Taking a gun to prison

[slimmer13]

Umm arnt most prisons ran by private corporations? Isnt it up to the corporation to allow or not allow firearms on property? For example I cant carry at the casino because they made that rule. RCW's have nothing to do with it.

 

[The B]

Umm arnt most prisons ran by private corporations? Isnt it up to the corporation to allow or not allow firearms on property? For example I cant carry at the casino because they made that rule. RCW's have nothing to do with it.

"ran by private corporations" does not mean "owned by private corporations." it's still a state building on state land.

are casinos state buildings on state land?

 

[deen_ad]

Umm arnt most prisons ran by private corporations? Isnt it up to the corporation to allow or not allow firearms on property? For example I cant carry at the casino because they made that rule. RCW's have nothing to do with it.

Still state property, not the corporation that's running it. Therefore the RCW's do apply UNLESS it's totally owned by a business and not the state.
When in a casino or reservation you're on sovereign land, owned by an Indian tribe. They make their own laws, and trump almost all other laws.

 

[doubletap007]

So when law enforcement comes to make a visit at the penitentiary where do they check their firearms? Seems to me that there has to be a place and procedure for this.

having a concealed carry license don't make you a cop,nor does it give you the same rights as a cop,although most people act like it does when they first start to carry,then a year or so down the road they chill out and realize it is a special responsibility you have when carrying a gun and you dont need to brandish it everywhere you go or try to push the limits where you take it.
do you know how many people lose their ccl right away by bringing it in the police station to deal with ccl issues?
dont know about washington but in oregon you will lose it right away and be charged with a crime for bringing it on the property.

 

[FireArm]

I have seen how guns in oregon prisons are kept and they are not usally kept by an exit. In the case of firearms checks they are normally close to the exits. In Prisons they have guns locked up tight and most times need more then one person to be able to get to them. No more guns should be at a prison then need be. it takes time and money to have someone sit in a prison for the soul purpose of watching the gun check. Unless theres gonna be some kind of volunteer run gun check program where people can serve community service by sitting at a local state building and watch the gun check. Cause that is how much sense it takes to carry into a prison ,if your gonna be slow and carry into a prison, Yes, this known criminal is now going to watch your gun for you while you visit the other criminals.

 

[slimmer13]

Well the local grocery store probably does not own but leases the property but is still free to impose all kinds of rules because they are a private corporation and they are running the site. That is my guess anyway do with it what you may.

In Washington State private businesses can impose a no firearms policy even on leased land, I work for one of these businesses.

 

[The B]

having a concealed carry license don't make you a cop,nor does it give you the same rights as a cop,although most people act like it does when they first start to carry,then a year or so down the road they chill out and realize it is a special responsibility you have when carrying a gun and you dont need to brandish it everywhere you go or try to push the limits where you take it.
do you know how many people lose their ccl right away by bringing it in the police station to deal with ccl issues?
dont know about washington but in oregon you will lose it right away and be charged with a crime for bringing it on the property.

this post is ridiculous. the only person who can take your CHP away from you is the Sheriff, and since this is a SHALL ISSUE state, he CANNOT do that unless something changes and you're excluded under the ORS. police stations are NOT off-limits as per the ORS- you can walk right into a police station packing a gun and be breaking no laws. you cannot enter the restricted areas, but you're perfectly fine in the public access areas. same goes for court-houses in multi-purpose state/county buildings, like the one on Murray. the only place in that building you cant carry is the court ROOM itself. they'll probably freak out on you and tell you that you can't carry anywhere in the building, if you make it known- but they'd definitely be wrong.

buy a used copy of the Oregon Criminal Code at your local Powells and educate yourself before you spray.

 

[Gunner3456]

i really try to be even-toned...

Your tone is about six cents sharp of B flat.

but what a bunch of morons some of you guys are.

Thank you very much.

 

[Bam]

A good start would be to write the Warden, remind him of state law....

"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."

