Courthouse is off limits in its entirety

[sjfcontrol]

No...they don't have a 30.06.... this is a Brownwood thing. The LEO's agree that a sign that says "No guns, legal or illegal" applies to everyone, CHL or no. The City and county have such signs, believing it applies. I'm not going to tell them otherwise, BUT I sure don't want to get made because I know I will do the ride. I was informed by the head Trooper that regardless of sign wording, the intent was clear... go figure.

OK -- well, my point was that non-federal government offices, (other than those specifically mentioned, like courtrooms) cannot forbid CHL carry, either by posting, or otherwise. Though I understand your reluctance to be the test case. (And now I don't seem to be able to find the statute -- perhaps somebody can help with that.)

[joe817]

If you want to carry in your courthouse, and you firmly believe you are legally entitled to do so, then by all means, do so.

If you believe that the statute is vague, and the proposition of carrying in the courthouse is an "iffy" proposition, then by all means, do not carry, and don't risk it.

I will err on the side of caution, and I will not carry in my county courthouse. It bothers me not in the least to do so.

[sjfcontrol]

If you want to carry in your courthouse, and you firmly believe you are legally entitled to do so, then by all means, do so.

If you believe that the statute is vague, and the proposition of carrying in the courthouse is an "iffy" proposition, then by all means, do not carry, and don't risk it.

I will err on the side of caution, and I will not carry in my county courthouse. It bothers me not in the least to do so.

Thanks for your opinion -- it was very helpful.

[mr surveyor]

The Gregg County (Longview) courthouse had a detector/scanner set up at the entrances to the court rooms as of three years ago, the rest of the building (county clerk, tax assessor, etc) was unposted. Don't know if it has changed since we moved.

yep, Gregg County, Rusk County, Smith County...... all with a single public entrance/exit with security, metal detectors, and varying degrees of confiscation of personal items. Gregg County will allow you to keep your legal pocket knives..... believe me, they can tell us surveyors from the rest of the visitors by the number, type and condition of the tools on our belts and pockets. In Smith County, you're liable to get slammed to the wall if you shuck a small pocket knife out into the inspection basket. In Rusk County, you get a dirty look when you unload your pockets and belt tools and told they must be "bagged and tagged" and left in the guard's room until you are leaving the building.

This crap has to stop. It's just total nonsense.


surv

[03Lightningrocks]

No...they don't have a 30.06.... this is a Brownwood thing. The LEO's agree that a sign that says "No guns, legal or illegal" applies to everyone, CHL or no. The City and county have such signs, believing it applies. I'm not going to tell them otherwise, BUT I sure don't want to get made because I know I will do the ride. I was informed by the head Trooper that regardless of sign wording, the intent was clear... go figure.

This is just flat out crazy!!! The law is very specific on this whole issue. I don't get why you and the other citizens in your town are allowing martial law. Kick those retards out of office!!!!

[03Lightningrocks]

Was the poster of the other thread in a building that had a court house in it??? I did not see where he posted the actual location other than to say it was a government office. In Plano that could be a whole lot of different buildings. For instance, building permits are in the same building that the city council meets. Vehicle registration is in a building of it's own.

I am not real picky about where I carry, but if there are metal detectors and a sign saying no guns, I don't even try. Not worth the hassle of being verbally 30:06 ed. The records offices are also in the same building as the courts and the sign says 30:06 at the entry. There seems to be a grey area in this issue but utilizing some common sense will usually give you the correct answer. I did carry into the vehicle registration offices and now I am wondering if there was a 30:06 sign. I didn't think about it. i actually forget I am carrying at times. It may get me in hot water some day. I almost strutted into the City Courts to pay a ticket while armed. I saw the metal detectors and a cop searching pocket contents and remembered I was packing. I am still not sure where or if there is a sign there. I would guess there is since it is the city courts. By the way...I carried a magazine full of rounds right through the metal detector and it failed to go off. i thought about saying something but didn't want to get in any crud over my rounds.

[dicion]

No...they don't have a 30.06.... this is a Brownwood thing. The LEO's agree that a sign that says "No guns, legal or illegal" applies to everyone, CHL or no. The City and county have such signs, believing it applies. I'm not going to tell them otherwise, BUT I sure don't want to get made because I know I will do the ride. I was informed by the head Trooper that regardless of sign wording, the intent was clear... go figure.

This is just flat out crazy!!! The law is very specific on this whole issue. I don't get why you and the other citizens in your town are allowing martial law. Kick those retards out of office!!!!

Sounds like they need a test case to show the idiot LEO's what the law really is.
Anyone want to volunteer? Just walk in with this t-shirt on. Guaranteed instant results!

http://www.zazzle.com/texas_concealed_c ... 6335065349" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[wgoforth]

No...they don't have a 30.06.... this is a Brownwood thing. The LEO's agree that a sign that says "No guns, legal or illegal" applies to everyone, CHL or no. The City and county have such signs, believing it applies. I'm not going to tell them otherwise, BUT I sure don't want to get made because I know I will do the ride. I was informed by the head Trooper that regardless of sign wording, the intent was clear... go figure.

This is just flat out crazy!!! The law is very specific on this whole issue. I don't get why you and the other citizens in your town are allowing martial law. Kick those retards out of office!!!!

