State Considers Allowing Lawyers to Carry Guns in Court

Fresno County moved to arm select prosecutors and officials after a daylight stabbing jolted its justice system.

Story Snapshot

Supervisors advanced a plan to let trained prosecutors and county staff carry concealed on county property.
The push follows the stabbing of a senior deputy district attorney in broad daylight.
Sheriff John Zanoni and District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp have linked the step to real threats facing justice workers.
The measure heads to a second hearing as security patrols increase around court facilities.

What Sparked The Policy Shift

Fresno County supervisors tied the proposal to a recent stabbing of a senior deputy district attorney, an attack that underscored risks prosecutors face outside controlled courthouse zones. Board members advanced an ordinance to allow certain county employees, including prosecutors, to carry concealed firearms and defensive tools on county property, subject to training and approvals. Leaders framed it as workplace safety, not politics. The measure cleared its first vote and moved to a second hearing on the county’s calendar.

District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and Sheriff John Zanoni have long warned that criminals can target justice workers beyond magnetometers and bailiffs. They argued that trained, vetted staff with concealed-carry permits can bridge the gap between a sudden attack and the arrival of deputies. The sheriff’s office also boosted patrol checks around Courthouse Park and nearby facilities after the attack, signaling a layered approach: deterrence, faster response, and, for select staff, last-resort defense.

How The Fresno Plan Would Work

The draft policy expands the list of officials who may carry while on the job and on county grounds. Reports suggest it could include prosecutors, county counsel, and other designated employees who hold valid permits, complete added training, and follow strict storage and notification rules. The plan does not invite the general public to carry inside sensitive areas. It extends a narrow exception for vetted personnel already embedded in the justice process, similar to allowances long made for sworn officers.

Supervisors emphasized that practical safeguards matter as much as the permission slip. Expect requirements for enhanced firearms proficiency, ongoing qualification, and compliance checks. Facilities with courtrooms would still follow security directives set by judges and state rules. The county’s goal is to remove “soft target” gaps for employees who face real-world threats in parking lots, offices, and public parks attached to courthouse complexes.

Where Fresno Fits In National Practice

Other jurisdictions wrestle with the same tradeoffs. Some states and counties maintain blanket courthouse bans that allow only law enforcement or court security to be armed, with court administrators holding final say. Others carve out limited exceptions for prosecutors and certain staff, often with training mandates and location limits that keep weapons out of active courtroom floors. The American Bar Association urges courts to restrict carry to those needed for security and to train anyone allowed to carry, a standard Fresno’s targeted model aims to meet.

Texas and South Dakota statutes show how local governments tailor rules for county employees in or near courthouses, while still respecting courtroom control and jail restrictions. Historical guidance in California has recognized that licensed prosecutors may carry to and from their offices, but not on courtroom floors, highlighting a common-sense line between workplace routes and trial spaces. Fresno’s move aligns with this balance: protect people where they are most exposed without turning courtrooms into gun zones.

The Policy Debate And The Safety Math

Public comments included voices who fear that more guns mean more risk, even in trained hands. One Fresno resident argued that introducing weapons to workplaces invites accidents or escalations and urged other safety steps instead. Proponents counter that targeted carry by a small, trained group is a last-ditch safeguard, not a first option. They point to the recent stabbing as proof that threats can emerge fast, outside secured doors, and before a deputy can sprint 200 yards.

Fresno mulls letting prosecutors carry concealed firearms after stabbing rocks California | Nina Joudeh, New York Post

Fresno County officials are pushing to let prosecutors carry concealed firearms after a shocking daylight stabbing of a senior deputy district attorney last… pic.twitter.com/4w1vhLonAa

— Owen Gregorian (@OwenGregorian) August 24, 2026

From a conservative, common-sense lens, the Fresno plan threads the needle. It keeps courtrooms under strict control, honors judicial security standards, and limits carry to vetted staff who face direct threats tied to their jobs. It does not arm the general public inside sensitive areas. It does give prosecutors and key employees a fighting chance in parking lots and corridors where predators look for the moment between work and safety. That is a sober response to a real attack, not a gesture.