Court Unanimously Rules Against Sheriff Tom Knight

[Media]

...and Knight is ordered to reinstate security checkpoints in the Sarasota Clerk of Court Building

Appellate judges unanimously ruled against Sheriff Tom Knight in the battle about:
- providing security in court facilities
- [Knight’s desire to allow guns into] court facilities.

Knight’s staff plan to meet with court administration to determine:
- whether the sheriff will [or will not] return deputies to screening stations at non-courtroom facilities
- developing a new procedure [to allow CCW guns into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building].

Knight said in a news release: “This [appellate court] ruling fails to address the rights of citizens [to carry guns into government buildings when they have a CCW permit]. Senator Steube recognizes this and he has agreed to move this issue through the legislature.”

Steube argued that [the Sarasota Clerk of Court building] is just a government building and it is not a “gun free zone.”

Steube’s promise of legislative change could come in the form of:
- a standalone bill [to allow CCW permit holders to carry guns into court facilities]
- or could require some “artful things around the amendment process.”

Steube said: “We can do stuff, it’s just a matter of figuring out how. It’s too early to say exactly how, but I’m going to find a way to [change all of] this.”

Chief Deputy Col. Kurt Hoffman said…

Full story:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20...-security-feud

[contempt of court]

Knight’s staff plan to meet with court administration to develop a new procedure [to allow CCW guns into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building].

If Knight and Hoffman follow through with that threat... and if they allow CCW permit holders to bring their guns into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building... then Knight will be in contempt of court... and Knight will be subject to arrest... again...

[Unregistered]

Steube argued that [the Sarasota Clerk of Court building] is just a government building and it is not a “gun free zone.”

There are court rulings in other states that state that as long as security is provided, then EVERYONE can be disarmed before entering a facility, to include CCW permit holders.

Imagine this scenario:

• Knight starts allowing CCW guns into all court buildings where court is not in session, but those without CCW permits are disarmed before being allowed to enter the building.
• A woman goes to the clerk of court to file for a restraining order (it's not issued yet). She is disarmed before entering the building because she doesn't have a CCW permit.
• However, her husband has a CCW permit and deputies allow him to bring his gun into the clerk of court building.
• The armed husband shoots and kills his unarmed wife inside the clerk of court building.
• Guess what? The Sarasota Sheriff's Office is now liable for her death because we disarmed her, but we did not disarm him.

[Unregistered]

There are court rulings in other states that state that as long as security is provided, then EVERYONE can be disarmed before entering a facility, to include CCW permit holders.

Imagine this scenario:

• Knight starts allowing CCW guns into all court buildings where court is not in session, but those without CCW permits are disarmed before being allowed to enter the building.
• A woman goes to the clerk of court to file for a restraining order (it's not issued yet). She is disarmed before entering the building because she doesn't have a CCW permit.
• However, her husband has a CCW permit and deputies allow him to bring his gun into the clerk of court building.
• The armed husband shoots and kills his unarmed wife inside the clerk of court building.
• Guess what? The Sarasota Sheriff's Office is now liable for her death because we disarmed her, but we did not disarm him.

And you would be fired for neglect of duty because last I knew it was illegal to carry a firearm without a CCW permit, actually a felony. Why would you disarm her and then let her go on about business? Now if you are going to try and change your story to the wife carrying a knife and that was the weapon that was taken away then again you're a fool because as we all know you don't go to a gunfight with a knife. I sure hope you aren't a LEO

[Unregistered]

Why would you disarm him?

The bigger issue is Knight’s desire to allow CCW permit holders to bring their guns into court facilities while they are angry because:

• A wife is inside the court facility where she is applying for a restraining order against her husband.
• She doesn’t have a CCW permit or a gun, so she is unarmed.
• He is armed with a CCW permit, so we let him take his gun inside the facility so he can shoot and kill her.

That’s a high-liability issue that government needs to stay away from. That’s why EVERYONE is equally disarmed before being allowed to enter:

• the courtroom, where hearings are being held
• AND before being allowed inside court facilities (aka court buildings), where the court orders are being finalized and issued (and where angry defendants pay court fines and fees, etc.).

Kurt Hoffman's original argument was that "a judge's authority does not exceed beyond the four corners of a courtroom." However, the appeals court unanimously ruled against Knight; thus, the chief judge can prohibit CCW guns from being brought inside court facilities. Allowing guns inside court facilities will never fly because the judiciary will never allow it to pass in the Florida legislature. Knight and Steube are SOL for three reasons:

• First, our fellow legislators will shitcan Steube’s ridiculous idea.
• Second, common sense will be applied during the legislative process.
• Third, refer back to the first reason.

