Dauphin County Courthouse Experience

[HBGMarine]

The fiance and I ran down to the Dauphin County Courthouse today to get the ole' marriage liscence and for her to apply for her LTCF. As we're walking up the steps she says "You didn't bring your pistol did you?" to which I smile and reply "Of course I did!". My fiance laughs and says "Oh jeez. I'll go first". I opened the door to let her go first and ask the guard at the x-ray machine about checking my firearm in a lockbox.

The conversation goes as follows.....

HGBMarine: Excuse me sir, I need to check my firearm.
Guard 1: Huh?
HGBMarine: I need to check my firearm.
Guard 1: Oh, your firearm. Wait....do you have it on you now?
HGBMarine: Yes.
Guard 1: Ummmm...(3 second pause|)....Hey John (to Guard 2 loudly) THIS GUY HAS A GUN.
Guard 2: Ok, one second...

At this point the 5 other people in line get an OMG look on their face and start eyeballing me. Guard 2 comes over from the metal detector and starts explaining to Guard 1 the procedure, asks for my LTCF, and writes me out a receipt. After locking my pistol in the lockbox they just said "thank you" and that was it. I was really surprised that they didn't ask me to empty my pockets or walk through the metal detector again. For all intents and purposes I could have had 2 other handguns on me that I didn't put in the box. Seeing the look on my fiances face while she waited was pretty funny. She also got a kick out of Guard 1 "do you have it on you now?", "THIS GUY HAS A GUN". He was a younger guy and I'm assuming it was his first time checking a handgun because he seemed pretty nervous the whole time. All in all it was pretty good experience.

[General Geoff]

I was really surprised that they didn't ask me to empty my pockets or walk through the metal detector again. For all intents and purposes I could have had 2 other handguns on me that I didn't put in the box.

Yeah, we had this same experience at the Capitol complex in Harrisburg back in April..

[38SnubFan]

A friend of mine is one of the guards at that courthouse. He's been doing his best to make sure other guards have the procedure down pat. For the most part, they do; although there are some that either haven't had to check a gun in some time or haven't had to do it before at all.

I've gone in there quite frequently for various paperwork recently. I've only had one instance where there was a delay. Otherwise, I'm checked in within a minute or so.

Sorry you had a "less-than-ideal" experience.

[zackattack784]

Sorry you had a "less-than-ideal" experience.

IDK, it seemed pretty close to ideal to me. Heck, I would be glad they checked my firearm without any hassle

[HBGMarine]

Sorry you had a "less-than-ideal" experience.

I didn't think it was a negative or less than ideal experience really. I didn't get hassled or delayed, just thought it was kind of interesting how the younger guard reacted when he asked if I had it on me now

[HiredGoon]

While not really a negative experience, I would not say it was completely positive either.

The part that bothers me is:

Guard 1: ....Hey John (to Guard 2 loudly) THIS GUY HAS A GUN.

This could have caused a little bit of a "situation" if the guard's tone was alarming (it was loud).

You could have had a few deputies drawing on you if they were nearby.

At least now this guy (young guard) knows that folks can and do legally carry guns up to the courthouse checkpoint and he knows how to handle it now

[tdyoung58]

+1 for a damned jarhead troublemaker from a retired Seabee

[HBGMarine]

+1 for a damned jarhead troublemaker from a retired Seabee

Haha, thanks Squid! I pulled a lot of security details for your fellow Seabees over in the suck back in '03. Nothing like spending 4 hours a day sitting on the side of a bulldozer making sure the driver doesn't run over any little Iraqi kids while also making sure none of the little buggers were going to shoot us

[truecrimson]

Congratulations. As a recently married man the only advice I can give you is DON'T DO IT!! RUN FOR THE HILLS!!

Just kidding of course. Marriage license and LTCF the same day, she sounds like a keeper.

[HBGMarine]

Congratulations. As a recently married man the only advice I can give you is DON'T DO IT!! RUN FOR THE HILLS!!

Just kidding of course. Marriage license and LTCF the same day, she sounds like a keeper.

I knew it was love when she showed me her Tarus .357 the first time I came over to her house! Plus, once she gets her LTCF that means I get to go pistol shopping