“Oregon officials have banned state employees from carrying weapons in the workplace unless they’re needed for their jobs,” statesmanjournal.com. “The move caused consternation Thursday among Republican leaders in the Legislature.” Consternation? Did they run out of righteous indignation? Oh wait Here it is . . .

Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli, of John Day, expressed concern for the safety of state employees. The governor’s administration has no business confiscating self-defense rights from public servants, volunteers and others, who have committed themselves to serving our state,” Ferrioli said in a prepared statement. “Oregonians should be outraged that public servants are now endangered due to a seemingly political agenda at the cost of safety.”

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services quietly imposed the ban on Jan. 6, citing the need to “provide a safe and secure environment for employees and visitors.” I don’t think the word “safe” means what they think it means. But wait! There’s more!

Banned are firearms, daggers, slingshots, and a host of other specified weapons. Oddly, even knobkerries were mentioned. Knobkerries are clubs used by indigenous people like the Zulus in southern Africa, and are probably unknown to most Oregonians.

House Republican leader Mike McLane is asking Gov. Brown’s office to restore Oregonians’ gun rights as soon as possible. Good luck with that.