Town Employees Now Have Right to Bear Arms

FARMVILLE – Beginning this month Town of Farmville employees now have the right to carry concealed weapons on town property and during working hours.

With this change, any employee who meets the qualifications to carry a concealed weapon may do so just as any other citizen.

According to town officials, the employee handbook is periodically evaluated and updated and this is when the change came about.

This requested change was presented to the town council in December. Council then referred it to the Public Safety Committee which is made up of council members Donald Hunter, Tommy Pairet and Sally Thompson.

The Committee agreed to recommend to the town council that they rescind the following section: Rules and Regulations #11: “Bringing firearms or concealed weapons of any kind to work or on Town property. Exception: Police on duty or special assignment shall carry their equipment.”

In addition, the committee agreed to recommend council grant the Town Manager, Gerald Spates, authorization to permit Town employees to carry a firearm on Town property.

As part of the change, Town employees must meet specific guidelines for carrying a firearm on Town property and must obtain a concealed weapon permit. Once the employee has been granted authorization to carry a firearm on Town property, the Town Manager’s authorization along with a copy of the concealed weapon permit will be forwarded to the Chief of Police.

At the Town Council’s January meeting the change was approved unanimously.