Two States Now Allow Guns in Courthouses

Arkansas and Oklahoma have passed new legislation that allows some people to bring guns into courthouses in the states. The new ruling applies to state employees only, and only those who have concealed carry permits and work at county courthouses.

Employees of county government offices can already carry their weapons on county buildings. The governors of both Arkansas and Oklahoma signed the bills into law in early July. The Oklahoma bill allows elected county officials who are licensed gun owners to carry concealed weapons into courthouses when they are performing public duties.

Guns are still generally banned from courtrooms, however. A different bill in Arkansas would have allowed those with concealed handgun permits to carry guns into a courtroom, but that bill did not get any traction and was dropped. The Iowa Supreme Court recently banned guns in courthouses.