COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOLD WORKSHOP ON OPEN / CONCEALED CARRY

  

Washington County Commissioners wrestled with the new laws regulating concealed and open carry of handguns at county facilities during an hour long workshop this (Tuesday) morning.  New legislation makes it a penalty to ban concealed permit holders from carrying at locations that are not eligible to be banned.  Currently, the weapons banned signs have been removed from the entrances of the courthouse building, even though it is illegal to take any weapon into a courtroom area.

Assistant County Attorney John Winkelmann briefed the commissioners on the various laws connected to weapons carry and the required signage.  He also talked about the Attorney Generals ruling and what it requires the Commissioners Court to do.

County Judge John Brieden said that the District Court Judges have determined that the entire third floor of the courthouse are essential to their court operations and are therefore a weapons prohibited area.  Brieden said he is still waiting to hear from the judges who use the second floor courtroom.  The commissioners would also need to decide if open or concealed weapons would be allowed in their meetings.  Other county owned buildings would also have to be considered, such as the courthouse annex, the county offices at the fairgrounds and the county health services building.  Once the commissioner vote on a policy, then signage would be produced with the required wording and displayed at the various locations.  Today’s meeting was only a workshop to discuss the new laws and options, so no action was taken.