As I have a 22 month old daughter, we frequent the HC Library in Brooklyn Center. They have a sign stating something to the effect that hazardous weapons are banned. I know that the sign itself is not legal, but this library is attached to a license servicing center and a district court. They have separate entrances, but a common hall way connects them.

So, can I carry at the library? License Center? Court? Where does the court "building" start, or doesn't it matter? As they are a government agency, I did not think they could post.

Joel's book did not address this issue with specifics that I could find.

Your thoughts?

Galaxie Avenue library in Apple Valley is the same setup, common hallway to the courthouse. I notified the sheriff via registered return receipt mail, so that there would be no question that I was in the right.

You are not covered if there is a court order banning carry in the courthouse, and they consider the whole complex the courthouse.

It's not just, but it's true. Violating a court order can lead to a contempt of court citation -- and that can mean fines and jail.

Oh, nertz. I knew that the Hennepin County Government Center had been placed off limits by Emperor Burke, but you mean to tell me that every courthouse in Henn is covered by that? Yeesh. Someone needs to challenge that forthwith. In Dakota our guy just made the actual courtrooms and the immediately adjacent hallways off limits to people having permits. I am about to notify Sheriff Gudmundson about Hastings, where I need to do some work in the law library (not near the courtrooms). Sorry for the misinfo, wow that blows me away that he did it for the entire system.

The problem with challenging a court order is that you appeal to...the judge's colleagues.

Yeah, the sign says "dangerous weapons" are banned. My weapon, on the other hand, has a trigger guard, a manual safety, a grip safety, a firing pin safety, and is carried by someone trained and practiced in its use, who has undergone a government background check. The sign, clearly, cannot possibly apply to my weapon.

Yes, I've mentioned before that the Edina library (hennepin Co.) has the same silly "no dangerous weapons" sign. Since there is a legal way to post for guns, and they can't be bothered (aren't allowed?) to post legally, I just ignore it.

Plus, yah my gun isn't dangerous either. I keep it under control at all times. On the other hand I've seen school kids with ballpoint pens that could easilly be thrust through someones eye!

Not all hennepin county librarys are posted this way. So I'm guessing those that are, are the result of local staffers who got their panties in a bunch.

Government agencies aren't allowed, generally.

But again, Hennepin County courts (and there's a court in the same building in Edina) are under a court order prohibiting guns.

If you get caught, count on some unpleasantness, including a contempt of court citation, a fine, and possibly some time in a cell to think about the wisdom of flouting a judge's orders.

For clairification, to whom do we direct an inquiry? The county sheriff? The library in BC has a court attached to it as well. What is our recourse? Anyone?

Not really, no.

True the library and the courthouse share a common wall, but there's no public access of one from the other.

Doesn't that fall under the rubric of "Don't be a test case"?



Isn't that the same weapon that, when asked if its carry was "dangerous", a Texas Ranger replied "I wouldn't carry the summabitch if it wasn't dangerous!"?

Actually you're wrong. There isn't a court in the Edina library, which is off Vernon Ave., near Highway 100. There is a court next door to the Southdale Library (70th & York). The Hennepin County Library, Southdale branch, is located in Edina, but it isn't the "Edina Library".

Southdale's next door court building isn't accessible via the library. You have to leave the library, go outdoors, cross a road, then enter a seperate door for the court. I'm not sure if either the Southdale Library or the Court in the neighboring building are posted in any way. I'll try and check that out soon and post details here. While I'm at it I think I'll see if the court building and Library have separate addresses.

Also, the "Dangerous weapons" signs are just pointless. All joking aside, just what is the definition of "dangerous weapon"? Pen knife? Box cutter? Taser? Cricket bat? As far as I can tell there isn't a definition, so everyone has to make up their own on the spot. It would be analogous to 55 MPH speed limit signs being taken down and replaced with "Don't go Fast" signs. Ok, so what the hell is fast? By specifying "dangerous" weapons, instead of just "weapons", they raise even more questions. I've qualified for a permit, my gun is in perfect working order, and safely holstered on my person. So it isn't dangerous. They imply that weapons are allowed, just not dangerous ones, so ...

Wouldn't judges/government entities who wish to prohibit carrying in court houses just use the legal sign that specifies "guns". Why would they be intentionally ambiguous?

Whooops. The one on York is the one I was thinking of. Sounds like a purely illegal sign, then. Time to whip out Durbin's letter template.

What is "Durbins template" ?

The same <i>type</i> of weapon, but probably not the same weapon.