Jury Duty and the 2nd Amendment

[Cobrafreak]

I had jury duty recently in Sacramento and although I didn't get an opportunity to be a juror, I did get to the courtroom for the selection process by the lawyers. In the questionnaire they were asking questions from there was the question "do you belong to the NRA or any other such organization?" One fellow said he did and the judge said, "only as far as gun rights and ownership go or are you into victims rights or other such agenda?" I thought it was interesting.

[aklon]

<snip>

So without Due Process I am stripped of my Natural Right to be able to defend myself as well as the 2nd Amendment.

This is why you should always answer the Jury Summons. You might be hearing a case involving someone who used a gun to defend themselves only to have an over-zealous anti-gun DA try to make "an example" out of them.

The Jury has the power: use it!

[guntrust]

Just open carry an empty holster to the courthouse and every defense lawyer in the country will excuse you

i actually did this once, and got excused

[JohnC'sBobcat]

I used to be a Bailiff. We would escort (yes, with an armed Deputy) anyone who asked to be escorted to their vehicle. And we kept an eye on our parking lots.

Some of the things that the Local Rules of Court required be confiscated were, IMO, kinda silly, but it's the judges' house and it's their rules.

Oh, and we did have lock-boxes for firearms. Unfortunately, "someone" in the Department insisted that they be installed on the outside of the Building, in full view of the wide world. /facepalm....

[Cokebottle]

There is a chance that if you contact them in advance (and maybe even if you don't) that you can show up, state that you have a firearm, have secure storage provided for the time you are there, you re-arm as you leave and you're good to go.

The courthouse is one location which may remain a "sensitive are" even after all the legal wrangling is done.

+1

Even LEO can not carry into the courtroom unless they are acting as an employee of the court (bailiff, etc...)

[JohnC'sBobcat]

+1

Even LEO can not carry into the courtroom unless they are acting as an employee of the court (bailiff, etc...)

Not where I worked. LE were allowed to carry there if on official duties. Now, if they were there as private citizens and not as LE (family law etc) then they weren't allowed to carry.

Probably it depends on the courthouse, though. Modesto, I gather, doesn't allow anyone to carry except the bailiffs and such.

[Cokebottle]

Not where I worked. LE were allowed to carry there if on official duties. Now, if they were there as private citizens and not as LE (family law etc) then they weren't allowed to carry.

Probably it depends on the courthouse, though. Modesto, I gather, doesn't allow anyone to carry except the bailiffs and such.

It may depend on whether they are "simply on duty" or actually a party to the case.

[BigRig81]

+1

Even LEO can not carry into the courtroom unless they are acting as an employee of the court (bailiff, etc...)

Wrong, I was in the selection process to the gustine mongol murder case, and the investigating officer on that case always wore his weapon into the courtroom. I actually asked him if he had to be on duty, and he told me "nope, LE can only NOT carry when they are part of the jury." This was merced.

[Seeker]

No problem with the Sensitive Area, I respect the need, but they make NO Storage available, which is the problem. I do not have an LTC, Santa Barbara County Sheriff for the most part does not issue them, but I have carried a pen knife all my life, even in the Cub Scouts at School, and have carried a defensive folder for many years, its they feel no obligation to provide me Storage. So when I walk out the Court House doors, they could care less that I have no means of defense. This is Wrong.

Just an FYI, pen knifes are illegal in Cali.

[EOD Guy]

Just an FYI, pen knifes are illegal in Cali.

I don't think so. Do you really know what a pen knife is?

[ke6guj]

Just an FYI, pen knifes are illegal in Cali.

yup.

12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:
(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses ... any writing pen knife,

I don't think so. Do you really know what a pen knife is?

do you?

12020(c)(19) As used in this section, a "writing pen knife" means a device that appears to be a writing pen but has concealed within it a pointed, metallic shaft that is designed to be a stabbing instrument which is exposed by mechanical action or gravity which locks into place when extended or the pointed, metallic shaft is exposed by the removal of the cap or cover on the device.

[scarville]

I don't think so. Do you really know what a pen knife is?

I'll wager he is thinking of a knife disguised as a pen. Old farts like me know that "pen knife" is just another name for a pocket knife.

Just another example of legal terminology not corresponding to the English the rest of us speak.

[a1c]

I had a waiter's key the other day (corkscrew and small blade to cut foil on wine bottles), and the metal detector technician at the entrance of the court building told me to leave it in my car.

I don't see it as an infringement to my 2A rights to prohibit firearms or knives in court buildings. It's a safety measure that has good grounds, as there are plenty of documented incidents of perps trying to stab or shoot defendants or witnesses.

Witnesses and victims should feel safe in a court building, with no fear that someone, even carrying legally, could suddenly shoot them - that's one of the reasonings behind the no weapons policy in court buildings.

[ironpete]

it's easy to get out of jury duty.

You all realize that jury duty is one of our responsibilities as citizens right?

How many are fond of saying, "I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6"?

Yeah it sucks to be taken out of work but if no "rights minded" people show up what then? You want to be tried by a jury of sheeple?

This is simply a matter of the golden rule...I hope you get the jury you deserve.

-Pete

[Decoligny]

yup.

12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:
(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses ... any writing pen knife,





do you?

12020(c)(19) As used in this section, a "writing pen knife" means a device that appears to be a writing pen but has concealed within it a pointed, metallic shaft that is designed to be a stabbing instrument which is exposed by mechanical action or gravity which locks into place when extended or the pointed, metallic shaft is exposed by the removal of the cap or cover on the device.

From Webster's II Dictionary
Pen Knife: A small pocket knife.

The term originated back when the goose feather quill was the state of the art in writing. When a feather was being prepared to be used as a pen, a gentleman would use a small pocket knife to trim the end of the feather and cut the quill at the appropriate angle. The any small pocket knife was termed a "pen knife".