I moved to $Satellite_Urban_Area from $Urban_Area to take a cybersecurity job. In $Urban_Area we would almost certainly have had metal detectors and other measures. Due to the military presence here in $Satellite_Urban_Area this place has a reputation for being armed to the teeth. Although there was no open carry in the office, I know for a fact that a number of mostly ex-military brought sidearms to the office. A part of this area was at one time "the murder capital of the country" and is infamous for a shootout between residents of that part, gangs vs military. The place has a rep.

Is that a bad thing?

I don't view metal detectors and huge cast concrete reception desks as a good thing, I view them as indicators that earlier interdiction has failed; I try not to hang around places like that, unless I know that there are also actually people with guns who are trained to use them.