One of the most basic rights given to us by our Maker and acknowledged by this country's founders is the right to self defense. It is unconscionable that the Governor is attempting to take that right from state employees who work in buildings controlled by the administrative branch (and parking decks controlled by DGS?) as well as visitors to those buildings.

There are many reasons that an individual might want to carry a firearm to ensure their own safety. Individuals who have had to seek restraining orders because someone has put them in fear for their life would certainly have reason to seek out firearms training and to carry a gun so that they have the means to protect themselves. Is the Governor going to give such individuals the same protective detail that he enjoys (at taxpayer expense) to replace the weapon that they would normally be allowed to carry? Individuals who work until after dark would have reason to seek out firearms training and to carry a gun to ensure their safety while from work after dark. Can the Governor afford to employ enough armed guards to walk all state employees who work after dusk (about 5 o'clock in the afternoon in winter) to their cars since he is seeing fit to remove their means to protect themselves?

State employees do not give up their Constitutional rights when they accept state employment and they should not have to choose between their safety and their jobs.