Fresno County supervisors advance proposal to expand concealed weapons access for employees

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno County is one step closer to allowing more county officials and employees to carry concealed weapons while working on county property.

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to move the proposal forward to a second hearing. If approved, the change would expand authorization to carry weapons such as guns, tasers and pepper spray to the county administrative officer, county counsel and animal control employees.

Since 2020, county supervisors and their assistants have been granted access under the existing policy.

Supervisor Garry Bredefeld supported the proposal, citing concerns about public officials' safety.

"Unfortunately, we live in a time when people in public life have to protect themselves," Bredefeld said.

He added that individuals who obtain a concealed carry weapons permit should be allowed to use it while working in county facilities.

"Should they have a CCW pass the test, they need to be able to utilize that CCW in the hall of records," Bredefeld said.

The proposal drew opposition from some members of the public during Tuesday's meeting.

Fresno resident Brianna Walker questioned the need for county employees to carry weapons while at work.

"I cannot imagine a situation in which Garry Bredefeld would need to shoot, taser or pepper spray a constituent, and I would hope that if the worst thing were to happen and there were to be a violent threat at a supervisor's meeting, he would have the grace, dignity, and intelligence to let law enforcement handle it," Walker said.

County buildings already have security measures in place. During Tuesday's board meeting, two security guards were stationed inside the board chambers and at least three were positioned in the hallway outside. Attendees were required to pass through metal detectors and were not permitted to bring weapons into the meeting.

Bredefeld declined to say whether he has a concealed carry permit, but said he takes steps to protect himself because he has received threats in the past.

"I firmly believe in the Second Amendment, and I firmly believe that an armed society is a polite society," Bredefeld said.

Walker said workplace violence is a growing concern but argued that introducing more weapons is not the answer.

"My concern was: who are these county employees anticipating pepper spraying? Who is going to be tased at work? It seems to me that there is a different issue that is underlying this policy," she said.

"The introduction of guns into conflict, the introduction of tasers into conflict, the introduction of pepper spray into conflict doesn't make anyone safer. It just makes situations more deadly," Walker said.

The proposal is expected to return for a second hearing, during which the board will consider final approval. If passed at the next board meeting, it will go into effect 30 days after the vote.

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