Question - Can I carry to this courthouse?

[Curmudgeon]

During the month of October I may have to serve jury duty in Harrisburg. If called I intend to carry to the security point and then lock up the firearm in the storage facilities, provided this is legal and the facilities exist.

Does anyone have any personal experience at this location?

United States District Court
Middle District of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg Office
228 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17108

I'm not real clear on which courts are required to provide locking storage for firearms, and I'm hoping to get good information here prior to calling them and getting some runaround. I can find no information about this on the paperwork, or on the website.


I just found this street address, looks bad:

Street Address:
Ronald Reagan Federal Bldg. & U.S. Courthouse
228 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101


.

[DaveM55]

Sounds like a Federal Court, not a State Court so I would guess no.

Can't hurt to call ahead and ask.

[Jhaydeno]

I think the federal courts are not required to provide storage, however they may do so for the variety of LEO's coming through the courts.

FYI, I had a positive carry experience at the Cumberland County Courthouse today, although they only have 8 lockers. Their sheriffs are very professional!

[Curmudgeon]

Sounds like a Federal Court, not a State Court so I would guess no.

Can't hurt to call ahead and ask.

I agree, it does look like a federal facility, the address says it's a federal bldg, and the letter says US Court. I'm thinking, not good.

I intend to call and ask, but not until I know for sure, know what I mean? How many times have we been given bad info from a phone call?

[Curmudgeon]

I think the federal courts are not required to provide storage, however they may do so for the variety of LEO's coming through the courts.

FYI, I had a positive carry experience at the Cumberland County Courthouse today, although they only have 8 lockers. Their sheriffs are very professional!

I've never had any trouble in York or at the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, but if this is federal I'm pretty sure I'm not even going to attempt it. I'm sure I'd be in big trouble long before reaching the security point.

[gnbrotz]

IMO, the court in question is clearly a federal court, so storage isn't mandated, nor have I ever heard of it being a remote possibility. Asking in person, while armed, may get you an "interview" and cause you to be late for your duties. If you're going to make a phone inquiry, have a female do it...from a payphone.

Stay as far away from the radar as possible on this one.

[JustaMutt]

Stay as far away from the radar as possible on this one.

Blip......blip.......blip.........too late.

[1911]

I was in that courthouse 2 years ago. You run into the US Marshall's right inside the door. Everything in your pockets goes thru x-ray and you go thru a detector. I do not recall seeing any type of lock boxes. I suspect carrying would not be well received.

Parking is going to suck. You might be lucky enough to find a metered spot within a couple blocks but you cant carry enough quarters for the day. City Police will ticket you and where you have to pay the ticket, firearms are again forbidden and their storage solution is the clerk's desk drawer. There is all day parking nearby for 20 bucks but I'm not sure where it's at.

[Curmudgeon]

The web site tells me what garages to at, and I receive a voucher (or something) for free parking as long as I park at one of the 5 or so garages listed.

Yep, sounds like a no guns event.

[Statkowski]

I had one of those days today. First stop, V.A. Medical Center. No guns allowed (but no guards, either). Second stop, Social Security office. No guns allowed, armed guard on hand. Last stop, I.R.S. office. No guns allowed, armed guard on hand.

After that, I went home and took a nap.