Not issued receipt for checked firearm in Lancaster County Courthouse

[XavierBK]

Today I dropped by the Lancaster County Courthouse to drop off the CLEO copy of my C&R application to the LanCo Sheriff and also to advise them of my updated address for my LTCF.

So, I walk in the door and up to the metal detector...
Me: "I have to check a firearm."
Sheriff #1: "Yup," said as if he was answering a question I didn't ask.
Sheriff #2:"You got a license for that?"
Sheriff #1 mumbles something about not needing it
Me to S#2: "I do, but I'm openly carrying."

Sheriff #1 waves me back beyond the metal detector and leads me down the hall across from the Sheriffs office to a wall of lockers. I lock up my firearm and my knife and attempt to put the key into my pocket.

Sheriff #1: "No, we keep the keys," as he reaches his hand out for key.
I make a mental note of the key number, 54, and hand it to him.
He starts to walk back towards the metal detector area and I follow.
Me: "Oh, ok, then in that case I need a receipt."
Sheriff #1: ""We don't give receipts, just come back to use when you're finished."

I didn't really want to argue with him as all I wanted to do was drop some paperwork off and be on my way so I went back to the front of the metal detector area, emptied my pockets and went through.

I walked into the Sheriffs office and dropped off my paperwork. I also explained that I had a new address that I wanted to be updated on my LTCF record and referenced the address on my FFL app. The guy at the counter looked very confused by the application I had just given him, started saying something about going to make a copy when I informed him that he was holding the Sheriff's copy. I guess it sunk in because he said he'd make note of the address change after looking over the application.

Back to the metal detector station to retrieve my firearm, no more than five minutes had passed.

Me to Sheriff #1 from ealier: "I'm all set."
Sheriff #3 (who wasn't there earlier) with an attitude: "Yea, ok?"
Me, again, addressing the Sheriff who escorted me to the lockers: "I'm ready to retrieve my firearm."
Sheriff #3: "I don't think so, buddy," as Sheriff #1 interrupts him by grabbing a key.
Sheriff #1 starts walking towards me, key in hand: "Wait, you were just here, right?"
Me: "Yup."
Sheriff #1 turns around and puts the key down. He grabs a different key and starts walking back towards the lockers. I follow and he hands me the key. Key #54. I wonder who's key he was about to give me?

He stands by as I empty the locker and replace my holster on my belt and I thank him for his time as I leave.

Now, the reason I started this topic is due to my understanding, and backed up by actually checking, you are supposed to be issued a receipt. I've been to places where you just get to keep the key but I understand why they do not do that at this location due to the lockers being accessible in the secure area. In that case I'd expect a receipt rather than relying on the Sheriff's memory of what key belongs to who, as evidenced by them almost giving me the wrong key.

Should I contact to get them to fix their procedure? Will it actually make a difference?

Here is the law as it is written in § 913. Possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in court facility.

"(e) Facilities for checking firearms or other dangerous weapons.--Each county shall make available at or within the building containing the 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. Any individual checking a firearm, dangerous weapon or an item deemed to be a dangerous weapon at a court facility must be issued a receipt. Notice of the location of the facility shall be posted as required under subsection (d)."

[snakeman21]

They are in fact required to issue you a receipt. Show them the actual statutes. Not that it will make them start issuing receipts.

[gumbys1up]

i would MOST CERTAINLY. be caling them and informing them of the violation of the law..

i personally would not have felt comfortable with those actions of the officers at all..as im sure u felt the same...

im not understanding why they didnt even offer and then the idea of him almost mistaking ur key for another... that could get scary if some how the local sherrifs office "lost" ur pistol... bcuz u know as well as i do..

some magical way it would have been ur fault.. but YES call them and complain..

i do think it will do good for all of us as they cant possibly remeber every law. sometimes they need to b "reminded"

that could turn into a shit storm so b ready for it...

if the law says they "must issue" then they MUST ISSUE.

i understand u not wanting 2 deal with it at the moment... we all have busy lives.

wish u the best.

[HiredGoon]

Yeah, contact the sheriff and ask about their receipt procedure.

Lancaster County Sheriff's Office
50 North Duke Street
PO BOX 83480
Lancaster, PA 17608-3480
Phone: (717) 299-8200

[Yellowfin]

It wouldn't surprise me if people got robbed this way.

[ohyeahfriday]

Yeah, contact the sheriff and ask about their receipt procedure.

Lancaster County Sheriff's Office
50 North Duke Street
PO BOX 83480
Lancaster, PA 17608-3480
Phone: (717) 299-8200

Agreed, skip dealing with the deputy and go straight to the sheriff about this. I would say based on your experience we can guess how much the deputy cares about you and your rights and we can estimate how the confrontation would go.

[streaker69]

Careful what you wish for in the issuance of receipts. We'd rather not see Lancaster do what some other counties do where for them to issue a receipt they require the recording to serial number of the firearm and ID of the person.

They used to just issue claim checks with the locker# on it.

[XavierBK]

Well, I went ahead and attempted to contact the Sheriff. I wasn't actually able to reach anyone so I left a message. I took some time to prepare my thoughts and actually wrote a script for the call.

Anyway, here was the message I left...

Hello Sheriff Reese. My name is Brandon, I can be contacted at xxx-xxxx. I'm calling you today to discuss my visit to the County Courthouse, specifically the firearm check procedure and the issuance of a receipt.

According to TITLE 18 Chapter 61 Subchapter A "UNIFORM FIREARMS ACT"
Section 913 in regard to the Possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in court facility. Specifically line E, more specifically the section reading "Any individual checking a firearm, dangerous weapon or an item deemed to be a dangerous weapon at a court facility must be issued a receipt."

During my visit today, Monday, January 14th 2013 I was declined my request for a receipt after checking my firearm. I would also like to note that after my business was concluded in the courthouse and I spoke to the deputies running the checkpoint that the officer initially grabbed the wrong locker key and had to return to get the correct key. This could have been avoided had the law been followed in this situation.

I'd appreciate it if you could contact me back to inform me of how you plan to rectify the problem and handle this situation in the future. Thank you.

They used to just issue claim checks with the locker# on it.

I didn't get anything... that's the problem. Then he almost gave me the wrong key when I was ready to leave.

[brsims]

My issue is with Sheriff #3 and his "I don't think so, buddy." comment. What if Sheriff #1 had not been there and remembered you? What recourse would you then have to regain physical posession of your legally purchased and carried weapon?

[streaker69]

Was #3 a large no-neck SOB with reddish short hair?