I had the task to go to the county building in downtown Seattle today and I had questions to ask.
If I carry and I need to go to the courthouse to renew my Carry Permit, do I take my gun with me and how do I go about it?
I asked the U.S, Marshal and he told me that all I have to do is proclaim you are carrying and do not reach for it. You then present your driver’s license and permit and fill out some paperwork. Then you go into a room with safety deposit boxes and place your gun into the safe and they lock it up, but they keep the key.
Then you go about your business and when you are done you go back and go through the Marshel and get your gun back. He informed me that this is done on a regular basis. I felt as though this would be some good information on procedures and your own safety as well as the safety of the officers.
Has anyone else have any experiences like this? Any good information is good to know!
Practice, train and be safe!!!
Thank you for sharing this. I am going to check with y local sheriff’s department to see if they have a process like this one. I really hate leaving my firearm in the car when I go anywhere.
In WI. I can renew online and no firearms in the court house period. 
That would be nice to have that option, or just being allowed to carry without having to get a permit would be nice too! This information is good to know though if ever having to stop by there for any reason.
No firearms in our Courthouse either… 
not to mention even if off duty LE is not on official business it’s off limits.
@Adam34 BUT can you turn your gun over to them to hold or are you flat out not allowed to carry it in at all?
Not at all…
No weapons at all in our courthouse, but I renewed my permit online.
My court house we have a metal detector and one or two guards/police. If you have a gun you can lock it in a lock box and show them your CCW permit. I forget if they keep the key but I think I kept the key.
The only part of this that I don’t like, is “they keep the key”. If the key only fits one deposit box, you couldn’t mess with anyone else’s stuff. Our legislators in Texas made the laws where you can carry concealed in most city buildings, unless court is in session, or voting is taking place. Just my two cents worth. Thanks.
I’m confused. US Marshals work in Federal courthouses, not county courthouses. It’s possible the fellow you spoke to was familiar with your particular county courthouses procedures. I worked as a Federal contract court security officer after retirement. Our courts were in a multi use building which had entry checkpoints worked by Federal Protective Service contract security officers, then the court floors had additional check points worked by CSO’s. Entry with a firearm to the building was only permitted to LEO’s, and there were no lock boxes outside the checkpoint for private citizens. The court floors had lock boxes for LEO’s behind the check points and only LEO’s escorting prisoners were permitted to keep their arms, or Secret Service on an escort or advance, or of course the US Marshals, Deputies, TFO’s and CSO’s. So, presumably each local courthouse has its own procedures. Good luck.