CCW Courthouse Carry: Senator Steube’s proposed “amendment”
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  1. #1
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    CCW Courthouse Carry: Senator Steube’s proposed “amendment”

    Author: Mitch Perry

    Snip: Sarasota Senator Greg Steube introduced an amended bill (SB 616) to allow citizens to carry weapons into all "courthouse facilities" that do not have trials, hearings or judicial chambers in them.

    The current state statute (790.06) defines what a courthouse is and it currently prohibits citizens from carrying weapons into "courthouse facilities." Steube's proposed amendment is to change that statutory definition.

    St. Petersburg Democrat Darryl Rouson said that this became an issue because a sheriff's deputy denied Steube entry into a courthouse facility while he was carrying a weapon. Steube admitted that he was stopped from entering, but added that attorneys are sitting ducks for disgruntled members of the public.

    Rouson said, “Some people go to courthouses for emotional matters. Allowing them to bring guns might be problematic.”


    Steube's proposed amended definition of "courthouse"
    (the underlined part is Steube's proposal)
    https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bil...ent/696944/PDF

    Full story:
    http://saintpetersblog.com/little-de...arry-gun-bill/

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
    Senator Greg Steube is proposing to change Florida law to allow CCW permit holders to wear their guns throughout all courthouse facilities that do not have hearings or judges chambers in them.

    SB616:
    https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bil.../616/ByVersion
    You have to read the small print to understand what's going on with Senator Steube's proposal to change the gun law. If you only read the large print that is posted at the Senate website, it reads as follows:

    • Authorizing a concealed weapons or concealed firearms licensee to temporarily surrender a weapon or firearm if the licensee approaches courthouse security or management personnel upon arrival and follow their instructions, etc.

    However, if you read the fine print in Steube's proposal to change the law, he is attempting to statutorily redefine the definition of what a "courthouse" is, which will allow CCW permit holders to wear their guns into courthouse facilities and into Clerk of Court buildings if hearings and judges chambers are not present.

    Here is the backstory on this statutory proposal: Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight refused to obey the chief judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit:

    • The statute currently allows judges to bar CCW permit holders from wearing their guns into "court facilities" where "judicial operations" are happening.
    • Senator Steube's proposal is to change the definition of what a "courthouse" is so that CCW permit holders will be allowed to wear their guns (on their person) throughout all "courthouse facilities" if there are no hearings or judges chambers present.
    • Steube is doing this as a personal favor for Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight, due to the recent fiasco when:
      1. A deputy refused to allow Senator Steube to carry a weapon into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building.
      2. Steube complained to Knight, stating that weapons are statutorily allowed inside.
      3. Colonel Kurt Hoffman advised Knight that Steube was correct (but Hoffman and Steube were wrong).
      4. Knight immediately removed all deputies from security checkpoints inside the Sarasota Clerk of Court building.
      5. The chief judge of the entire 12th Judicial Circuit ordered Knight to put deputies back into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building -- or be arrested for contempt of court.
      6. Knight refused to obey the judge.
      7. Instead of arresting Knight, the judge allowed the controversy to go to the appellate court.
      8. Knight and Hoffman quickly learned that the statute allows the judge to bar CCW permit holders from wearing their guns throughout the Clerk of Court building. Sheriff Knight and Colonel Hoffman panicked and complained to Senator Steube.
      9. As a favor to Knight, Steube attempts to "amend" the statutory definition of a "courthouse" (in SB616). It's in the small print and you have to search for it. If Steube can change the law, then:
      a) Knight will not be forced to return deputies to security checkpoints inside the Sarasota Clerk of Court building.
      b) The chief judge will not be able to arrest Knight for contempt.
      c) CCW permit holders will be able to legally wear their guns throughout the Sarasota Clerk of Court building.
      10. Senator Anitere Flores (a Miami Republican) is refusing to allow Steube to amend the courthouse law. She wants to keep guns out of courthouse facilities. Flores says that guns don't mix well in courthouse buildings that have in-progress judicial operations.
      11. Senator Steube says otherwise.

    Prediction: Sarasota Sheriff Knight will be forced to return deputies to security checkpoints inside the Sarasota Clerk of Court building to prohibit CCW holders from wearing their guns throughout the courthouse facility.

    Time will tell.

  3. #3
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    Sarasota sheriff's petition to allow CCWs into court facilities (statewide)

    Background:
    • Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight abruptly withdrew all deputies from Sarasota's Clerk of Court building, stating that CCW permit holders may legally carry guns into all court facilities that don't have courtrooms or judges chambers in them.
    • The chief judge of the 12th judicial circuit ordered Knight to reinstate deputies into courthouse facilities.
    • Sheriff Tom Knight refused to obey the judge.
    • In lieu of arresting Knight, the judge sent the issue to the appeals court for a pending statewide decision.

    Follow-up article:

    Author: Lee Williams

    Snip: Chief Judge Charles Williams asked Florida's Second District Court of Appeal to rule on whether Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight is legally required to reinstate deputies at security checkpoints in the Sarasota Clerk of Court building, along with other checkpoints in other judicial facilities that do not have courtrooms in them.

    Knight responded by asking the appeals court to quash the judge's orders.

    The case centers around:
    • What legally constitutes a courthouse and court facilities.
    • The exemptions section (4) in Florida law 790.33
    • The Sarasota sheriff’s legal obligation in screening for guns in court facilities

    The impact of the pending appeals court decision will affect courts and sheriffs statewide.


    LINKS:

    Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight's explanation for refusing to obey the judge's orders:
    https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...ertiorari.html

    Chief judges response to Knight's contempt of court:
    https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...-Petition.html

    Full story:
    http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20...apons-petition

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