Ore. teacher challenging prohibition on guns

Oregon Live / AP ^ | September 10, 2007

[Stoat]

Ore. teacher challenging prohibition on guns

9/10/2007, 12:03 a.m. PDT The Associated Press

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A high school teacher in southern Oregon plans to challenge a school district policy that prevents her from carrying a gun on school grounds.

Portland lawyer Jim Leuenberger said in an e-mail message to the Mail Tribune newspaper that he will ask a Jackson County judge to declare the Medford School District's policy "illegal and void" for holders of concealed handgun licenses.

"There is a state statute that prohibits local governments — including school boards — from restricting possession of firearms by concealed firearm permit holders," Leuenberger said.Leuenberger said the teacher wishes to remain anonymous and he will list her name as "Jane Doe" in the complaint. When contacted by the Mail Tribune, the teacher said she wants anonymity because she fears for her and her daughter's safety.

Leuenberger said the woman has divorced her husband and obtained a restraining order against him.

The woman contacted the lawyer and the Oregon Firearms Federation after school officials approached her about rumors that she was carrying a weapon. Schools attorney Tim Gerking said the teacher denied the accusation, but officials reminded her about the district policy.

"It's our responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for our students and a safe working environment for our employees," Gerking said in an interview late last week. "We feel that would not be fostered by allowing folks, whether they have the authority or not, to bring weapons onto campus, in particular firearms — loaded firearms."

Kevin Starrett, executive director of the firearms federation, said he had been looking for a case like this one so he could challenge schools' prohibition of firearms.

"We were approached by the individual because she had been threatened by the school district," Starrett said. "It was just a perfect opportunity for us to get some judicial resolution to this."

Though the Medford teacher wants the gun to protect herself from an ex-husband, Starrett said armed teachers could prevent school shootings.

"I worry about people being gunned down like dogs because they've been denied the right to have their self-defense firearm," Starrett said.

But School Board Chairman Mike Moran, a retired lieutenant with the Medford Police Department, said he's worried that the firearm could fall into the hands of a student.

"Even if it's a totally legitimate person with a legitimate permit, can you adequately guarantee that it will not fall into the hands of a student?" Moran asked. "You can't."

[Stoat]

Giving credit where it's due....I found this story because it's linked at Orbusmax

Orbusmax ™ Northwest News - 'Around The World In 80K'

[Stoat]

Oregon ping :-)

[vox humana]

"We feel that would not be fostered by allowing folks, whether they have the authority or not, to bring weapons onto campus, in particular firearms — loaded firearms."

So, the school district thinks it has the right to disobey a state law it doesn.t like. Typical liberal attitude.

[szweig]

This seems to hint that all students would behave badly if they found said firearm. Maybe...maybe not.

[Nakota]

“Even if it’s a totally legitimate person with a legitimate permit, can you adequately guarantee that it will not fall into the hands of a student?” Moran asked. “You can’t.”

Neither can you guarantee a student or anyone else will bring a gun to school. The law makes no such guarantee but only makes those who propose it feel good that they have done something.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

But School Board Chairman Mike Moran, a retired lieutenant with the Medford Police Department, said he's worried that the firearm could fall into the hands of a student.

Sure. Look at how those kids at Columbine, Virginia Tech and other schools, took those firearms from the teachers and gunned down their classmates. /sarcasm

[street_lawyer]

the teacher said she wants anonymity because she fears for her and her daughter's safety why would she think such a thing, I mean if people abhor guns they wouldn't consider using one, even on a member of the NRA! It's our responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for our students and a safe working environment for our employees and you people who have applied for and obtained the constitutional right to carry a concealed weapon present a clear and present danger to the safety of every knife carrying student and miscreant in the school system.

 

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Moran must have gone to court to change his name from its original spelling: M-O-R-O-N.

[oldenuff2no]

This Moran TURD is asking to prove a negative which can not be done. I would challenge him to prove that the firearm would end up in the hands of a child.
Stupid circular arguments are the best weapons liberals have. Too bad that tactic has never stopped an armed criminal.

[domenad]

If there’s a state law overriding the local statue, what are we talking about here? This should be settled as hell. I love how the left calls the right ‘fascist’ and then rides roughshod over the democratic lawmaking process.

[monkeycard]

"It's our responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for our students and a safe working environment for our employees," Gerking said

So, what's your plan when your students, staff and buildings are attacked by a person or persons armed with guns? Hiding under your desk doesn't get the job done.

[basil]

"It's our responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for our students and a safe working environment for our employees," Gerking said in an interview late last week. "We FEEL that would not be fostered by allowing folks, whether they have the authority or not, to bring weapons onto campus, in particular firearms — loaded firearms."

Maybe if they would stop "FEELING" and start "THINKING", they would get a better prospective.

We need to make school zones into "Safety Zones", and shut down the killing fields

and, of course, they should be loaded guns--OMG!

[Nextrush]

Legalistic and humanistic arrogance from public education is typical.

Teachers who are armed would give any gunman or terrorist in a school some unexpected surprises.

Of course lives might also be saved.

But lets turn schools in prison-like fortresses and have “zero-tolerance” policies that ban nail files, then we will be safe. LOL.

[nonsporting]

"Because public schools are 'sanctuaries of peace', we expect our 'no guns' policy will be honored by all people, even crazed ex-husband."

Signed,

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

[MD_Willington_1976]

But School Board Chairman Mike Moran, a retired lieutenant with the Medford Police Department, said he's worried that the firearm could fall into the hands of a student. "Even if it's a totally legitimate person with a legitimate permit, can you adequately guarantee that it will not fall into the hands of a student?" Moran asked. "You can't."

So by that line of thinking, LEO's should not be exempt either, I mean what's to guarantee an Officer doesn't loose their sidearm? Mr Moran is a pompous ass...

[Disambiguator]

"We feel that would not be fostered by allowing folks, whether they have the authority or not, to bring weapons onto campus, in particular firearms — loaded firearms."

Would this statement include police officers? They have the authority to carry guns. Also, if someone doesn't have the authority to legally carry, wouldn't it follow that they already aren't allowed to bring their guns on campus?

And let us not forget to notice the beginning of the statement, "We feel..." Facts don't matter, only feeeeelings.

[Sloth]

"It's our responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for our students and a safe working environment for our employees... We feel that would not be fostered by allowing folks, whether they have the authority or not, to bring weapons onto campus, in particular firearms — loaded firearms."

*snip*

"Even if it's a totally legitimate person with a legitimate permit, can you adequately guarantee that it will not fall into the hands of a student?" Moran asked. "You can't."

So I assume they don't let armed police officers on campus, either?

[Salvation]

**A high school teacher in southern Oregon plans to challenge a school district policy that prevents her from carrying a gun on school grounds.**

Won’t happen in southern Oregon, hate to tell her.

[Salvation]

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