Clinton, Anderson County (AP) -- Leave your guns at home if you're going to the courthouse in Clinton.

Tuesday night, The Anderson County Commission approved banning weapons from the county courthouse on a 12-to-4 vote.

Oak Ridge resident Steve Mead spoke before the vote, telling commissioners the resolution would "only decrease safety by reducing resistance to criminal attack within the courthouse."

Commission member Scott Gillenwaters said he couldn't imagine a compelling reason for citizens to go armed in the building.

Judges who hold court there and members of a courthouse security committee asked for the ban.

The commission will decide early next year whether to make the ban permanent, or allow it to expire on February 1st, 2008.

In a separate vote, the commissioners decided to exempt off-duty law enforcement officers from the ban.

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