The Garland County, AZ, Quorum Court voted 9-3, to allow county employees with concealed carry permits to bring firearms to work. District 1 Justice of the Peace Dave Reagan, who voted against the bill criticized it by saying, “What message are we sending citizens who conduct business at county offices when they’re served by an armed clerk or elected official? Will we post signs at county offices warning taxpayers they’ll be served by an armed employee? We are a modern, civilized society, not the lawless Wild West of the 1800’s. I motion to table the ordinance and remand it back to committee for further discussion and study.”
District 3 Justice of the Peace Denise Marion’s legislation was finally defeated. Marion’s legislation would require county employees with concealed carry permits to receive annual live fire and simulation training before they could bring a firearm to work. A separate amendment that was also defeated would have required employees to biannually attend the Civilian Response to an Active Shooter, or CRASE, course offered by the Garland County Sheriff’s Department.
Marion was the only Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee member to vote against advancing the ordinance to the full quorum court, arguing that more guns do not make the workplace safer.
Those who supported the bill say that people often feel they have been done wrong by county officials and the system. It makes complete sense for innocent and legal gun carrying county employees to bring their weapons to work, not only for their own protection but for the protection of others.
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