Domestic violence and guns hits close to Knight's home. Please remember that Tom Knight’s brother (Chris Knight) has been arrested for woman beating (domestic violence) when he battered his live-in girlfriend. Click here to see Knight’s arrest record. Additionally, Tom Knight was previously arrested by the Venice Police Department for disorderly conduct when he got in a bar fight over “woman issues” while he was intoxicated.

[Unregistered]

The bigger issue is Knight’s desire to allow CCW permit holders to bring their guns into court facilities while they are angry because:

• A wife is inside the court facility where she is applying for a restraining order against her husband.
• She doesn’t have a CCW permit or a gun, so she is unarmed.
• He is armed with a CCW permit, so we let him take his gun inside the facility so he can shoot and kill her.

That’s a high-liability issue that government needs to stay away from. That’s why EVERYONE is equally disarmed before being allowed to enter:

• the courtroom, where hearings are being held
• AND before being allowed inside court facilities (aka court buildings), where the court orders are being finalized and issued (and where angry defendants pay court fines and fees, etc.).

Kurt Hoffman's original argument was that "a judge's authority does not exceed beyond the four corners of a courtroom." However, the appeals court unanimously ruled against Knight; thus, the chief judge can prohibit CCW guns from being brought inside court facilities. Allowing guns inside court facilities will never fly because the judiciary will never allow it to pass in the Florida legislature. Knight and Steube are SOL for three reasons:

• First, our fellow legislators will shitcan Steube’s ridiculous idea.
• Second, common sense will be applied during the legislative process.
• Third, refer back to the first reason.

Domestic violence and guns hits close to Knight's home. Please remember that Tom Knight’s brother (Chris Knight) has been arrested for woman beating (domestic violence) when he battered his live-in girlfriend. Click here to see Knight’s arrest record. Additionally, Tom Knight was previously arrested by the Venice Police Department for disorderly conduct when he got in a bar fight over “woman issues” while he was intoxicated.

[Media]

A unanimous appellate court ruling against Sheriff Tom Knight ended an argument involving concealed weapons in court facilities.

State Senator Greg Steube argued that the denial of his access [to court facilities with his CCW permitted weapon] violated state statute 790.06.

The 2nd District panel ruled that:
1. Judge Williams has the legal authority to order Knight to provide security at “court facilities.”
2, State law 29.008 indicates the definition of “court facilities” includes court-related functions of the clerk of court.

The Legislature should broaden the wording in the concealed-weapons statute [in 790.06] so that it includes “court facilities” as is defined in section 29.008.

Full story:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/opinion...lities?start=2

[Unregistered]

If Knight and Hoffman follow through with that threat... and if they allow CCW permit holders to bring their guns into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building... then Knight will be in contempt of court... and Knight will be subject to arrest... again...

We have never allowed weapons into the Clerk of Court building, even from CCW permit holders. That's why Senator Steube was not allowed to bring his weapons into the building. The administrative order commands us to do what we have always done, which is to prohibit entry of all weapons. If the "Knight and Hoffman duo" order us to allow CCW guns into the facility, then it will be a brand new thing. I seriously doubt that the chief judge is going to go along with it.

[Unregistered]

We have never allowed weapons into the Clerk of Court building, even from CCW permit holders. That's why Senator Steube was not allowed to bring his weapons into the building. The administrative order commands us to do what we have always done, which is to prohibit entry of all weapons. If the "Knight and Hoffman duo" order us to allow CCW guns into the facility, then it will be a brand new thing. I seriously doubt that the chief judge is going to go along with it.

• Colonel Kurt Hoffman is going to have Major Jeff Bell tell Chief Judge Charles Williams that we will be allowing CCW's into the Sarasota Clerk of Court Building.
• Interestingly, Mr. Tom Knight will NOT be present at the meeting that Hoffman is asking the chief judge to attend. Knight is a contemptuous and condescending coward.

[Unregistered]

• Colonel Kurt Hoffman is going to have Major Jeff Bell tell Chief Judge Charles Williams that we will be allowing CCW's into the Sarasota Clerk of Court Building.
• Interestingly, Mr. Tom Knight will NOT be present at the meeting that Hoffman is asking the chief judge to attend. Knight is a contemptuous and condescending coward.

In round 1, before this political knightmare mushroomed into a legal fiasco, the chief judge asked Knight to meet with him, but Knight never did.

In round 2, now that the appellate court has ruled against Knight, he will still not meet with the chief judge.