The county’s elections office will remain a firearms-friendly zone.

During the most recent primary election, a certified election observer, tasked by the county Republican party with overseeing people counting votes, showed up packing a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol.

Nobody said a word to Gerald “Rick” Halle, and there were no altercations. But later, some of the elections workers said they were uncomfortable.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey, also a Republican, said he would discuss the issue with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Turns out, there’s nothing the county can do.

“The state has preempted the area of regulating firearms,” said Chris Horn, the county’s chief civil deputy prosecutor.

In the future, if observers show up with sidearms, a staff member will ask them to voluntarily put their firearm in a newly purchased gun safe.