NORWICH – A proposal to allow anyone with a New York State pistol permit to carry a gun inside the Chenango County Office Building became a contested topic of discussion among members of the county’s Safety and Rules Committee on Wednesday.

The notion was first pitched by former Plymouth Supervisor Jerry Kreiner who, during his final Board of Supervisors meeting last month, said safety’s become a priority for many county employees.

Kreiner called on the board to amend a local law which currently bans possession of weapons in Chenango County office buildings. Although police and peace officers are already exempt from that law, Kreiner said the exemption ought to be extended to “any person possessing a valid New York State concealed carry pistol permit.”

However, the proposal was thought by some board members to be a knee-jerk reaction to the fatal shooting at a social service center in San Bernardino, Calif. in early December, and should go through the proper channels before reaching a final vote. It was referred to the Safety and Rules Committee for review.