I have to go to court for a civil matter on the 20th and would like not to have to leave my firearm in the car, especially in a parking garage in downtown seattle.  

Anybody have first hand experience with the Kingco sheriffs in this matter?  Or any courthouse in this state (not a federal one obviously)

RCW of interest:

RCW 9.41.300 (1) It is unlawful for any person to enter the following places when he or she knowingly possesses or knowingly has under his or her control a weapon: (a) The restricted access areas of a jail, or of a law enforcement facility, or any place used for the confinement of a person (i) arrested for, charged with, or convicted of an offense, (ii) held for extradition or as a material witness, or (iii) otherwise confined pursuant to an order of a court, except an order under chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW. Restricted access areas do not include common areas of egress or ingress open to the general public; (b) Those areas in any building which are used in connection with court proceedings, including courtrooms, jury rooms, judge's chambers, offices and areas used to conduct court business, waiting areas, and corridors adjacent to areas used in connection with court proceedings. The restricted areas do not include common areas of ingress and egress to the building that is used in connection with court proceedings, when it is possible to protect court areas without restricting ingress and egress to the building. The restricted areas shall be the minimum necessary to fulfill the objective of this subsection (1)(b). In addition, the local legislative authority shall provide either a stationary locked box sufficient in size for pistols and key to a weapon owner for weapon storage, or shall designate an official to receive weapons for safekeeping, during the owner's visit to restricted areas of the building. The locked box or designated official shall be located within the same building used in connection with court proceedings. The local legislative authority shall be liable for any negligence causing damage to or loss of a weapon either placed in a locked box or left with an official during the owner's visit to restricted areas of the building. The local judicial authority shall designate and clearly mark those areas where weapons are prohibited, and shall post notices at each entrance to the building of the prohibition against weapons in the restricted areas; skip down to... (7) Subsection (1)(a) of this section does not apply to a person licensed pursuant to RCW 9.41.070 who, upon entering the place or facility, directly and promptly proceeds to the administrator of the facility or the administrator's designee and obtains written permission to possess the firearm while on the premises or checks his or her firearm. The person may reclaim the firearms upon leaving but must immediately and directly depart from the place or facility.

Thanks guys I appreciate your input.

-Rob

You aren't bring a gun into the courthouse unless you have a badge.

ok.  Perhaps you misunderstood me. I don't plan on roaming around the facility. The disarm would take place at the door.  I don't feel it necessary to carry the firearm into the courthouse. Jeeze...there is quite enough firepower in there I don't quite feel as vulnerable there as I would in downtown seattle in the middle of the night.  I mean I want it on me the moment I LEAVE the facility.

Anybody with an actual experience here. I'm planning on doing it, I just want to know how the proceedure goes.  The dance as it were...

Sorry for not clarifying that

Haven't been to KC Couthouse, but have been to others. Your best bet is to go to the first security guard at the metal detectors and inform him you would like to lock up your weapon whilst in the courthouse.
This will probably take a while, so come early. expect to fill out paperwork, including CWP number and serial number of your weapon.  I'd have the chamber empty when you get to the courthouse.

Quoted: Haven't been to KC Couthouse, but have been to others. Your best bet is to go to the first security guard at the metal detectors and inform him you would like to lock up your weapon whilst in the courthouse. This will probably take a while, so come early. expect to fill out paperwork, including CWP number and serial number of your weapon.  I'd have the chamber empty when you get to the courthouse.

Thats about what I figured.  I was planning for like a 10min sidetrip there.  I doubt with the political climate the way it is too many people DO try and bring their firearm to a courthouse.

-Rob

I didnt at KKC, I do at Seattle City hall.

The process doesnt look much different, simple, quick, and a democrat based process, inept.


Seattle, rusty on desk duty puts it in a paper bag and gives you a paper call tag. The bag is kept under the desk. I dont recall filling out any paper nor any form.

Quoted: Anybody have first hand experience with the Kingco sheriffs in this matter?  Or any courthouse in this state (not a federal one obviously)

As of November 2004 the King County District Court in Bellevue was reported to be telling people We don't have any lock boxes."

Call the court house and ask them which entrance you should use.

Thanks for the info guys. I do appreciate it.

-Rob

Here is the scoop. while serving on jury duty, I had to check my weapon every day for 8 weeks.
1) you usally can't get a deputy to check your weapon untill 8:00 am. the security people at the metal detectors can't let you pass unless there is a deputy with you.
2) you will have to walk down the hall to the lock up room and have your pistol logged in to the log book and then lock your gun up in the lock box.You get to keep the key with you untill you get your gun back at the end of you visit. I would say it is about 10" w x 14"d x 6"h so it should fit any handgun you might have.
3) then they have you walk back to the metal detector and walk thru it. thats all there is to it.
4) When you are ready to leave just go up to the desk up front by the metal detectors at the front door and tell the deputy that you need to retreive your weapon.
The deputies are all nice and never gave me a hard time at all. No questions or comments from them about why I needed to carry. Very professional all the way.

Funny side story: They tell you that you need to be upstairs on the 7th floor (for jury duty) by 8:00am, but I can't get a deputy untill 8:00am so I am usually 10 minutes late every day. Not a problem while I was being selected for jury duty, but when I got picked for jury duty you have to be checked in on the 7th floor by 8:00am and in your set in the jury's box by 8:15. Well the fist time I was late the judge let me slide with a warning. The second time the judge, in front of the whole courtroom started to leture me and give me a good dressing down. After she was done 10 minutes later she then asked me if this was going to happen tomorrow. I said yes it probly would.

She looked at me like I was a complete idiot. She asked me why I would be late, I told her I had to check my weapon down stairs and that a deputy isan't avaible untill 8:00am and thats why I am late. so told me to leave my gun a home or locked in my car. I asked her if she would assign a deputy to escort me from my car to the courthouse every morning? she said no, I told her that I carry for defence of myself and family and I would not be accepting her suggestion to leave it at home or in the car.She then left the courtroom for several minutes and then returned. She told me that a deputy would be at the front door at 7:45 am to get me and log in my gun. I said thank you. What a bitch she was. but it turned out good in the end