Courthouse SOP for securing firearms

aktion · Jan 4, 2012

I had business at the Snohomish County Superior Court yesterday, and was a little taken aback at their standard operating procedure for securing firearms. I was directed outside the main visitors entrance, ordered to turn my back to the deputy, and openly draw my firearm. I then placed it into what appeared to be a zip-up bankers bag, and hand it to the deputy. Having had occasion to visit a variety of different courthouses in western Washington over the years, I found this open display rather strange. King County, I was escorted to a private room. Kitsap County, I was off in the corner of the main entrance area.

Anyone experience anything similar?

OlGutshotWilly · Jan 5, 2012

Yes, this is how Snohomish does it. I did it when I reported for Jury duty. They were pleasant about it and there were no hassles at all. They asked for my CPL since I was CC at the time due to weather. I kept my holster on for the day.

I did think the bank bag was an interesting touch, but absolutely no issues with the obviously cocked and locked firearm.

When I left the officer gave me kudo's for being an armed citizen.

joeroket · Jan 5, 2012

Last time I was there they had lock boxes that you locked it up in and took the key with you. That was a couple of years ago. I wonder why they changed their method of checking a firearm.

randian · Jan 5, 2012

joeroket said:
Last time I was there they had lock boxes that you locked it up in and took the key with you. That was a couple of years ago. I wonder why they changed their method of checking a firearm.

Probably removed as a security (bomb) hazard. That's the theory behind why bus stations and airports don't have lock boxes anymore.

fight4your_rights · Jan 5, 2012

Good to see SnoCo got past last year's "these boxes are for police only use".

aktion · Jan 5, 2012

Lockboxes

Now that you mention lockboxes, I saw some at a different screening station...I don't know why they didn't just have me put it in there. Who knows, maybe they did, out of my line of sight.

joeroket · Jan 6, 2012

aktion said:
Now that you mention lockboxes, I saw some at a different screening station...I don't know why they didn't just have me put it in there. Who knows, maybe they did, out of my line of sight.

The North entrance does not have them that I know of. The entrance I used last time I was there was the east entrance. At that time it was the only entrance open to the public. It has only been the last year or so, I think, that the North entrance was re-opened for public use.

OlGutshotWilly · Jan 6, 2012

joeroket said:
The North entrance does not have them that I know of. The entrance I used last time I was there was the east entrance. At that time it was the only entrance open to the public. It has only been the last year or so, I think, that the North entrance was re-opened for public use.

That is the way I remember it too. In fact, I went to the East entrance first before being re-directed to the North entrance. The Deputy, after taking your weapon in the "bank bag" takes it just a little ways up the Hall and locks it in a lock box. When leaving, I watched them retrieve it out of the lockbox and bring the bag outside to me.

Agent 47 · Jan 9, 2012

About three years ago I had three weeks of jury duty there and they hassled me plenty for the first several days for open carry and for daring to use the lock boxes for their intended purpose. After the first week they figured out they were wasting their time trying to intimidate me out of exercising my rights and became pleasant enough.

mnrobitaille · Jul 7, 2015

I had some business today at the Franklin County Courthouse (Pasco). When I entered the Security Checkpoint, I had in my hand my DL & CPL, & mentioned to the security staff that I am checking in a firearm. They brought me a lockbox, & I took the holster, sidearm, & extra mag off my hip, & released the mag in the firearm & placed all in the lockbox. I was handed the key & off I went to get my business done.

On another note, I had some business at the local Social Security office & left the sidearm in the car, when I got inside, I notified the security there that I was declaring a firearm on the premises, but that it was secured in my vehicle, he thanked me for notifying him, even though I left it out in the car. No issues or concerns noted.

golddigger14s · Jul 7, 2015

Why did you leave it in the car, and why did you notify the guard??????
Please read, and learn from old posts. Post your daily activities in the regional daily activity posts instead of resurrecting all these necro-posts.

mnrobitaille · Jul 7, 2015

golddigger14s said:
Why did you leave it in the car, and why did you notify the guard??????

I left it in car as there is signage inside the building about No Firearms Allowed except LEOs on-duty, as well as the USC. I notified Security of the firearm being in the vehicle as a courtesy that I was acknowledging aforementioned signage. Neither Security nor the DHS Police Officer there took my actions as threatening. I got a thanks from Security that I was forthcoming.

Grim_Night · Jul 7, 2015

golddigger14s said:
Why did you leave it in the car, and why did you notify the guard??????
Please read, and learn from old posts. Post your daily activities in the regional daily activity posts instead of resurrecting all these necro-posts.

Not to add to an old thread but... Though the poster had no duty to inform security, he left the firearm in the car because the social security office is a federal facility thus, in violation of federal law.

Now returning to our originally dead thread.

decklin · Jul 8, 2015

mnrobitaille said:
I left it in car as there is signage inside the building about No Firearms Allowed except LEOs on-duty, as well as the USC. I notified Security of the firearm being in the vehicle as a courtesy that I was acknowledging aforementioned signage. Neither Security nor the DHS Police Officer there took my actions as threatening. I got a thanks from Security that I was forthcoming.

I'm sorry but that makes zero sense to me. There is no reason to announce that. It's just asking for trouble.

MSG Laigaie · Jul 10, 2015

decklin said:
I'm sorry but that makes zero sense to me. There is no reason to announce that. It's just asking for trouble.

NavyLCDR said:
+10,000. You have to realize that it appears as if our relatively new member mnrobitaille is a product of our modern society and education system. In another thread he/she mentions the growing "gun violence" problem.

Regarding the bolded, it does appear that way. I must assume that his/your exuberance of newly found freedom is propelling this.

mnrob, take a deep breath and get your bearings. Come up to the Whatcom County Picnic and spend some time with other OCers. You will enjoy it.

Courthouse SOP for securing firearms

aktion

Regular Member

OlGutshotWilly

Campaign Veteran

joeroket

Regular Member

randian

Regular Member

fight4your_rights

Regular Member

aktion

Regular Member

joeroket

Regular Member

OlGutshotWilly

Campaign Veteran

Agent 47

Regular Member

mnrobitaille

Regular Member

golddigger14s

Activist Member

mnrobitaille

Regular Member

Grim_Night

Regular Member

decklin

Regular Member

MSG Laigaie

Campaign Veteran