Sounds like they need a test case to show the idiot LEO's what the law really is.
Anyone want to volunteer? Just walk in with this t-shirt on. Guaranteed instant results!

http://www.zazzle.com/texas_concealed_c ... 6335065349" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah, I'll just wear that along with my conceal carry badge and my holster styled man bag http://www.geeksugar.com/Trend-Gadget-Holsters-185084" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; <g>.

Hmm, or maybe this one? http://www.thisnext.com/item/325E53F1/E ... ski-Wallet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[wgoforth]

No...they don't have a 30.06.... this is a Brownwood thing. The LEO's agree that a sign that says "No guns, legal or illegal" applies to everyone, CHL or no. The City and county have such signs, believing it applies. I'm not going to tell them otherwise, BUT I sure don't want to get made because I know I will do the ride. I was informed by the head Trooper that regardless of sign wording, the intent was clear... go figure.

This is just flat out crazy!!! The law is very specific on this whole issue. I don't get why you and the other citizens in your town are allowing martial law. Kick those retards out of office!!!!

Here we are in a town of 27,000 with a shopping population of 75,000 and I cannot find another CHL. There is not even a CHL instructor in the county. I have talked with various powers that be, and been informed that it is sufficient, wording declares intent. Apparently a few years ago some teen had a gun and was going to go after the JP. Metal detectors and signs went up everywhere. I succeeded in getting the mall to change its policy, but the mall manager told the local conservative talk radio to not let me call in on the local program or they would pull their ads. There are old families here and I am the outsider.

[mr surveyor]

I would NOT wear that T-shirt without my badge and banner

[03Lightningrocks]

No...they don't have a 30.06.... this is a Brownwood thing. The LEO's agree that a sign that says "No guns, legal or illegal" applies to everyone, CHL or no. The City and county have such signs, believing it applies. I'm not going to tell them otherwise, BUT I sure don't want to get made because I know I will do the ride. I was informed by the head Trooper that regardless of sign wording, the intent was clear... go figure.

This is just flat out crazy!!! The law is very specific on this whole issue. I don't get why you and the other citizens in your town are allowing martial law. Kick those retards out of office!!!!

Here we are in a town of 27,000 with a shopping population of 75,000 and I cannot find another CHL. There is not even a CHL instructor in the county. I have talked with various powers that be, and been informed that it is sufficient, wording declares intent. Apparently a few years ago some teen had a gun and was going to go after the JP. Metal detectors and signs went up everywhere. I succeeded in getting the mall to change its policy, but the mall manager told the local conservative talk radio to not let me call in on the local program or they would pull their ads. There are old families here and I am the outsider.

They would obviously lose at some point in a court case, but going through the hassle would be a nightmare for someone. Surely the DA in your area knows the law and knows prosecuting a CHL for carrying past a no guns allowed sign would be fruitless. If I lived there and knew they believed the way they do, I would print out the actual law and carry it right along with my concealed carry as I danced past those signs on a daily basis. They cannot legally forbid you to carry past a gun buster or no guns allowed sign. If they insist on violating the law, take it higher. Then sue the Jesus out of them for violating your rights.

[wgoforth]

Since I am also a church minister in town, I have to also be concerned with how i am viewed in the community more than most people. I am working through channels to try to slowly effect change. I am getting Suzzana Hupp on the local radio and she is speaking here next week. I am writing letters to the editor and talking with various councilmen, JP's, etc to try to bring them up to speed. I am teaching self defense and basic gun classes to try to educate the citizens.

Unfortunatly this thinking is in other aspects of business here too....it was good enough 50 years ago, its good enough now.

Don't get me wrong...nice town and good people. Being 50 years behind in some things is nice.

[03Lightningrocks]

Well good luck to you in it all. I can see where being a minister might make it a bit tricky. You sure wouldn't want to get the reputation as a trouble maker, especially to folks who may not quite understand the issues.

[The Annoyed Man]

Ummm, they aren't "guidelines", they're "LAWS".

First, your return to shore was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement so I must do nothing. And secondly, you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply and you're not. And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner.

Sorry.... ... All kidding aside, it seems to me that the "premises" definition leaves it entirely in the hands of the court as to whether they consider the premises to include just that part of the building actually used by the court, or the entire building. And, I would like to point out that a prosecutor is not "the court." The district attorney's office does not get to decide what is or isn't "premises." That is the court's purview alone, and I'm guessing that the determination is made by the presiding judge. Thus, a prosecutor may try to prosecute you for carrying in the courthouse, but he may also be stepping on a judge's toes by filing the charge if the judge hasn't ruled it off limits. You may not beat the ride, but you might beat the time. And if you do, look for a chastised prosecutor for assuming powers that were his to assume.

It goes without saying that if a presiding judge decides to make the entire building off limits, then the right thing to do would be to post a sign accordingly, since the law is vague in that regard, and since a CHL holder is likely to assume that the "unused" portion of the building is not off limits.

[OldSchool]

Didn't Galveston County recently institute ordinances (sorry, not the proper legalese, I know) to do just that, i.e., make any Galveston County building (containing courts and/or offices) entirely off limits to CHL?