By Ron Brown
 
October 29, 2009
 
GRANTS PASS, Ore. - Circuit court judges in Josephine County have turned down a commissioner's request to carry a concealed weapon into the county courthouse.
 
Josephine County Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli announced last week that she would like to bring a gun into her office. Cassanelli says she has a concealed weapons permit.
 
State law and courthouse rules state that only police on duty are allowed to carry guns into the courthouse.
 
"You know, it's a basic right. It's everybody's basic right in order to defend their life and liberty. And we're all exposed here," Josephine County Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli said.
 
Sheriff Gil Gilbertson says Grants Pass police and sheriff's offices are a hundred feet down the hall from the commissioner's office, and there are also alarm systems in place.
 
Cassanelli says she will bring the issue up again at the board's administrative meeting next week.