The Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, what kind of arms and how they’re carried seem to always be in the public eye these days. The number of mass shootings has risen by the year — at this point in time, the U.S. averages one mass shooting per day. In a study of active shooter incidents released in 2013, the FBI referred to the official definition of a mass killing as “three or more killings in a single incident.”

It hasn’t happened here. But it also hadn’t happened in a suburban Atlanta town — that is, until June 2014, when a man went to the Cumming courthouse with an assault rifle, an assortment of grenades and other supplies. This man was due in court that day, to answer to 11 felony charges, but instead planned for mass casualties. But, he died before he got into the building, thanks to a bad plan and alert deputies.

There are two issues Beaufort County commissioners are studying these days, revolving around firearms. The first is the issue of security at the Beaufort County Courthouse. A committee, comprised of law enforcement, judicial figures and county commissioners, has been studying the issue for months. Unlike most courthouses these days, Beaufort County’s has two entrances, as opposed to a single one, and no security checks walking into the building.

The second issue, is the idea of changing county policy to fall in line with state law regarding where people with concealed carry permits are allowed to carry their firearms. This would allow concealed-carry permit holders to bring their weapons into any county building, excepting the courthouse and schools. On Monday night, the issue made it onto the agenda for a second time.

Of concern, is employee safety. There are county offices that deal in business that can make Beaufort County residents unhappy — really, really unhappy. Some of those residents include those who are courting county seizure of property due to back taxes owed. Others are the parents whose children have been placed elsewhere by Social Services. Still others could include someone who, like Dennis Marx, the Georgia courthouse shooter, face felony charges and know they’re going to prison for a long time.

All it takes is one. County commissioners have an obligation to their constituents to represent them fairly. But county commissioners also have an obligation to protect the employees of Beaufort County — employees that are overseen by the Board.

No one needs to work in an environment in which every time the door opens, the immediate thought is, “Will this be the one?” Safety should always be first.