BRADENTON -- Manatee County Commissioners have voted unanimously to allow county employees to bring guns to their workplace.
Commission chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge says without guns, county workers are soft targets. "I don't want them to have to be cowering in the corner when someone tries to hurt people." Fellow commissioner James Satcher says banning guns in the workplace creates "criminal empowerment zones."
Only one speaker made a comment about the proposal. Retired teacher Jeannette Kelly denounced what she called "vindictive ideologies" behind bringing guns into workplaces. She called for more metal detectors to keep county workers safe.
The rule change takes effect July 1st, the same date as a new state law on firearms carry without a permit.
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