Court Unanimously Rules Against Sheriff Tom Knight

Appellate judges unanimously ruled against Sheriff Tom Knight in the battle about:
- providing security in court facilities
- [Knight’s desire to allow guns into] court facilities.

Knight’s staff plan to meet with court administration to determine:
- whether the sheriff will [or will not] return deputies to screening stations at non-courtroom facilities
- developing a new procedure [to allow CCW guns into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building].

Knight said in a news release: “This [appellate court] ruling fails to address the rights of citizens [to carry guns into government buildings when they have a CCW permit]. Senator Steube recognizes this and he has agreed to move this issue through the legislature.”

Steube argued that [the Sarasota Clerk of Court building] is just a government building and it is not a “gun free zone.”

Steube’s promise of legislative change could come in the form of:
- a standalone bill [to allow CCW permit holders to carry guns into court facilities]
- or could require some “artful things around the amendment process.”

Steube said: “We can do stuff, it’s just a matter of figuring out how. It’s too early to say exactly how, but I’m going to find a way to [change all of] this.”

Chief Deputy Col. Kurt Hoffman said…