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Courthouse still unsafe
Published Thursday, November 5, 2009
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The issue of security at the Chilton County Courthouse has come up again, and, again, we think the courthouse is not secure enough.
But apparently, at least some commissioners aren’t bothered by the fact that there is nothing to stop someone from walking into the courthouse with a weapon and, well, we’ll stop there.
“I think it’s fine like it is,” commissioner Joe Headley said. “People look at our county as a safe county.”
The problem with that thinking is that everyone thinks they’re safe...until they’re not. The people at Fort Hood, the U.S. Army’s largest post, probably thought they were safe Thursday until a gunman opened fire, killing 12 and wounding 30.
We can’t live our lives paranoid, but it’s hard not to be when we have to do business in a courthouse that doesn’t have metal detectors at its main entrance.
That simple security measure wouldn’t even cost the county anything because there are metal detectors on the third floor, on the way to the courtroom. All we would have to do is move the detector downstairs.
There have been improvements. The process of obtaining a key card to the building has been made exclusive. There are 248 active cards, which still seems a little much.
“It used to be so bad that if Hitler wanted a key card to our courthouse, all he had to do was come in and ask for it,” commissioner Allen Caton said.
Sadly, all Hitler would need to do is wait until business hours then walk through the front door.
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Comments
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did Hitler unburn himself, ressurect himself, and move to Clanton? The argument of feeling unsafe in the courthouse is really reserved for the safety of judges and, maybe, the DA's personnel. If you feel THAT scared, then a metal dtector is not going to help your phobia. Percentage wise, there are more angry folks walking into Wal-Mart than the courthouse. And many are carrying guns, knives, tennis shoes, etc... Do you really think you're safe there?
Posted by Likeitreallymatters (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tennis shoes?
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can blow em up like Richard Reid, or beat someone with em like La-A,(pronounced Ladasha) did to Quashiitneda in Wal-Mart prking lot over her handicap parking space. The one Quash got for being "craaaazy".
Posted by countryman323 (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should a courthouse need metal detectors at all? It seems that the building where justice is to be served would respect the God given rights to self defense that are protected by our Constitution would be the last place to impose unconstitutional restrictions on its citizens.
Do the commisioners, judges and bailiffs GUARANTEE your safety in the courthouse? Of course not! If posed with that question they would laugh in your face. But if assaulted in the courthouse, would you be able to sue them for failure to protect your safety? NO! Again, they would laugh in your face. There are actually laws that protect cities from prosecution in such circumstances, yet they will not allow you to protect yourself.
Posted by Scarlett (anonymous) on November 16, 2009 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This day and time all municipal buildings need to be protected! No exceptions. Not everyone knows that Clanton is a friendly town. What about people who are short a couple brick to make a load if you get my jest? they don't care if you have been working there 1 day or 100 years. If they go off the deep end about the cost of license etc. which normal people have no control over, well they are going to take it out on the one who took their money.
This is not the day we older folks grew up in. I remember so well how my Bigdaddy and grandmother use to go to town only on Saturday. LOL That was for our groceries at Pigs, Pig Headley's grocery, and for my Bigdaddy to catch up on the news sitting in the court house yard. Where some benches were.
My Grand parents had friends all over Chilton County. You knew then who you was dealing with. Not anymore my dear friends,unfortunately. There is no more Pigs Grocery, and the dime store right on main street, the older men don't gather like they use to. We don't go to the field anymore everyday of the week like we use to to make money to spend in town (Clanton)
on Saturday. People are just to busy for their own good.
Yes, I would reccomend security, it just isn't like it use to be. My opinion whats yours? Jessi
Posted by countryman323 (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Scarlett your comment only improved the strength of my arguement. Chilton county in not the same place we grew up in. I have served in public service for nearly 20 years in Chilton county and I can tell you that there are some truly dangerous and disturbed people in this county. Unless the government, be they city, county, state or federal provides security for each person individually, then the people should have the right to protect themselves, no matter where they might be. It is true, those who would commit murder care nothing about ignoring a "no weapons allowed" sign. To think otherwise is absurd. If you look at all of the mass shootings in our country they all a commonality, they are gun free zones. All of them.
Who do you think would provide better security in a public building, a retired 70 year old man working security with questionable skills and ability or the 10% of the population who obtain concealed carry permits and most of whom practice and train more than the active duty cops in any given town?
It has been proven that concealed carry holders are some to the most honest and law abiding citizens there are. Nationally the crime rate among concealed carry holders is actually lower that the crime rate among active duty law enforcement.
There is an old saying "Those who would give up freedom for the perception of security deserve neither." In my opinion, truer words have never been spoken.
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