Guns In The Workplace: Manatee County Employees Can Bring Guns To Work

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — County commissioners approved new legislation allowing Manatee County employees to carry concealed weapons while at work, according to multiple reports.

Commissioners approved the new policy, which allows staff to bring concealed guns into county office buildings, facilities and vehicles, Tuesday in a 7-0 vote.

The only exceptions are courthouses, courtrooms, polling places and schools, Bay News 9 reported.

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“Any employee could already be in this building armed and we wouldn’t know it,” Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said, according to ABC 7.

Commissioner James Satcher said, according to WTSP, “"If they feel comfortable to arm themselves and it's within their rights and by law, they can. We want them to have that option. I'm not going to be the person to take away their second amendment right.”

A statewide permitless concealed carry law was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 3. The law, which allows Florida gun owners to carry a concealed weapon without getting a permit, goes into effect July 1. This bypasses requirements for gun safety courses, providing fingerprints, permit fees and additional background checks.

The approval for Manatee County employees to carry guns while working for the county came just one day after a workplace shooting at the Tropicana plant, a private business, in Bradenton.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Demetrius Tyrone Bell, 50, who shot a co-worker at the plant Monday night. When he drove off from the scene, he forced a female co-worker to leave with him.