Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #11
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    Quote Originally Posted by MedicCop View Post
    The wording does not limit the District Attorney or Sheriff to only having one office. Furthermore, the terms 'District Attorney's Office' and 'Sheriffs Office' are the official titles for the entire agency as a whole. Typically, probation agencies use the title 'Probation Department' (or Board of Probation and Parole), hence referring to the Probation and Parole Officers separately and individually. There is also only a comma and not a semicolon in the sentence to which you refer, implying that they are closely-related ideas.
    The lack of a semi colon may be a problem I agree. However any law which restricts rights is to be interpreted on the strictest possible manner, which would be that elected officials office.
    "Cives Arma Ferant"

    "I know I'm not James Bond, that's why I don't keep a loaded gun under the pillow, or bang Russian spies on a regular basis." - GunLawyer001

  2. #12
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    The problem herein is that any building containing anything constituting a "court facility" must have storage facilities. Unfortunately that isn't always the case, and there appears no easy way of resolving the problem.

  3. #13
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    Allentown, Pennsylvania
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    Quote Originally Posted by IronSight View Post
    They put in a small Sheriff's Office, basically a staffed closet, just to enact the weapons ban legally under state law because some of their workers in the civil offices there demanded it. Yes, they have a weapons check-in procedure. Notify the deputy just before the metal detectors (right inside the door) that you have a firearm to check in and they will take you through it. I've done it multiple times.

    My personal recommendation would be to not carry with one in the chamber when checking in at PA facilities like this. Don't trust the deputy to be following all the safety rules when you check in your firearm there.
    Thanks again for the info !

    I went to the Lehigh County Commissioners meeting last night.
    And weapons check-in was exactly as you described.

    1. Just before the metal detectors I notified the deputies I had a weapon to check in.
      (Since I was open carrying; my telling them was a bit redundant. BUT necessary.)
    2. The deputy had me; like all people; empty the contents of my pockets and send them through the xray.
    3. They had me walk through the metal detector with weapon still on my hip.
    4. Once I passed through the metal detector, the deputy wanded me; like they do with all people.
    5. They had me gather my pocket contents from the xray,
    6. The deputy thanked me for being honest and informing them I had a weapon.
    7. Another deputy escorted me to their office.
    8. They asked for my LTCF as identification.
    9. They noted my name, weapon make, and time on a duplicate receipt.
    10. They had me place my holstered weapon and holstered extra mags into a cardboard box.
    11. They taped the box shut and labeled it.
    12. They had me sign the receipt.
    13. And then gave me the pink copy of the receipt.


    When leaving the process was similar.
    So at no time did they physically handle my weapon.
    They were very friendly and professional throughout the entire process.
    --ET

  4. #14
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    Quote Originally Posted by ett View Post
    Thanks again for the info !

    I went to the Lehigh County Commissioners meeting last night.
    And weapons check-in was exactly as you described.

    1. Just before the metal detectors I notified the deputies I had a weapon to check in.
      (Since I was open carrying; my telling them was a bit redundant. BUT necessary.)
    2. The deputy had me; like all people; empty the contents of my pockets and send them through the xray.
    3. They had me walk through the metal detector with weapon still on my hip.
    4. Once I passed through the metal detector, the deputy wanded me; like they do with all people.
    5. They had me gather my pocket contents from the xray,
    6. The deputy thanked me for being honest and informing them I had a weapon.
    7. Another deputy escorted me to their office.
    8. They asked for my LTCF as identification.
    9. They noted my name, weapon make, and time on a duplicate receipt.
    10. They had me place my holstered weapon and holstered extra mags into a cardboard box.
    11. They taped the box shut and labeled it.
    12. They had me sign the receipt.
    13. And then gave me the pink copy of the receipt.


    When leaving the process was similar.
    So at no time did they physically handle my weapon.
    They were very friendly and professional throughout the entire process.
    I hope they put that box in a locker, the way the law requires.
    "Cives Arma Ferant"

    "I know I'm not James Bond, that's why I don't keep a loaded gun under the pillow, or bang Russian spies on a regular basis." - GunLawyer001

  5. #15
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    (Berks County)
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    Quote Originally Posted by PAMedic=F|A= View Post
    I hope they put that box in a locker, the way the law requires.
    It was packing tape not masking tape so it was plenty secure. Locker not needed.
    Let's not forget there are still species of tropical penguins living in the Galapagos.

