Why Shasta County's debate over guns at work keeps coming back

When Shasta County supervisors voted to defy a new California gun law and allow conceal carry holders to bring firearms in places described as "sensitive spaces," such as county buildings, they were told the ordinance they adopted did not address the right of county employees to bring a gun to work.

One of the main reasons the supervisors pushed for the ordinance was to let county employees carry guns to work.

But it turns out the county’s policy against violence in the workplace already allows employees with a concealed carry permit to bring their gun to work, provided they get permission from the county executive officer, support services director and the employee’s department head.

“Employees wishing to carry a CCW must follow the procedure outlined in existing policy to request authorization to carry a CCW and the County may consider such requests on an individualized basis and place restrictions or conditions upon their authorization, if it is granted,” Support Services Director Monica Fugitt said in an email to the Record Searchlight.

It’s not clear why the policy did not come up on Jan. 23 when supervisors voted 3-2 to oppose Senate Bill 2 and endorse gun owners in carrying firearms into county buildings.

What's clear is whatever changes supervisors seek to loosen up county rules will require public employee unions' support.

As it stands, the board's ordinance only addresses county buildings. It does not change rules at other public places, such as the courthouse, hospitals or schools, which have their own policies prohibiting people from bringing guns inside their buildings.

County employees raise liability questions

“I just wanted to clarify that the way this resolution is actually drafted, it does not revoke or at all put any restrictions on our current policy against violence in the workplace (which) specifically prohibits the county employees from having weapons in their workspaces. That has not changed at this point. That will take more work and work with unions in order to change this. This resolution does not change that,” interim County Counsel Gretchen Stuhr said on Jan. 23.

A phone message to acting County Counsel Alan Cox was not returned.

After the January meeting, supervisors asked Fugitt’s department to meet with unions and talk about potential revisions to the county’s policy against violence in the workplace, specifically the chapter that addresses employees with a valid concealed carry permit.

Fugitt said questions from that meeting were brought back to supervisors.

“After review with the Board, the direction was provided that there was not a need to revise the existing policy.  This was communicated to the bargaining units accordingly and no further action will be taken on this matter,” Fugitt said.

Jon Ruiz, spokesman for the Shasta County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, said the meeting took place Feb. 7. Among the questions employees asked were about liability, specific areas where workers could bring a gun and whether they could carry a gun in a county vehicle.

Ruiz went back and reviewed the policy earlier this week and he said it’s straightforward.

“I don’t think there is a gray area as far as how the policy is written. The only gray area in my mind is an employee with a CCW permit who requests permission to carry at work, what are those” conditions going to be, said Ruiz, who said he was speaking for himself.

Ruiz also said that he hopes county administrators will have good reasons to give an employee permission to bring a gun to work.

“I think there is still a liability issue with this county-wide, but that is their decision to make, as per policy,” Ruiz said.

Jones vowing not to let go of fight to expand gun rights in county

District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones, who is a manager at his family’s Redding gun shop, Jones’ Fort, said he doesn’t like the current policy because an employee with a concealed carry permit still has to seek permission from three different people.

Jones alleged that past CEOs have “abused” the policy by denying some employees permission.

“I think if you are a properly permitted person, you don’t need permission from anybody else,” Jones said.

However, with CEO David Rickert and Support Services Director Fugitt, Jones said those with concealed carry permits should have better luck getting permission to bring a gun to work.

But Jones vowed to monitor the situation.

“If they are denied with what we consider less than reasonable reasons, then we may change the policy,” he said.

Any change in policy would have to be approved by the unions that represent county employees.

District 2 Supervisor Tim Garman and District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert, who both opposed the resolution to defy SB 2, said employees and the public are still confused.

“I’m uncomfortable that employees are having to deal with this issue. I just think it needs to have more clarification to the employees and to the public, so everybody has a better understanding of what is allowed and what is not allowed,” said Rickert , who is not related to David Rickert.

Jones said he plans to talk about the policy during his supervisor’s report at Tuesday’s board meeting.

The county is still working to put up signs at the entrance of designated public buildings that say, “Lawful Concealed Carry Allowed on Property.”

Other things the county needs to do is train “staff and security personnel,” CEO Rickert said in an email to the Record Searchlight on Jan. 31.

Firearms are still not permitted in the Shasta County Courthouse, which is a California-owned facility.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County debate over guns at work takes new form, targets policy