 

[Gunner3456]

A good start would be to write the Warden, remind him of state law....

"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."

That is RCW 9.41.300 and looks to me as if it's referring to courthouses in WA.

 

[Trlsmn]

having a concealed carry license don't make you a cop,nor does it give you the same rights as a cop,although most people act like it does when they first start to carry,then a year or so down the road they chill out and realize it is a special responsibility you have when carrying a gun and you dont need to brandish it everywhere you go or try to push the limits where you take it.

Push what limits? You mean our constitutional rights?

do you know how many people lose their ccl right away by bringing it in the police station to deal with ccl issues?
dont know about washington but in oregon you will lose it right away and be charged with a crime for bringing it on the property.

Wrong! Please read up on your ORS and then come back and quote the relevant statutes that would get a person charged for walking into a police station with a gun to deal with CHL issues.

Gun owners that lay down and willingly allow themselves to be governed by non existent laws worry me more than the people that openly want to ban my gun. It is those kind of gun owners that have allowed our rights to be slowly chipped away through ignorance and apathy that have put us in the position we are in today.

The limits need to be pushed back, they have been pushed against us for too long.

 

[Nwcid]

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[gunnails]

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LOL, done the same myself.

 

[Gunner3456]

Push what limits? You mean our constitutional rights?

Wrong! Please read up on your ORS and then come back and quote the relevant statutes that would get a person charged for walking into a police station with a gun to deal with CHL issues.

Gun owners that lay down and willingly allow themselves to be governed by non existent laws worry me more than the people that openly want to ban my gun. It is those kind of gun owners that have allowed our rights to be slowly chipped away through ignorance and apathy that have put us in the position we are in today.

The limits need to be pushed back, they have been pushed against us for too long.

No disrespect meant, but just wait until some self-important scum bag fuzz illegally seizes your CHL, punches it full of holes and marks it "VOID" with a felt tipped pen. Then go through 13 months of paying an attorney to sue to get it back, and waiting for a judge to order it given back. I suspect that when you get it back you'll be paranoid to let any gang member otherwise known as a cop even have a clue you're carrying.

It happened to me, I posted it here, and it made me paranoid. I still carry and would still use it if needed, but I don't need any more hassles.

 

[damien8246]

i am glad to see that everyone has their own views on this subject. I was not doing this today to push the limits or question anyone or anything. I did it in good faith because I wanted to follow the law. My point is not to stir up anything or cause problems, but I have always believed that if i don't know my right, I have no rights. For everyone that thinks me taking a gun to a prison is a bad idea, I can respect that. That is your opinion and your thoughts and you are entitled to it as much as I am my opinions and my decision to take it with me today. We all think differently on issues.

I just finished writing a fairly long e-mail to the superintendent of the facility I was at today asking for clarification on the issue today. I quoted both RCWs that I posted here in my original post. I'll have to wait and see what she has to say about it. If I get nowhere with her, I will go one step farther. I know some of you think it is dumb and stupid that I am going anywhere with this, but I feel that I need to make sure that a wrong is made right.

 

[The B]

good job, OP. keep us updated.

 

[enjr4]

All I can tell you is to ask/tell/advise them to get it right. They need a box or a person for the weapon.
Like the great man said, "Law without enforcement is just good advice."--Abraham Lincoln

 

[Riot]

Alright guys....alright, lets see if we can dispel some of these misconceptions about the prisons not allowing firearms.

First of all, to the OP, I'm sorry for a loved one of yours to be incarcerated. Secondly, I want to (personally) apologize for how you were treated and talked to. Many of my coworkers lose their abilities to deal with people outside of the Department of Corrections...they lose all people skills and ability to be polite (hence the divorce rate). Many of them, also, have no idea of the laws and regulations that they are charged with enforcing. Once, a visitor dropped a bag of dope in front of an officer in the middle of an exchange to an offender she was visiting and the officer had no clue what to do about it- but I digress.

