Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Since 2010 the nation has witnessed approximately one shooting per month at local courthouses across the country. Earlier this year
a man opened fire at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont Texas killing one and injuring three individuals.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas joined fellow members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in approving the
Local Courthouse Safety Act of 2012 legislation to boost security training and equipment at local courthouses by improving existing federal programs at no new cost to the taxpayer.
Our democracy depends on our ability to attract and protect dedicated public servants to administer justice. This vital role comes with serious security risks that can place judges and courthouse personnel in harms way.
This bill will provide judges and court officials additional security and peace of mind as they carry out their jobs."
The
Local Courthouse Safety Act introduced by Sen. Al Franken D-MN and cosponsored by Sen. Cornyn would:
- Provide greater training to law enforcement officers who protect courthouses
- Provide local courts with greater access to existing federal grants for courthouse security improvements; and
- Grant local courts direct access to federal security equipment such as metal detectors wands and baggage screening machines.
Senator Cornyn serves on the Finance Judiciary Armed Services and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committees Immigration Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General Texas Supreme Court Justice and Bexar County District Judge.
