By Adam Ghassemi
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – Safety can mean everything for people who live in public housing.
"Some pretty scary people come around here sometimes," said resident Kionna Radford.
Many people who live in homes run by the Housing Authority of Hopkinsville will tell you problems that pop-up usually don't come from residents, but outsiders.
That's why mother of two, Tanquise Erivn, isn't surprised some Housing Authority employees want permission to carry weapons.
"I think everybody will like that idea because of the simple fact what goes on around here," Ervin said.
Right now employees with proper permits can leave weapons locked inside their cars while at work. They're asking permission to carry them between the building to their vehicle.
"They were not asking to carry it all day, just mainly for protection from the building to the vehicle," said Executive Director Vickie Smiley who recently took the idea to their Board of Commissioners.
Some overnight employees asked the question for the protection after taking a concealed carry license class only to be stopped by current policy.
Smiley insists the idea didn't come from employees who are afraid to go to work, or are reacting to any one incident. "It was just a matter of this has been voiced. This is just an opinion and just ask the board to look at the pros and cons of it," she said.
That idea seems to bring a little comfort even for the people employees are here to serve.
"I want one myself for safety because they're really crazy out here," Ervin said.
The Housing Authority of Hopkinsville currently has one full-time officer who works as a liaison from the Hopkinsville Police, plus security cameras that monitor its properties.
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