I'm assuming that you went to <broken link removed> (Washington Corrections Center for Women) since that is the only female prison in Washington State, am I correct?

If you have any other visiting questions, feel free to call the facility (253-858-4200), <broken link removed> or converse with other people that visit their loved one's from that facility.

So, having said that...lets address the firearms. Every WA State prison should have signs posted on every entrance into the parking lot (reflective letters with red background) that clearly state that no firearms are allowed on the premises. However, I have never been to WCCW, so I cannot vouch for this facility with 100% certainty.

So, lets address 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;

Mkay, I think this is pretty clear. You cannot bring a firearm to a prison, police station or jail facility. I doubt e-mailing the Superintendent will get you anywhere.

Also, I noticed that this part of RCW 9.41.300 came into question.

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.

This section is reserved for facilities that are in conjunction with buildings that aren't restricted for carrying firearms. Although I agree that there should be a way for civilians to turn in their firearms, there isn't. The entire facility (from the sidewalk to the parking lot) is a "place used for the confinement of a person". Minimum custody inmates (MI2) maintain parts of the facility outside of the secured perimeter (the walls and fences you see). Firearms aren't allowed near them. Even armed officers coming in for their break or being relieved have to ensure that these offenders are clear of the area to ensure that no offender has access to a deadly weapon. If visitors were allowed to bring in firearms, this procedure would be compromised and staff, visitor and offender safety would be at risk.

On a personal note, I'm for civilians carrying firearms and I hope that a compromise can be made so that the firearm is allowed, on site, as long as:
*The firearm is kept in a locked vehicle and out of view
*All persons riding in the vehicle that have access to the firearm can legally possess firearms
*All firearm related items (magazines, holsters, bullets, etc.) are also kept in the vehicle and out of view
*The individual in possession of the firearm is the legal owner of the firearm
*The individual in possession of the firearm has a concealed weapon's permit (if it is loaded) or the weapon is unloaded and kept in a locked container, separate from ammunition

Basically, out of site and out of mind.

Again, I hope that you get a desirable conclusion. I'd volunteer for a post at the gate to check in and log firearms for visitors. Besides, another job at each facility wouldn't be a bad thing, either. Nevertheless, I think all you will get is a bureaucratic reply about how firearms aren't allowed and that the safety of the facility is the pride of DOC, blah, blah, blah.

Hope this helps!

Umm arnt most prisons ran by private corporations?

No, they are run by the state. Doc Hastings wanted to privatize the prisons when he ran for office as the Governor of Washington, but he never got elected.

 

[Phather]

"Restricted access areas do not include common areas of egress or ingress open to the general public" is where I take issue with the belief that police stations and jails are entirely restricted. The way this is phrased, as long as you are not entering a locked area or passing a checkpoint(sign in area), and can come and go without notifying the agency, you are in a common area open to the general public and thus not in a restricted area. At the PD that I work, we have lock boxes for weapons before entering the holding area. I know Kirkland is the same with their jail. The issue is that people, including those in law enforcement, do not know the law. For example, at least once per year an email is put out from our legal department reminding all that possessing a gun in a park is legal in WA because officers will still try to cite people for simply carrying. Enlightenment will not come about unless those that have misconceptions are challenged and subsequently educated. Unfortunately, this almost always means trouble for those who decide to take on the task.

 

[FMJ 911]

Look at you guys, all you wanna do is argue. Now I can see why I left, you guys are a bunch of bubblegumbagheads.

And to the OP, RIGHT ON!!! If you got a itch that needs scratching, then by all means! We have rights, and it's up to us whether to use em or not! Not for someone else to say: "Oh, that was a dumb Idea.". SHUT UP YOU ALL! You weren't there, and this is NOT YOU WE ARE TALKING ABOUT!

Ok, now let's get back on track. No more ARGUING!!!

Thank you

P.S. (Directed at the OP), don't feel bad, I got grilled over a stupid question about shooting in the woods. Come on over to Waguns.org, They will treat you nice over there.