Easton Magistrates Office

[zackattack784]

From my reading of 18 Pa.C.S. § 913 the district court in Easton's centre square qualifies as a "court facility." I was recently there and noticed no "conspicuous sign" indicating that carrying firearms were prohibited (as required by law). So I looked everywhere, thinking maybe some inconspicuous sign was posted someplace. Nothing. There was no security screening (and I'm assuming this means no lockers either).

I had some business to attend to at the counter and I was CC at the time. I guess the reason for my post is, what happens when a citizen walks in OC, something I sometimes do? Seems like they failed to adhere to any aspect of 18 Pa.C.S. § 913.

[Statkowski]

What would happen if a citizen walked in OCing? They'd probably have a hissy fit and call the police. However, and this is the fun part, if there's no sign, there's no offense committed.

§ 913. Possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in court facility.

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if he:

1. knowingly possesses a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a court facility or knowingly causes a firearm or other dangerous weapon to be present in a court facility; or
2. knowingly possesses a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a court facility with the intent that the firearm or other dangerous weapon be used in the commission of a crime or knowingly causes a firearm or other dangerous weapon to be present in a court facility with the intent that the firearm or other dangerous weapon be used in the commission of a crime.

....


(d) Posting of notice.--Notice of the provisions of subsections (a) and (e) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each courthouse or other building containing a court facility and each court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection (a)(1) with respect to a court facility if the notice was not so posted at each public entrance to the courthouse or other building containing a court facility and at the court facility unless the person had actual notice of the provisions of subsection (a).

[/dev/null]

What would happen if a citizen walked in OCing? They'd probably have a hissy fit and call the police. However, and this is the fun part, if there's no sign, there's no offense committed.

good find Statkowski... who wants to volunteer to be the test case?

hint: not me!

[brownman]

good find Statkowski... who wants to volunteer to be the test case?

hint: not me!

Pay my court costs and lawyer fees and I'm in

[brownman]

I do wonder how "unless the person had actual notice of the provisions of subsection (a)." would be interpreted, especially in light of the fact that we are discussing it on a publicly accessible forum.

Once again, pay my fees and we will see