Courthouse

[Statkowski]

They are required, by law, to provide storage facilities. They are also required, by law, to post signage concerning such storage facilities.

They are not required, nor permitted, by law, to express personal opinions concerning such. Any adverse comments to your exercising your rights, supported by state law, are inexcusable.

A hard-copy letter to the sheriff is required, including his deputy's comments and your treatment at the entrance to the court house. Express your outrage.

What's needed are a few no-nonsense carriers to pay a visit to the court house in Uniontown.

[Bmil13]

Was this a Sheriff's deputy or a security guard? You need to be contacting this jackass's superior and explain what happened. That's utter bullshit and completely uncalled for.

He is a security guard through the sheriff's dept. He is armed, but not a deputy. Also I am going to write a letter this weekend to the sheriff and being that I have to go back to the courthouse to apply for a building permit, I plan on scheduling an appointment with the sheriff to talk to him in person.

[Berncly]

He is a security guard through the sheriff's dept. He is armed, but not a deputy. Also I am going to write a letter this weekend to the sheriff and being that I have to go back to the courthouse to apply for a building permit, I plan on scheduling an appointment with the sheriff to talk to him in person.

It can be useful to keep a cell phone recording video in a front shirt pocket when entering the courthouse.
Don't be aggressive with it, just let it record passively.
As long as you are in the public domain it is legal unless the courthouse has its own rules.

If you step into a private office meeting with the Sheriff it may not be legal to keep it recording without consent.
That's why there have been a rash of incidents where people have accidentally hit buttons on their phones and unknowingly recorded conversations.

Generally speaking, in situations like this written documentation is better than talking since people can deny what they said.
But if you think the Sheriff is a decent guy, then giving him the chance to handle the situation could get the best result.

[R L Suehr]

He is a security guard through the sheriff's dept. He is armed, but not a deputy. Also I am going to write a letter this weekend to the sheriff and being that I have to go back to the courthouse to apply for a building permit, I plan on scheduling an appointment with the sheriff to talk to him in person.

Excellent

Hopefully, he understands that it is a legal requirement that they provide storage and your right to posses a firearm and use that storage.

It can be useful to keep a cell phone recording video in a front shirt pocket when entering the courthouse.
Don't be aggressive with it, just let it record passively.
As long as you are in the public domain it is legal unless the courthouse has its own rules.

If you step into a private office meeting with the Sheriff it may not be legal to keep it recording without consent.
That's why there have been a rash of incidents where people have accidentally hit buttons on their phones and unknowingly recorded conversations.

Generally speaking, in situations like this written documentation is better than talking since people can deny what they said.
But if you think the Sheriff is a decent guy, then giving him the chance to handle the situation could get the best result.

Almost all court houses have a "no cell phone" policy anymore I believe.

[Jhaydeno]

As noted above, complaint either written or in person. Deputy Asshat needs a refresher course on who he works for. I would also FOIA the video from the courthouse encounter; especially if the sheriff resists your claim. Have it right on your cell phone.

As an aside, Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster and York are all very professional when checking a firearm. They all follow a similar procedure of sign in: nicely state “ I HAVE A GUN!” ;-) , show LTCF, drop firearm with holster in the box, some give you a key or a slip of paper (has changed over the years), and do the reverse on the way out. Cumberland is a bit tight on space and I was politely asked to wait until the lobby is clear once or twice before Re-arming (understandable).

[Bmil13]

Excellent

Hopefully, he understands that it is a legal requirement that they provide storage and your right to posses a firearm and use that storage.



Almost all court houses have a "no cell phone" policy anymore I believe.

I believe the no cell phone is only inside the court rooms.

[FJRMarty]

First time in a courthouse I just walk towards the detector and quietly tell the monitor that I need a locker. I've been in a few, not in the last year, but I never had any confused reactions, and I just followed directions.
Couple of examples:
In Union Co. the courthouse entrance was in the back; the deputy pointed behind me towards the doors I just passed through, there was a wire box of little lockers with locks hanging between the doors.
In McKean Co. the guy monitoring the detector is a citizen employed by the judges. Several years ago he had to call a deputy to escort me back towards the lockers inside the deputy's office. Last time I was there the little lockers were just past the detector under a small desk where the guy sits waiting to do business. I think this is because the sheriff's office is on the other side of town now, in the county prison.

[jthrelf]

Sounds pretty reasonable. Well Fayette County is not like that. Today I walked in and informed the Security Guard that I had a firearm I needed to check in. He replied back and said, don't reach for it and you better have a permit for that. I told him I do and I wont reach for it, it's in the front, I appendix carry. As I stepped through the metal detector I had my hands around shoulder height (Old habits from work when I was a CO.) Anyways as soon as I stepped through he took a step towards me and reached for my waist where my pistol was. As he did this I took a step back and he said I'll remove your firearm. At this time I told him I'd rather not because I dont want him pointing my firearm at me as he removes it. (I've been around this guy before and he has no regard for safety) he then unsnapped his holster and put his hand on his firearm. I then said to him don't do that just call your supervisor cause you do this stuff to me everytime I come down here. So then he told me to remove the firearm In the holster and hand it to him, so I did. As he walked towards the lock boxes he tells me that I need to leave my firearm in my vehicle (yeah that's a great idea, leave a firearm unsecure in my vehicle outside of the courthouse and jail where criminals are. Solid plan) which I said to him. He then told me if I'm going to be a smart ass he will confiscate my firearm and I'll be arrested. At this point I cant help but to laugh at him and said please do. this would have totally made my day. Anyways I went and did business and when I came back to retrieve my firearm he had a deputy waiting there for me to tell me how I was a bad boy and how I need to conduct myself. When he handed my firearm back to me he then unsnapped his holster again and put his hand on his pistol. I then told him just stop, if you are that scared it's time to get a new job. He was also got angry when I informed him he wrote down the wrong serial number as my glock 19 has 3 different serial numbers on it since the barrel, slide, and frame don't match.

Definition of a glorified security guard - LOSER.

I almost had a similar situation at Montco. I stepped up to security and said I had a firearm to check in - the way the guy reacted you'd of thought I said "I have a gun and I'll pull it out right freaking now!!!!!!!!". He told me to put my hands way up and asked if I was a cop. I replied with - "what does that matter?". After I got done with Mr. Mall Cop another deputy rolled his eyes and said I'll take you over here and situated me with a locker - with no issues. So in the ~4 times I've been there, it's usually been smooth sailing.

[Sgt.K]

In Delaware County, the sheriff office is in the courthouse proper, but the lockboxes (2) are in an auxiliary building.

http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=323317

[PAMedic=F|A=]

In Delaware County, the sheriff office is in the courthouse proper, but the lockboxes (2) are in an auxiliary building.

http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=323317

yea, that is zero percent legal.

Juniata county has lock boxes in both the annex and the courthouse, in order to comply with the law.