Fresno County advances expanded concealed-carry policy for employees

Fresno County moved closer Tuesday to letting more employees carry concealed weapons on county property, after supervisors unanimously sent the proposal to a second hearing. The change would add County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland, County Counsel and animal control employees to the list of workers who could be authorized to carry weapons including guns, tasers and pepper spray while on the job.

The proposal would expand a policy that has been in place since 2020, when county supervisors and their assistants were already given access. Under the new rule, qualified staff could be allowed to bring guns and other weapons into the Hall of Records and other county property if the ordinance is approved.

Supervisor Garry Bredefeld backed the move as a response to threats and workplace violence, arguing that public officials and staff need a way to protect themselves. County animal-control staff were specifically named. Fresno County’s Rabies and Animal Control Program sits within Public Health and Environmental Health, placing them in the field with residents, animals and emergency calls.

Residents who spoke at the meeting questioned whether adding more weapons would make county facilities safer, even as the chambers themselves were already treated as a controlled-security space with guards, metal detectors and restrictions on weapons inside.

The Fresno County Probation Department manual provides identification cards to qualified officers to help them lawfully carry concealed weapons.

If the proposal is ultimately approved, the county administrative office and county counsel would each need an active concealed-carry permit to bring guns to work, and other county staff with a CCW could carry only with approval from the county administrative officer.