or accidents and the county’s future liability in those. Bellamy’s most stressed concern, however, was whether or not the policy change was something that the employees themselves wished to see adopted.

"The staff should have a voice on this, as well as the community," Bellamy told his colleagues Tuesday.

Bellamy referenced emails he said he was receiving during the board’s discussion in Tuesday’s meeting from some staff who were expressing concerns over such a policy change.

Many members of the public also participated in the discussion. Questions were raised about the specifics of how such a policy would be overseen. Some of the concerns raised by citizens included whether code enforcement officers, county inspection officers, and other employees who regularly engage with the community–including at citizens' homes–would also be permitted to conceal carry.

One county employee also appeared in Tuesday's meeting. The employee introduced himself as a retired deputy sheriff, a retired veteran, and a Manatee County employee before stating that he was an adamant supporter of the adoption of such a policy for employees and believed the policy change would make for a safer work environment. The single employee was the only employee who spoke on the record, and one of few public commenters who spoke in favor of the proposed policy change.

Servia said that she is a proponent of the Second Amendment and a gun owner, but also expressed a desire for clearly outlined procedures and rules that would be included in the implementation of such a policy change. Servia also said that she "loved the idea of having the sheriff involved" in employee training, and expressed interest in understanding the cost to administer such a program.

Commissioner Carol Whitmore echoed some of the concerns shared by Bellamy and members of the public.

Whitmore said that while she had spoken with a small number of employees, overall, she remained unclear on where the majority of employees stand on the issue. While Whitmore stressed what she felt was an important aspect of the board’s consideration of adopting a policy allowing employees to conceal carry while at work, Van Ostenbridge challenged Whitmore's concerns by asking whether employees were consulted before the county instituted a pandemic masks-required policy.

During the portion of the board's discussion that most focused on the employees' thoughts on the proposed policy change, several commissioners expressed their desire that the employees' input is collected and considered.

Servia pointed to the challenging times employers are facing with hiring and retention of employees, saying, "Happy employees are those that are engaged and who feel heard."

Bellamy said he wanted to see a survey conducted of both the community and staff, and Whitmore appeared to agree with Bellamy at least in his suggestion that the county staff should be surveyed on the matter. Bellamy acknowledged that Satcher's proposal appeared to have majority support of the board and would likely pass but stressed that he firmly believed county staff should be consulted regardless.

Commissioner Satcher, however, expressed that it was his position that the matter was not so much about the county staff, but about the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights.

"We already had one employee come up here and say that they wanted to be able to conceal carry," said Satcher. "It’s the Constitution, I don’t need 51 percent of people to want this–we need one person–we respect people’s rights up here."

"The way I see it," replied Bellamy, "it is our job to represent all and to allow all to have a voice."

But Satcher, who appeared visibly frustrated at the suggestion of surveying employees, stressed that the voters who elected him into office would by default be supportive of his proposed bill and that as their elected representative, it was all the approval he needed to consider.

"If I have made a grave miscalculation, we will see in two years," said Satcher referencing the 2024 election for which he has already filed to run for reelection.

In the end, the board voted 6-1 (with Bellamy dissenting) to direct the county attorney to bring back to the board two options for discussion toward implementing the change to county employee policy to allow for concealed carry while at work. The motion passed provides that the county attorney will return with the options for the board's consideration within 30 days.