Diane Hutchings

Gayward Hendry

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GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Board of Commissioners took a big step in what they believe will make county employees feel safer at work during its March 28 regular meeting.

After weeks of deliberation since the Feb. 14 Parkland shooting, the BCC approved a 5-0 motion to allow county employees to carry a concealed weapon if and only if they have a concealed weapons permit. At the beginning of the discussion, commissioners Gayward Hendry and Mike Cella were in favor of tabling the discussion further but by the end of the half-hour discussion, both Hendry and Cella, as well as the other three commissioners, voted to approve the motion that allows county employees to carry.

“There will be plenty of people who unfortunately throughout our world will do the wrong thing but what we do by keeping this policy is preventing those who want to do the right thing from being able to defend themselves,” Commissioner Gavin Rollins said. “We don’t prevent anyone who wants to do the wrong thing from doing the wrong thing. We only prevent law-abiding citizens from being able to defend themselves and that’s why I’m in favor of [allowing them to carry].”

Hendry, a self-admittedly staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment, began the discussion around implementing this policy by explaining that while he is comfortable with employees exercising their right to defend themselves, he is not comfortable with the little amount of training that one goes through to obtain a concealed carry license.

This sentiment was echoed by the rest of the board in which they all agreed that better and more training should take place. The board also recognized that they are not capable of mandating training not already mandated by state law as they were reminded of this by board attorney Courtney Grimm. Because of this, Hendry made a motion to table the discussion to allow the board more time to think through the policy change.

Cella agreed with Hendry and also added that he was confused by the policy and the haste with which the board was applying to implement it, although he joked that it was refreshing to see something move along this fast in the BCC.

“I do have misgivings that we move this forward in that there are specifics we really need to spell out that aren’t spelled out or even thought of,” Cella said.

Commissioner Diane Hutchings offered little discussion explaining that her thoughts previously mentioned still stand today. She would feel more comfortable if more training was given and if the county was allowed to ask who has a permit, or keep a list of who does, but she said she knows neither of those are things the board can put into place. Hutchings also questioned the purpose of deputies in county buildings moving forward.

“This one is not easy for me,” Hutchings said. “I certainly get 2nd Amendment rights and I’m sensitive to that but then I think about the money we already spend to have a deputy during the day so it’s not like our employees are defenseless.”

Bolla was in favor of permitting employees to carry trusting that county workers will behave responsibly with their concealed weapon just as he does.

“I’ve got a carry permit and I know where I can and cannot carry a gun. I don’t put a gun on when I know I’m going to one of those places,” Bolla said. “I think our employees are smart enough to figure that part out.”

Rollins agreed with Bolla in his belief that the responsibility will be on the carrier and that county employees will behave correctly. He also stated that he’s spoken to multiple other counties that do allow their employees to carry and said that these counties have had zero issues regarding concealed weapons. He concluded his discussion by reminding the board that it is a fundamental right of all law-abiding citizens to defend themselves.

Still on the fence regarding the vote, Cella and Hendry decided to vote in favor of the proposal knowing that if they would like to make changes to the policy in the future, that can be discussed.