I fully support Executive Order 50 banning firearms in State Agency buildings.
I support and understand responsible individuals having firearms in their own homes, businesses and even vehicles for protection as there aren't professional security measures and officers there to protect them. However, State building have professional security to keep staff and visitors safe. Even those who train and practice regularly as part of their job may miss their target, or even hit a bystander, in an active shooter situation.
Having visitors with guns will only confuse an active shooter situation further for the professional security and increase the risk to bystanders as these armed civilians begin shooting (possibly at each other as there will be no communication or coordination between civilians).
Allowing firearms in these building increases the risk to high-profile State employees who might be targeted by someone with undiagnosed mental illness, or anger issues.
Checking legal carry status is one more security distraction—an unnecessary one.
Those who feel they must always have a gun to be safe concern me. This isn't the mentality of responsible gun owners but of those with irrational fears or delusions of being a 'Hollywood hero' or the mythical 'good guy with a gun' Of all the people I could feel safe around with their guns (I have many friends who own guns for sport and/or protection), those with this mentality are not among them.
While having armed visitors might give some the impression they are safer, in reality, for the reasons I've shared above, in reality it makes things more dangerous for staff, visitors and the security professionals hired to protect us all.
Please make Executive Order 50 permanent and keep up all safer!