D.A. Fights For Concealed Weapons in Court
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The Winnebago County D.A. is a concealed carry permit holder and is filing a petition with the state Supreme Court because he believes local judges are overstepping their boundaries. Video by nbc26.com
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Winnebago County District Attorney Christian Gossett filed a petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court Monday, asking he be allowed to carry his gun in the courthouse.
“Whether or not anybody has a concealed weapon in a courtroom doesn't affect the courtroom procedures,” Winnebago County D.A. Christian Gossett said.
Gossett says he's worried about his safety walking from his office to the courthouse and doesn't want to check his gun at the door. But it goes beyond that.
"We have competing laws right now. It would be like someone saying you can legally drive, but you can't legally drive,” Gossett said.
He's sending this petition over to the state Supreme Court because he believes six Winnebago County judges rewrote the current concealed carry law passed last year.
"It used to say prosecutors could carry in courtrooms. Others had to get judicial permission,” Gossett said.
A spokesman for the state courts sent us a statement on behalf of the judges. They write:"We have a duty and obligation to ensure everyone in a court proceeding has a safe and secure environment. The first step in fulfilling that obligation, is for judges and law enforcement to be aware of who is carrying a weapon during a proceeding."
For Gossett, the petition is one of his most important cases.
"We're just asking the supreme court who gets to make the laws and what's the rule?" Gossett said.
Gossett says there's similar versions of this type of order at courthouses in other counties. He hopes to hear soon if the Wisconsin Supreme Court will take up the issue.
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