Florida County Approves Policy to Let Staff Carry Firearms at Work

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Apr 14, 2023

On April 11, 2023, the Manatee County Commission unanimously voted to adopt a policy that will now allow county employees to carry firearms in the workplace. Commissioner James Satcher initially put forward the proposal in May 2022, but the updated policy was delayed due to a legal review and a recent change in the county’s management according to a report by the Bradenton Herald. Following the rule’s adoption, staff will be allowed to carry firearms in the next few weeks. 

This recent change in policy is part of a broader effort by the county to implement more right wing policies. Back in March, county officials green lit a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution in favor of gun rights. The county’s new firearm policy will let employees who have received the proper training to carry firearms while working. 

Manatee County went to  Donald Trump by a 58% to 42% margin, so it makes sense that this county would adopt the aforementioned pro-gun measure. Despite the Florida government’s embrace of gun control in 2018, the state has taken a more pro-gun direction in recent years.

Florida is ranked in 27th place according to Guns & Ammo magazine’s best states for gun owners rankings so it still has a lot of work to be done on gun rights issues.  Nevertheless, there is a grassroots desire for pro-gun reforms as evidenced by Manatee County’s latest security measures. 

As long as this momentum continues, Florida will be on its way to becoming one of the more pro-gun jurisdictions in the nation.

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