County commissioners reluctant to turn courthouse 'into fortress'

MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County Commissioners remain opposed to screening Mercer County Courthouse visitors for weapons, even though most counties in the region have already installed such measures.
Sheriff Bill Romine said after Thursday's commissioners meeting that on May 12, a man was caught in the courthouse with a pocket knife.
However, District Attorney James Epstein said later Thursday that, "If he could carry in a pocket knife, he could have carried in a firearm."
Standard procedures
There is no routine screening of courthouse visitors, though in some instances, such as high profile trials, temporary screening has been set up.
"We are not on the front lines of the al-Qaida target list," Epstein said, but added that societal norms have changed and Americans regularly experience random violence in public places. He added that not only criminal cases, but also civil cases can generate high emotion and even violence.
But commissioners disagreed that security is inadequate. Commissioner Brian Beader said at Thursday's meeting that "I have not changed my life since 9/11." He said he is reluctant to "go to full security for the courthouse."
Commissioner Olivia Lazor agreed, stating, "This is a public building. We have sheriff's deputies who patrol this building. I am reluctant to turn it into a fortress."