Courthouse question

[Alpo]

Back in the good old days, before the metal detectors at the door, was it generally illegal for non-cops to carry a gun into court?

Two images pop into my head, both from TV/movies. Elliot Ness getting bent when he saw Nitty was carrying a gun in the courthouse, at the end of The Untouchables. And some cop show where this gentleman believed he'd been wronged, and the cops caught the culprit, but the gentleman brought his gun to court, just in case the culprit was found not guilty. Opened his coat and showed it to the cop(s) (Columbo? Starsky and Hutch? don't remember) and he/they quickly made him cover it back up. They weren't gonna arrest him, it was more "you're not supposed to have that in here".

I realize that different states have different laws, and what's illegal in Colorado might be perfectly legal in Georgia. But - most places. Was it agin the law?

 

[P&R Fan]

I don't think it was illegal in Iowa.
I might be wrong, though. I've been wrong a couple times before in my life.
Jim

 

[feralmerril]

When I was raised in the 40s and 50s I never even seen a armed guard anywhere. Now they have em at toys or us, burger king etc. Pretty darn sad when they feel they need them at welfare offices, social security offices, DMV etc. Maybe I shouldnt complain though since I was one for over 35 years.
Probley it boiled down to a small unpopulated rual area vs citys etc. Years ago cost was a factor and that doesnt seem to be considered today.
I think the big factor overall between years ago and today really was the cost factor where probabilitys were looked at. Now its automaticly assumed these things are needed irregardless of cost. Just raise prices or taxs to pay for it. Yet when you look at some of the "security" that is hired it does look like they are placed to just satisfy some preceived regulation.

 

[jimmyj]

Insurance Liabilities

 

[WR Moore]

Back in the old days many of the folks who worked at various establishments didn't need armed guards because they were capable and willing to take care of that chore themselves. In fact, I recall seeing a bank tellers cage from maybe the 20's with a sliding widget below the cash drawer that when pushed forward, opened a concealed door and fired a shotgun. Impact would be at or slightly above belt level if you were on the customer side.

Guns, at least in courtrooms, were generally limited to the bailiffs. I recall seeing various officers visit the sheriffs office to check their pieces on the way to court.

 

[yaktamer]

Sometimes by court order -- discretion of the judge.

 

[Delos]

Leave it to beaver don't live here anymore

Back in the good old days, before the metal detectors at the door, was it generally illegal for non-cops to carry a gun into court?

Two images pop into my head, both from TV/movies. Elliot Ness getting bent when he saw Nitty was carrying a gun in the courthouse, at the end of The Untouchables. And some cop show where this gentleman believed he'd been wronged, and the cops caught the culprit, but the gentleman brought his gun to court, just in case the culprit was found not guilty. Opened his coat and showed it to the cop(s) (Columbo? Starsky and Hutch? don't remember) and he/they quickly made him cover it back up. They weren't gonna arrest him, it was more "you're not supposed to have that in here".

I realize that different states have different laws, and what's illegal in Colorado might be perfectly legal in Georgia. But - most places. Was it agin the law?

Drugs, drug gangs, crazy hollywood movies. Crazy video games. The 1940's and 50's are gone forever. I read something somewhere that the 1960's some movie producer realized that you make more money with violence every three minutes than with a plot.
The kids raised on Leave it to Beaver and Father knows best are old and dying off. Look and see what passes for kids cartoons now days. Look at how many kids are on some kind of medication now days.
One of the smartest psychologists I ever met warned to never take your kid to a psychiatrist. He will hang a label on him and the kid will believe it for the rest of his life.

Oh, and nowadays when a policeman gives a guy a break it comes back later and maybe gets him fired. Let a drunk diver drive himself home and he gets in a injury accident and your department gets sued. Give a guy a break about packing a weapon and the next time a policeman catches him packing the guy wants to know why this policeman is such a jerk, because the other cop gave him a "break" (referring to him by name).

 

[foxeye]

Its not generally allowed in ALabama, but I often have mine and have a need to go to the courthouse. I do not like letting any handgun or long gun in a vehicle for any reason. I merely go through the front door and before I go through the metal detectors and past the guards(sheriff deputys) I tell em I have a handgun, and point to where its at. I then take it out and lay it on the counter, where the deputy picks it up and puts in the sheriffs office which is right there near the entry door. I pick it up on my way out. They normally give you a chit and besides telling them what you checked in you surrender the chit, and be on my way. Never had a problem. However in the next county over there is no way anyone except the sheriff and his deputies and the DA's investigators are going to even get a chance to check a handgun in, as its just not allowed.