El Paso County Commissioners Ban Guns At County Courthouse

You will no longer be able to carry either a concealed or openly carried gun at the El Paso County Courthouse.

El Paso County Commissioners Court worked with the Sheriff’s Office and County staff before they voted.
The Sheriff's Office told Commissioners that the courthouse "cannot be effectively protected unless handguns are prohibited at the main entrances on the 1st and 3rd floors of the courthouse."

One Commissioner said the ban is necessary because Sheriff's deputies and FBI agents carry guns and if someone were to pull a gun to protect themselves or someone else, they could be mistaken as a threat and could get shot by law enforcement.

I think a ban is an smart move. There is virtually no higher stress environment than a courthouse. Divorce cases, lawsuits, criminal cases - they are all volatile situations that would be made worse by someone carrying a gun. Good move, Commissioners Court.