An order from Chancery Court Judge Dorothy Colom for new security measures left Lowndes County supervisors mulling over possible ways resolve the problem in a less costly way.
During its regular meeting Thursday, the board of supervisors were advised by board president Harry Sanders of Colom’s order, which requires four sheriff’s armed deputies be present in courtrooms when court is in session.
“I just don’t see how we can do this, really,” Sanders said. “We could have as many as four courtrooms in session at a time and that would mean 16 deputies. I don’t think we have the manpower to do that and I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Sanders said the issue has emerged in the wake of the a law passed by the state Legislature earlier this year and signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant in April. The law , which went into effect July 1, allows residents to acquire a license that permits them to a carry a concealed gun in a purse, briefcase or other fully enclosed satchel.
Whether that law applies to courthouses is unclear, Sander said.
“We have an Attorney General opinion that says people can carry guns into courthouses, but not the courtrooms,” Sanders said. “But that’s not a law, it’s an opinion. You know, when a person brings a box cutter into the courthouse, he gets arrested. But a person can carry a gun into the courthouse and, if the attorney general’s opinion is right, there’s nothing anybody can do.”
Sanders recommended that the board approve a measure that would declare the entire courthouse an extension of the courtroom. Currently, two deputies are assigned to the courthouse entrance where visitors are required to pass through metal detectors. By declaring the entire courthouse as an extension of its courtrooms, only two additional deputies would be needed to comply with Colom’s order, Sanders suggested.
“If somebody wants to take us to court and challenge us, they can do it and we’ll see what happens,” Sanders said.
Board attorney Tim Hudson said he wasn’t sure that would be the right approach.
“If someone were to sue, the Attorney General opinion would be something they could use,” Hudson said. “They could say, ‘According to the Attorney General, you are depriving them of their rights.'”
Hudson offered another approach.
“I think it would be more prudent to ask the legislature to authorize banning all firearms from courthouses,” Hudson said.
Supervisors also discussed moving the metal detectors from the main entrance to the hallways leading the courtrooms, which would also reduce the number of deputies needed to comply with Colom’s order, but there was some sentiment that moving the metal detectors into those areas would create a severe bottleneck outside courtrooms.
“I really think we should table this for now and give it some more thought,” District 5 Supervisors Leroy Brooks said.
Sanders asked Chief Deputy Marc Miley, who attended the meeting in the place of Sheriff Mike Arledge, to discuss the possibility of relocating the metal detectors and report back to the board at a later meeting.
In other business
County fire administrator Sammy Fondren updated the board on the progress of the new West Lowndes Fire Station on Old Highway 182 and asked the supervisors for approval for applying for a grant to purchase a fire truck.
“We’re ready to start dirt work on the site,” Fondren said. “The building has been ordered and should be here in three weeks, so everything is on schedule.”
Fondren said the grant will provided $75,000 for the purchase of a firetruck for the District 5 fire station. “It’s a matching grant, so we are asking the county to provide $75,000. That money would be repaid from out rebate funds.”
Supervisors voted unanimously to allow Fondren to apply for the grant.
County administrator Ralph Billingsley asked the board to officially declare Nov. 11 as a county holiday in observance of Veterans Day, which the board approved unanimously.
“Just so you know, there will be a Veterans Day parade at 10 in the morning on Nov. 7. Then at 11, there will be a dedication ceremony for the new World War I monument,” he said.
The new monument is being erected on the courthouse grounds after being moved from its previous location at the Magnolia Bowl.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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