Courthouse Carry

[rayven]

I went to the Reading, PA courthouse to pick up my marriage license.

I ALWAYS carry in Reading, and this was no exception. When I parked, there were sheriffs everywhere walking around.

It was a nice day, so I figured OC was of the occasion. Got to the door with no problem, walked up to the metal detectors and declared that I needed to check a firearm.

The sheriff asked me for my license to carry which I denied him (no need for a license to carry openly in PA). He checked with his partner who OK'd the whole thing. He escorted me to a bank of lockers, had me lock my firearm, and gave me a receipt.

I went upstairs and got my license.

Came back down and the original sheriff told me he asked his supervisor about the whole open carry thing. His supervisor told him that it was not legal. I told him his supervisor was wrong. He shrugged, escorted me to the lockers which he unlocked and I holstered my firearm. He had me sign the receipt that I received my property, and I was on my way.

On the way out, I passed between three sheriffs and one state cop - nothing said.

All in all, easy encounter - but holy hell was I nervous!

 

[Unfettered Might]

Helleva job!

 

[Boomboy007]

Good on ya! :yes4:

 

[Leader]

I went to the Reading, PA courthouse to pick up my marriage license.

I ALWAYS carry in Reading, and this was no exception. When I parked, there were sheriffs everywhere walking around.

It was a nice day, so I figured OC was of the occasion. Got to the door with no problem, walked up to the metal detectors and declared that I needed to check a firearm.

The sheriff asked me for my license to carry which I denied him (no need for a license to carry openly in PA). He checked with his partner who OK'd the whole thing. He escorted me to a bank of lockers, had me lock my firearm, and gave me a receipt.

I went upstairs and got my license.

Came back down and the original sheriff told me he asked his supervisor about the whole open carry thing. His supervisor told him that it was not legal. I told him his supervisor was wrong. He shrugged, escorted me to the lockers which he unlocked and I holstered my firearm. He had me sign the receipt that I received my property, and I was on my way.

On the way out, I passed between three sheriffs and one state cop - nothing said.

All in all, easy encounter - but holy hell was I nervous!

If it wasn't legal, why on earth would an officer of the law give you back a firearm????????

 

[rayven]

If it wasn't legal, why on earth would an officer of the law give you back a firearm????????

My thoughts exactly. Nobody ever said officers of the law are guaranteed to be thinking, intelligent people.

 

[Mobuck]

In Missouri, the courthouse is off limits. Therefore I don't carry into the building. I know all the guys in there and wouldn't want to put them in the position of having to bend the rules because I pulled a dumb stunt and got caught. I went in to renew my permit a while back and had nice chat with the sheriff. He saw my holster when I sat down but didn't say anything but later asked what I carried. I guess just checking to see if I was out of place. I told him and flicked my jacket open to show him I was defanged to which he just nodded and wished me a good day. I don't like leaving a weapon in an unoccupied vehicle but sometimes there is no option. I asked a deputy one day if he'd hold my pistol while I went in and he refused saying it would take him an hour to do the paperwork to hold the piece for 15 minutes while I was inside paying my taxes.