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Question about securing sidearm while in a courthouse.

FFchris

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Messages
92
Location
Loudoun Co, VA
I know that it's illegal carry while in court, but does that mean past the security check point or in the building overall? The last time I had to do business there, I had to lock up my cell phone (no cameras allowed). I was wondering if it would be possible to secure my sidearm in the locker as well or should I just disarm/lock up before leaving my vehicle? I'd rather not leave it in my vehicle if possible.

I've tried searching on here in past posts and the Loudoun county website, but nothing comes up. I very well could be not wording my search correctly (still learning the rope on here). Thank you for any help offered.
 

ProShooter

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You can not bring a gun into any courthouse in the Commonwealth.



§ 18.2-283.1. Carrying weapon into courthouse.

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess in or transport into any courthouse in this Commonwealth any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind, (ii) frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon and (iii) any other dangerous weapon, including explosives, stun weapons as defined in § 18.2-308.1, and those weapons specified in subsection A of § 18.2-308. Any such weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer. A violation of this section is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any police officer, sheriff, law-enforcement agent or official, conservation police officer, conservator of the peace, magistrate, court officer, or judge while in the conduct of such person's official duties.
 
Last edited:

ed

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Mar 8, 2008
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Loudoun County - Dulles Airport, Virginia, USA
You can not bring a gun into any courthouse in the Commonwealth.

Agreed.. at the Loudoun County Courthouse, the entire building is secure except the lobby area.. I will try and find out if you can secure in the lock boxes out front..because techinically, you are not IN the courhouse.. you are in the building the courthouse is in.. before the magnomometers.
 

FFchris

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Jul 23, 2010
Messages
92
Location
Loudoun Co, VA
Agreed.. at the Loudoun County Courthouse, the entire building is secure except the lobby area.. I will try and find out if you can secure in the lock boxes out front..because techinically, you are not IN the courhouse.. you are in the building the courthouse is in.. before the magnomometers.

That is what I'm wandering about, in regards to the lobby area before passing through security. If I can lock it up in the lockers there before passing through would, in my opinion, be better than securing it in the car. I don't want to find out the hard way while I take my SO there (so she can submit her carry application to the clerk of the court) sometime next week.
 

ed

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That is what I'm wandering about, in regards to the lobby area before passing through security. If I can lock it up in the lockers there before passing through would, in my opinion, be better than securing it in the car. I don't want to find out the hard way while I take my SO there (so she can submit her carry application to the clerk of the court) sometime next week.

I know that is what you are wondering about.. I sent an email today and asked. Ed
 

johnfenter

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Apr 28, 2008
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, ,
Some courthouses have lockers...

Some don't. In Virginia Beach, I've served on jury duty and stored my pistol in a lockbox INSIDE the metal detectors; the Deputy escorts you to the locker, you take the key with you, then you go back out and go through the metal detectors. In Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Suffolk, you have to leave it locked in the car. Unlike Pennsylvania, there is no legal requirement for the Court to provide handgun storage.
 

ocholsteroc

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Virginia, Hampton Roads, NC 9 miles away
Some don't. In Virginia Beach, I've served on jury duty and stored my pistol in a lockbox INSIDE the metal detectors; the Deputy escorts you to the locker, you take the key with you, then you go back out and go through the metal detectors. In Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Suffolk, you have to leave it locked in the car. Unlike Pennsylvania, there is no legal requirement for the Court to provide handgun storage.

I thought in Chesapeake you can not bring it to the parking lot? I saw signs that said no this, for like 30 items(cell phones guns etc...) maybe I am wrong.
 

wylde007

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Jan 23, 2009
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3,035
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Va Beach, Occupied VA
I thought in Chesapeake you can not bring it to the parking lot? I saw signs that said no this, for like 30 items(cell phones guns etc...) maybe I am wrong.
The parking lot is not the courthouse.

Any signs indicating that you may not carry into the city offices or on the grounds is in direct violation of statute.
 

peter nap

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Oct 16, 2007
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Valhalla
I thought in Chesapeake you can not bring it to the parking lot? I saw signs that said no this, for like 30 items(cell phones guns etc...) maybe I am wrong.

Unless they hold court in the parking lot, they don't have much say about it.

Even the cell phone, etc prohibition is questionable inside the court building. I don't know of any statute that prohibits them but the Chief Judge generally sets rules for the building.

I asked my Father in law while he was still on the Circuit Court, what you could be charged with and he had no idea. My best guess would be trespassing and I'm not sure that would stick. Most lawyers and others that can bypass the metal detectors, just turn them off and ignore the rule.
 

ProShooter

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Unless they hold court in the parking lot, they don't have much say about it.

Even the cell phone, etc prohibition is questionable inside the court building. I don't know of any statute that prohibits them but the Chief Judge generally sets rules for the building.

I asked my Father in law while he was still on the Circuit Court, what you could be charged with and he had no idea. My best guess would be trespassing and I'm not sure that would stick. Most lawyers and others that can bypass the metal detectors, just turn them off and ignore the rule.

You would be charged with Contempt of Court. The Chief Judge issues a court order outlining what items they will allow in the courthouse. The Deputy Sheriff's are charged with enforcing that order. Also, the judges always allow for additional items to be added to the list by saying "any other item that the Sheriff believes in his opinion to be a security risk". You wouldn't believe the things that people bring to court. I've seen women with "personal battery operated pleasure devices" in their purse, hand tools, dirty diapers, old chicken bones, etc. Its really pretty nasty going through someone's bag.
 

darthmord

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
998
Location
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
I would love to find out under what grounds the City of Norfolk is able to classify the whole building as a courthouse when a significant portion is the lobby and associated offices for things like the Clerk of Courts and whatnot.

I remember at one point the secure area was the entrance to the actual court room, not the lobby. Now they have the secure checkpoints right at the inside of the doors.
 

ed

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Mar 8, 2008
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Loudoun County - Dulles Airport, Virginia, USA
I know that is what you are wondering about.. I sent an email today and asked. Ed
Def. interested in finding out about Leesburg. That would be very convenient to be able to not leave m sidearm in the car when I have business there
Got an email today saying it is being looked into and I should get an answer in the next couple days.
 

MSC 45ACP

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Apr 23, 2009
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2,840
Location
Newport News, Virginia, USA
Chicken Bones??? Wow. Someone practicing Voodoo?

I know York County Courthouse has no lockers or anywhere to put a firearm. I've spoken to deputies that provide security there and they said you can't even come through the doors with a firearm. They even got excited about the demilled .45 round I used to have on my keyring. It clearly had holes through the base and no primer in the pocket. I had to put them (along with my cell phone) in a plastic box they keep in a "coat room" next to the metal detector.
 

darthmord

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
998
Location
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Look at http://www.virginia1774.org/CourthouseArea.html -- Court of Appeals defined the bounds of a "courthouse.

Of course, you will not find any jurisdiction using this definition.

stay safe.

Just to make sure I have this right... the folllowing section C&P from the above link says...

Only that part of the courthouse building necessary for the use and occupancy of the circuit court constituted the courthouse, and the court has control over the assignment of space in such area. The governing body of the county has control of the use and occupancy of all other areas of the building.


That means only the parts of the building used by the courts count. Thus the common area (aka: lobby) of the building where the Clerk of Courts (as well as various other administrative offices) is located is not 'courtroom' or 'courthouse' under the definition of law.

Thus it follows that enforcing a prohibition on various 'weapons' is unlawful.

IANAL, but would this not constitute an actionable item under that law that allows for recovery of fees and such for enforcing unlawful firearms bans? Am I correct in this? If so, I may just have to bother my elected officials in downtown Norfolk.
 
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