  6. #16
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    Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
    (Delaware County)
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    Quote Originally Posted by donotknowme View Post
    Locker not needed.
    ummm...
    § 913(e) Facilities for checking firearms or other dangerous weapons.--Each county shall make available at or within the building containing a court facility by July 1, 2002, lockers or similar facilities at no charge or cost for the temporary checking of firearms by persons carrying firearms under section 6106(b) or 6109 or for the checking of other dangerous weapons that are not otherwise prohibited by law.

  7. #17
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Sgt.K View Post
    ummm...
    He was clearly being sarcastic.
    "Cives Arma Ferant"

    "I know I'm not James Bond, that's why I don't keep a loaded gun under the pillow, or bang Russian spies on a regular basis." - GunLawyer001

  8. #18
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    (Delaware County)
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    Quote Originally Posted by PAMedic=F|A= View Post
    He was clearly being sarcastic.
    Clear to most of us, but there's always newbies...

  9. #19
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    OP here,

    Sorry for re-opening and old thread.
    But I thought everyone might be interested in my additional travels to Lehigh County Government Center to attend Lehigh County Commissioners meetings.
    I've been to about a dozen meetings since my first visit noted in post #13.

    During my 2nd and 3rd visits; the weapons check was nearly identical to the first visit.
    However; the 4th visit was completely different !
    I was forced to leave all my belongings (keys, wallet, etc ...) at the x-ray machine while deputy walked me to the Sheriff's room to check my weapon.
    AND the deputy did not want to give me a receipt.

    In all subsequent visits; the weapons have been completely different from each other.
    No two visits have had the same weapons check.

    Well PARTS of the weapons checks are been similar.
    In all subsequent visits; I was forced to leave all my belongings at the x-ray machine.
    And in all except for my last visit this past Wed. They had me keep wearing my weapon, through the x-ray machine and all the way into the Sheriff's office.
    This past Wed was the only time (so far) the deputy instructed me to remove my weapon and magazines and place them into the x-ray machine.
    After which the deputy carried them to the Sheriff's office.
    And in most of the subsequent visits; I had to argue with them to either give me a receipt or a key.

    Other than the one time I checked a weapon at the state capital; these checks at the Lehigh County Government Center have been the only times I've been through a weapons check.
    Do all places have such dysfunctional weapons check ?


    Since I'm not pleased with these weapons checks.
    I REALLY don't like being forced to leave my belongings; ESPECIALLY my wallet; at the x-ray machine, out in the open for anyone to grab.
    I also REALLY do not like having to argue to get a receipt for my weapon.
    SO
    A couple days ago; I sent an email to the Sheriff asking to meet with him to discuss why there is a weapons check and the issues I've encountered.
    He; unsurprisingly; has not replied. So I hope to call his office early next week.
    --ET

  10. #20
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    Default Re: Lehigh County Government Center: Weapons policy ? Weapons check-in ?

    Most recent Indian County procedure at the court house (jury duty).

    1. Entering through the main entrance, one is greeted by a chest-high counter (with a deputy hiding behind it), the magic x-ray machine, the magic portal, and everything else is roped off.

    2. Announce to the deputy you'd like to check in a firearm. No, he doesn't faint dead away, but invites you straight through the magic portal (which then beeps incessantly) and into a small room behind the chest-high counter (this is where they monitor all the video cameras).

    3. Hand over your handgun (it can remain in the holster), plus your LTCF. They scribble something down onto a sheet, get the handgun's serial number (which might require removing it from the holster (of course you remind him if there's one in the chamber)), and everything, including the LTCF, gets put into a storage locker.

    4. The key for the storage locker (they only have three of them) gets put into a plastic bin (also used for holding other items requiring temporary storage while in the court house), and a numbered plastic card from the plastic bin becomes your receipt. You'll need it to retrieve your property later.

    5. You then walk out of the little room, through the magic portal again (now you're on the outside of the secured facility), and they let you go straight to the head of the line to properly enter the court house (empty your pockets, run everything through the x-ray machine, go through the magic portal again).

    6. Upon departing the building, you hand over your plastic receipt, they get your stuff and hand it to you on the other side of the magic portal. Put everything back on your hip if you want.

    7. If you enter the building again on the following day, as long as it's the same handgun, they don't have to get the serial number (because they already copied it down - the sign-in sheet that they use takes a long, long time to fill up (which also explains why they only have three lockers).

    Overall? Not ideal, but not disfunctional.

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