First experience checking my sidearm at courthouse

**1quikmf** · July 27th, 2010, 07:18 PM

First, let me say that I was very impressed with the professionalism of the Erie County Sheriffs Department in making my first experience with this process quick, easy and hassle free.

Had some business at the courthouse today, so i took the afternoon off from work. Walked into the courthouse main entrance, which is usually staffed by 3-5 deputy's. It was busy today, with a decent line in front of the detectors.

I didn't bother waiting to get up to the detector, and grabbed the attention of a deputy standing nearby.

"Hi. I need to check my firearm."
"Oh, okay. Hold on a sec. Would you wait here for just a moment?"
"Sure."

He walks over to a locked gate which allows access around the detectors and opens it.

"Sir could you come over here please? Follow me."

I walk around the detectors to a side room off of the security area where the safes are.

"Okay, before we go any further I need to see your license please."
"Sure here ya go." (already had it ready so I wasnt reaching around my strong side)
"Great. So where is it?"
"On my five o'clock" *Turns around with arms up so he can pull it out*
"Hey, sweet holster. Where'd you pick that up at?"
"Online.. I think the site is High Noon Holsters.com"
"Alright just let me fill out this claim tag and you'll be good to go".
"Sweet."

Took two minutes for him to lock it up and give me the tag.

"Just stop on down whenever you're done. If I'm not here another deputy will take care of you."
"Thanks!"

And that was that. I was pleasantly surprised. I was inside the courthouse about an hour, and then I stopped back to pick it up. The deputy that checked me in was gone so I walked up to a different one.

"Hey, I'm on my way out and I just need to pickup my gun."
"Sure. You got the tag?"
"Yep".
"Alright step over here."

He checked the tag and unlocked the locker.

"Okay your all set. Go ahead and grab it and put it on." *waits patiently behind me*

I reached in a grabbed it, did a quick check to make sure the safety was still on, and tucked it into my Split Decision.

"Hey, sweet holster."
"lol, thats what the last guy said. Thanks. I got it online."
"Alright well have a nice day sir"
"You too."

And I walked out. No fuss. No dirty looks. No condescending tone or stiff attitudes. Just the way it should be. If any of you ECSD are reading this, thanks for the great experience. =D

/end

**HiredGoon** · July 27th, 2010, 09:28 PM

Sounds fine except for the part where the deputy handled your gun/holster...sounds like you said he removed it from your person?

**zackattack784** · July 27th, 2010, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by HiredGoon

Sounds fine except for the part where the deputy handled your gun/holster...sounds like you said he removed from your person?

Yea. I don't like that either. Lehigh county they allowed me to handle everything myself and I just unsnapped the holster and handed the deputy the whole rig. No way for a ND to happen that way.

They didn't ask for my LTCF either

**bac0nfat** · July 27th, 2010, 09:47 PM

Sounds good until you actually said "lol" out loud...LOL

**1quikmf** · July 27th, 2010, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by HiredGoon

Sounds fine except for the part where the deputy handled your gun/holster...sounds like you said he removed it from your person?

Yes, I allowed him to remove it from the holster and place it in the locker. This was my first time and I was kinda nervous. I didnt want to put my hands near my sidearm unless he told me to so I didnt. Is this a bad thing? Maybe next time I will do all the handling myself.

**Statkowski** · July 27th, 2010, 11:09 PM

The last time I went to the court house while carrying (Indiana County), I just walked up to the desk, handed them the paddle holster and all, and told them I needed to check it in. They didn't even raise an eyebrow.

Of course, out here in the West it's a little bit more laid back, I think, maybe.

**falcn** · July 29th, 2010, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by 1quikmf

Yes, I allowed him to remove it from the holster and place it in the locker. This was my first time and I was kinda nervous. I didnt want to put my hands near my sidearm unless he told me to so I didnt. Is this a bad thing? Maybe next time I will do all the handling myself.

Next time leave it in the holster and take the holster and gun off as one unit.

**HiredGoon** · July 29th, 2010, 05:17 AM

Originally Posted by 1quikmf

Yes, I allowed him to remove it from the holster and place it in the locker. This was my first time and I was kinda nervous. I didnt want to put my hands near my sidearm unless he told me to so I didnt. Is this a bad thing? Maybe next time I will do all the handling myself.

It is not a good idea, for safety reasons, for your firearm to be removed from its holster by you (or anyone) when other people are around...unless you intend to actually use it in a self defense situation.

Furthermore, it is even worse to let a person who may not be familiar with your particular gun, to actually handle it.

It would have been best for you to have removed the entire holster and gun as one unit (as already mentioned) and put it in the locker...or at least for you to have removed the gun from the holster and store it