In the wake of the August 21 attack on Ohio Judge Joseph J. Bruzzese Jr., the increasing rate of concealed carry among judges is back in the spotlight.
Bruzzese was carrying his handgun when attacked outside the Jefferson County Courthouse. He was able to draw his gun and return fire. A probation officer also shot at the suspect, who was killed at the scene.
According to the Associated Press, Bruzzese’s concealed carry lifestyle is shared by a growing number of judges throughout the country. Surveys conducted by the National Judicial College (NJC) get straightforward responses from judges who say, “We carry guns.”
In April an unidentified judge told NJC, “I now carry an easily accessible handgun with me at all times. I have received firearms training and continue to practice and receive ongoing gun safety and training.”
John Muffler is U.S. Marshals Service (ret.) and current director of MOSAIC Threat Assessment Systems for Gavin de Becker & Associates. He spoke about the issue of judges and concealed carry, saying, “There are plenty who are carrying them now because of their position, and they’re aware that there are risks associated with the decisions they make and the positions they have.”
Laws on judges carrying guns vary from state to state. In Rhode Island, guns are prohibited in courtrooms, period. Whereas in Wyoming, judges can carry firearms and can “decide if anyone else can bring a weapon into their courtroom.”
Family Court Judge Chuck Weller was wounded in a Reno, Nevada, attack in 2006, when a frustrated divorcee fired through a window at him with a high-powered rifle. Weller says, “I don’t see any reason to deny judges the right to carry firearms, but I’m not advocating one way or another about whether they should.” He stressed his belief that judges who do carry ought to receive “proper training.”
AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of Bullets with AWR Hawkins, a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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