by Shane Henson — April 10, 2013—U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota) recently announced that he has reintroduced the Local Courthouse Safety Act to improve security at smaller courthouses, a measure he feels is needed considering the potential for gun-related violence no matter the size of the courthouse. He originally introduced the legislation following a 2011 shooting at the Cook County Courthouse in Grand Marais that injured three, including the Cook County Attorney.
Many local courthouses, especially in rural and suburban areas, lack even basic security measures like metal detectors, his office says. Sen. Franken’s legislation would provide local courts with access to security training; give states authority to use existing grant money to improve courthouse security; and cut through bureaucratic red tape, giving local courts access to excess federal security equipment, such as metal detectors and screening devices.
“Minnesota’s local sheriffs and courthouse personnel make our communities stronger and safer, and they shouldn’t have to put their lives on the line to do their jobs,” said Franken. “My legislation will give courthouses all over the state access to the resources they need to keep our justice system safe for everyone, and I’m going to keep fighting to pass it into law.”
