BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's justices of the peace on Thursday endorsed allowing elected officials and county employees to carry concealed handguns in some county buildings, but not without some disagreement.
The Quorum Court approved the first reading of an ordinance allowing elected officials and employees to carry concealed handguns in buildings where possession isn't prohibited by federal or state laws. The ordinance must be read at three Quorum Court meetings before it's enacted.
Concealed carry
Benton County’s justices of the peace approved the first reading of an ordinance allowing elected officials and county employees to carry concealed handguns in some county offices. The ordinance will be read for the second time at the Quorum Court’s July 26 meeting and if approved on its second reading will be read for the third and final time at the Quorum Court’s Aug. 23 meeting.
Source: Staff report
Thursday's vote was 13 in favor and one against. Susan Anglin, justice of the peace for District 9, cast the lone dissenting vote. Anglin said she doesn't believe the county has done enough to answer questions the ordinance could raise. She said she would like to have information on the effect the ordinance might have on liability insurance and possible workmen's compensation claims. She said the county should also look into conflict resolution training for officials and employees.
"I just didn't feel there was a clear-cut reason to support it," Anglin said. "We haven't really discussed a lot of the issues that can come up."
Before the justices of the peace discussed the ordinance they heard another voice opposing the ordinance. Amy Gillespie, of Bella Vista, said during the public comment period of the meeting she opposes the ordinance and she urged the justices of the peace to reject it.
Gillespie, with the Bentonville group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, said the "good guy with a gun stopping a bad guy with a gun" is "a myth, a talking point, and factually wrong." She cited a number of studies of gun violence that make counter arguments and pointed to numerous accidents and incidents of carelessness involving guns in public places.
Gillespie said after the meeting she was disappointed in the vote to put the ordinance on a second reading and on track for possible approval in two months.
"I feel this proposal was not well-researched in advance," she said.
Other justices of the peace had few questions or comments. Joel Edwards, justice of the peace for District 15, said the Benton County Sheriff's Office has offered to make "active shooter" training available for employees and elected officials.
Pat Adams, justice of the peace for District 6, said possible problems with emotional or angry employees can be handled as they can now, by calling the Sheriff's Office for assistance. He also said Benton County is an "at-will" employer, giving elected officials and department heads all the authority they need to handle employees.
"That is one piece of the pie," Adams said, "but I don't know if it's critical enough to delay this legislation."
Arkansas law on concealed handguns prohibits permit holders from carrying weapons in a number of places. The list begins with "any police station, sheriff's station, or Department of Arkansas State Police station" and includes highway police and Department of Transportation facilities and adjacent ground.
The list of prohibited places also includes "any courthouse, courthouse annex, or other building owned, leased or regularly used by a county for conducting court proceedings or housing a county office." The law provides exceptions for county employees, elected officials and justices of the peace if the Quorum Court approves allowing concealed carrying of handguns that is incorporated into the local security and emergency preparedness plan.
The law doesn't allow members of the public to have concealed handguns. County employees would be required to have the enhanced concealed carry permit to have handguns in those areas allowed by the ordinance.
The proposal still lists as prohibited places "any place otherwise prohibited by federal or Arkansas law" along with a courtroom; a facility housing any operation of the Benton County Sheriff, including the jail; the Benton County Juvenile Detention Facility; any building owned or leased by Benton County in which circuit or district court proceedings are held; any state office on property owned or leased by Benton County; a school, college, community college or university event.
County Judge Barry Moehring had an email survey sent to employees regarding security concerns and concealed carrying of handguns in county building. Email messages were sent to 682 employees and responses received from 253 employees.
More than 72 percent of those who responded said they feel safe in their county building. About 45 percent said they would feel safer if their building had a metal detector and screening station and about 25 percent said they wouldn't feel safer in a building with metal detectors. Nearly 30 percent said they now work in a building with metal detectors. When asked about their preference for guns in the workplace, more than 36 percent said it should be limited to police officers/ sheriff 's deputies. Just under 40 percent said all employees should be allowed to have concealed weapons, and about 11 percent said everyone entering a county building should be allowed to carry a concealed handgun.
Moehring said the discussion of the concealed carry issue revived consideration of improving security for the County Administration Building, including installing a metal detector. He said the elected officials were unanimous in supporting that plan. He said the initial cost estimate is about $60,000 to do the work on the building. Another $4,000 is needed to cover personnel costs through the end of the year.
NW News on 06/29/2018