EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 546-2026 TO ESTABLISH POLICY REGARDING FIREARMS IN THE WORKPLACE

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS TO AMEND EXECUTIVE ORDER 54-1961 TO ESTABLISH POLICY REGARDING FIREARMS IN THE WORKPLACE

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WHEREAS, Executive Order 54-1961, effective December 28, 1961, established Responsibilities and Conduct of Government Officers and Employees; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order 54-1961 is incorporated into the Government Employees Handbook and remains active policy of the Government of the Virgin Islands, and

WHEREAS, the Government of the Virgin Islands does not have an established policy regarding the carrying of firearms in government workspaces; and

WHEREAS, for the safety and comfort of employees, residents, and visitors, firearms are generally not allowed in government workspaces, with the exception of peace officers actively on duty; and

WHEREAS, the Government recognizes that in extremely limited cases there may be an appropriate instance for a licensed gun owner to be permitted to carry his or her weapon for a specified purpose into a government building, therefore a waiver to the general policy may be necessary on rare occasion, upon the written approval of both the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner; and

WHEREAS, the policy established by this order will be incorporated into the Government Employee Handbook and applicable to all employees of the Government of the Virgin Islands, and to all government buildings as defined in this Order.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Albert Bryan Jr., Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended, do hereby

ORDER:

SECTION 1. Section 7 of Executive Order No. 54-1961 is redesignated as Section 8, and a new Section 7, titled “Section 8. Firearms in Government Buildings” is added to Executive Order No. 54-1961 to read as follows:

“Section 7. Firearms in Government Buildings.

• Except for the allowances listed in subsection (b) of this Section, no officer or employee of the Government of the Virgin Islands, and no contractor, visitor, or other member of the public, may carry, possess, or have a firearm or ammunition in any government building or interior offices, including adjacent secured areas used for official proceedings. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the individual possesses an active license to conceal carry, or any other firearm license. Violations by employees are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including removal, in addition to any other remedies available at law.
• Section (a) does not apply to:
  • officers when acting within the scope of official duties as a duly sworn law enforcement or peace officer; and
  • a licensed gun owner who has been provided with an Attorney General Government Building Waiver, which requires approval in writing by both the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands Police Commissioner to carry a firearm for a specified purpose based on necessity and safety considerations for a prescribed period of time not to exceed 12 months. Such written authorization may be revoked in writing by the Attorney General at any time.
• For purposes of this Section, a “government building” means any permanent or temporary structure, or portion thereof, owned, leased, operated, or controlled by the Government of the Virgin Islands, that is used for the performance of official governmental functions. The term includes, but is not limited to:
  • Administrative offices, executive branch agency buildings, semi-autonomous agency buildings, and legislative facilities;
  • Courthouses, hearing rooms, and judicial or quasi-judicial chambers;
  • Interior corridors, lobbies, secured screening areas, and any room or space where government employees perform their official duties; and
  • Any adjacent secured interior area functionally integrated with such spaces.”

SECTION 2. All other provisions of Executive Order No. 54-1961 remain in full force and effect until modified by further Executive Order.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto executed this Executive Order by setting my hand and causing the Seal of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands to be affixed at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, this 20th day of April, A.D., 2026.

BY THE GOVERNOR