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View Full Version : Regarding a specific section of gun laws



Scoundrel
03-09-2012, 10:16 PM
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.300

(1) It is unlawful for any person to enter the following places when he or she knowingly possesses or knowingly has under his or her control a weapon:

(b) Those areas in any building which are used in connection with court proceedings, including courtrooms, jury rooms, judge's chambers, offices and areas used to conduct court business, waiting areas, and corridors adjacent to areas used in connection with court proceedings. The restricted areas do not include common areas of ingress and egress to the building that is used in connection with court proceedings, when it is possible to protect court areas without restricting ingress and egress to the building. The restricted areas shall be the minimum necessary to fulfill the objective of this subsection (1)(b).

I wonder, just out of curiosity, how many courthouses have the metal detectors set up at the doorway, and how many actually have areas of the building that can legally be accessed while in possession of a firearm.

I remember entering a building in Olympia that contained courtrooms, but did not have any security set up at all, and I thought it was odd.

In Everett, the main courthouse has a checkpoint just inside the main door. You have about 6 feet between the door and the checkpoint.

Across the street in the municipal court, you can get in and have a conversation with someone behind the bulletproof glass before going about 15 feet down the hallway and encountering the checkpoint. But without setting up a checkpoint outside the door, it wouldn't really be possible to do otherwise.

I entered a courthouse in Wallace, ID that had no security checkpoints at all, that I could see. But then, I only went down one staircase to the DMV section to get a license plate for my ATV. maybe they had a checkpoint upstairs in the main building. Also, this was Idaho.

I wonder how many buildings observe the "minimum", vs. how many set it up as close to the ingress point as possible. Of course, you'd pretty much have to be insane or stupid to enter any part of a courthouse building while in possession of a firearm, in my opinion.

AJBert
03-09-2012, 11:39 PM
All comes down to funding that said court house has to enforce the law. I've seen a number of military bases that do not meet the minimum requirements for entry onto the base or post because of lack of funds.

muggsy
03-10-2012, 07:19 AM
I had occasion to visit the traffic court in Parma, Ohio recently. I had to pass through a metal detector to enter the building. The damn thing didn't pick up on my prosthetic knee! I was found not guilty of making an illegal left turn. The intersection was improperly marked. Chalk up one for the good guys.

Longitude Zero
03-10-2012, 12:40 PM
Here in OKC both the municipal court and district court have sensitive detectors that everybody, including judges adn their staffs have to pass thru. At the Federal Courthouse it is harder to enter than it is to pass airport security.

Jeremiah/Az
03-10-2012, 09:26 PM
Here in Az., the courthouse in Phoenix has a guard inside the door. You tell him you are armed & he takes you to a security box where you lock your gun up to be retrieved when you leave. No hassle at all. I have been there several times for jury duty. You have to walk quite a ways thru wine-o country from where you park to the courthouse.