Order Prohibiting Weapons Discussed at Commissioners' Court

When it comes to adopting new rules governing the concealed and open carrying of firearms by licensed individuals in county-owned buildings, members of the Tom Green County Commissioners’ Court have opened much discussion about the topic.

In fact, County Commissioners brought up the issue at this morning’s regular meeting. Specifically, they are adopting guidelines on where in the courthouse and other county buildings will be off limits to non-law enforcement gun carriers, and to post appropriate signage to convey that information.

Overall, the Order of the Commissioner’s Court is prohibiting weapons being brought into the:

• Court House
• Annex building
• Justice of the Peace 1 Court
• Administrative offices
• Mike Brown Justice Center
• Justice of the Peace offices
• Juvenile Justice Center
• Any permanent or temporary meeting location of the Tom Green County Commissioner’s Court.

Judge Stephen C. Floyd, of the Tom Green County Commissioner’s Court, stated “This order includes handgun possessed by licensed handgun licensee whether concealed or openly carried expect licensed Peace Officers or others expressly authorized to carry gun in courts or court offices by statute, provided for the erection of signs at correctional facilities and court sites. The Commissioners Court supports the rights of handgun licensed holders to carry handguns; however, those involved in the judicial process also have the right to safety and security.”

This lays out the ground work and is based on the findings by the judicial officers, which have designated areas as court or court-related functions where weapons will be prohibited. Here are the other areas affected.

Justice of the Peace Precincts 2, 3 and 4 (which are remote facilities):

• JP court rooms
• Judge’s chambers
• JP court clerk offices
• Restrooms used by jurors, parties and attorneys
• All hallways or common areas used to access any of the foregoing and used for waiting areas for jurors and witnesses and parties at the following precinct locations
• First floor and basement of Tom Green County Annex Bldg., Precinct 4
• 5006 Knickerbocker Rd., Precinct 2
• 3052 North Bryant Blvd., Precinct 3
• As part of these findings, it is found that hallways, common areas, stairwells, elevators and restrooms are all used by jurors, witnesses, attorney’s prosecutors, parties and judicial personnel. Use of these are integral and necessary to the functions of the court

In the 51^st, 119th, 340^th, 391st Judicial District Courts:

• All district court rooms
• All judge’s chambers
• All jury rooms
• Grand jury rooms
• Court reporter offices
• Court administrator offices
• Bailiff’s offices
• Attorney client conference rooms
• Rooms used for inmates
• Restrooms
• District clerk’s office
• Court services
• Office of the probation department
• All hallways, stairwells, elevators, and common areas, of the Tom Green County Court House. And any areas used to access any of the above locations
• In addition, the judges find the foyer of the Tom Green County Juvenile Justice Center is essential to the operations of the court

On the County level courts joint order:

• Court of law judges
• County judge
• Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 of Tom Green County Texas finds all county law of court rooms, county judge court rooms, all justice of the peace court rooms, all judges' chambers, jury room, court administrators offices, all offices related to the administration to the court, county of the attorney’s office Constable Precinct 1 and 4 offices, guardianship investigator services, indigent to pets and pre-trial services offices, attorney consultation rooms, constable 1 and precinct 4 offices, parole and probation offices, consultation rooms, restrooms, all hallways and common areas in the Mike Brown Justice Center of Tom Green County used to access the above fore mentioned areas or used as waiting areas

“Possession other than a licensed Peace Officer or persons otherwise expressly authorized statue to carry a weapon on the premises of court or court offices are prohibited from bring weapons into the effective buildings or offices housed or defined within the orders. Prohibition shall also apply to handguns carried or possessed by persons having a handgun licensed or permit, whether the handgun is concealed or openly carried. Signs will be erected at the entrance of the offices and buildings according to Penal Codes,” Judge Floyd further explained.

This order was signed by all three judges on the 5^th of Jan. 2016, and is still scheduled for further review by the courts to ensure all concerns and discussion are met.

For more information on what happened at Commissioners’ Court, please visit:

http://tom-green.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2