Let's separate things a bit.WildRose wrote: ↑Thu Sep 13, 2018 2:42 pm
Now make a logical case that allowing carry in court will not have any effect on the judicial process, that judges, witnesses, prosecutors, jurors would not let that knowledge intimidate them in any way or that there's no possibility someone will lose it shooting up the courtroom?
Physical attacks already occur in courtrooms all across the country with some regularity due to people coming emotionally unglued or in an attempt at intimidation or retribution.
Logically there is zero possibility that allowing carry there will not result eventually in the unlawful use of those firearms.
Unless you are there as a result of being called, subpoenaed, charged, etch or work there entry into the courts is strictly a voluntary act and by doing so you submit yourself to the rules of the court. You have no "basic human right" to be armed in a courtroom period nor can you cite anything in US law of our constitution which supports such a claim.
First, the thread was about the expansion of gun carrying prohibitions in the court room to whole buildings that were mostly not courts. In the case of Denton Precinct 3 building, there a physical separation of floors. The court functions are on the second floor.
Your point that physical attacks already occur in court rooms is valid. But the follow up question is: by whom? By the defendants and the families of the defendants? How many of them are eligible to have an LTC? I suggest that those who are eligible are not the types of people who do that sort of thing - or the 20 plus of history about LTC/CHL holders would look vastly different than it does
I would submit that there is probably no more volatile place in Texas than the Texas legislature. Emotions run high and there are constant demonstrations around the buildings. Tempers regularly flair Yet LTC holders are given access armed and there have been no incidents that I'm aware of. That isn't surprising to me. So, lets call that a "zero possibility" that remains at zero.
I maintain that someone bent on murdering a DA, a Judge or anyone else in the court would have little difficulty in finding them outside the court environment. That does happen. I don't buy into the "heat of the moment" or what I prefer to call "situational schizophrenia" reason for someone shooting a a court room. But I'm not advocating the carrying of guns in the actual courtrooms. I am advocating not over-dramatizing the existing of a court room to include all of the surrounding geography.