Posted on 03/08/2018 10:26:39 AM PST by Simon Green
In the wake of Parkland, people are thinking of how vulnerable our schools may be. Right now, the debate is raging over how best to protect our children. Are school resource officers enough–that is, assuming they actually enter the building, of course–or should we allow teachers to be armed? It’s clear that something needs to be done.
For one man in Wisconsin, doing something may well have included showing just how vulnerable one elementary school currently is.
A Madison man has been arrested and banned from Shorewood Hills Elementary School after he handed a piece of cardboard with “gun” written on it to a teacher Thursday morning.
Police said there was no danger to the school and didn’t speculate on what the parent’s motive was.
Shorewood Hills Police Chief Aaron Chapin said Jonathan M. Fitzgerald, 35, activated a front door buzzer at the school, 1105 Shorewood Blvd., around 10 a.m., requesting access to the building. When he was allowed in, he walked past the school office where visitors are required to check in, Chapin said.
A staff member followed Fitzgerald as he went down the hall to the classroom his child was in, Chapin said.
“Fitzgerald made statements to the teacher in the room about being an intruder who was allowed access to the school and gave the teacher a piece of cardboard with the word ‘gun’ on it,” Chapin said.
Chapin said Fitzgerald left the classroom and went to the administrative office where he made similar statements and handed staff another piece of cardboard with “gun” written on it, then left the school building.
“There was no actual threat to the school or people in the school, no threat to their safety, during the incident,” Chapin said. “Whatever the ultimate goal of the individual, the actions that he took were obviously not appropriate and should not have been done.”
The thing is, if there was no threat to the school, just why was he arrested? The charge is disorderly conduct, but I can’t help but think that it was the only charge they could think of and are applying it because they just want to charge him with something.
It sounds like Fitzgerald was trying to make a comment about the vulnerability of the school, which seems pretty clear. He gained access to the school easily enough. There was no one who really put much effort into stopping him, and by handing the teacher a sign that said gun, he proved he was close enough to kill everyone in that classroom.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t particularly smart or a good idea. This isn’t something you should try at home.
However, he made a point that needs to be taken into account. This was shortly after Parkland, for crying out loud. If he could be stopped, why wasn’t he? If there was a school resource officer on the premises, why weren’t they called to deal with this intruder?
I’m sorry, but if my child were enrolled at that school, I’d be thanking Fitzgerald right now. After all, if they can’t stop an intruder with a sign, then just what the hell would they have done if the he actually had a weapon and was intent on killing everyone in that building? Where is the protection for those children? Where?
Someone has some questions to answer, and it’s not necessarily Fitzgerald.
The sign should’a said “BANG” instead...then the teacher could claim sexual harassment!
Lucky he didn’t write “AR-15” on it
Real headline: Man Arrested For Pointing Out Security Problems
“Abt naturally ?” -— ha ha, great scene
Hoping for a photo op with Clock Boy and family?
MAN MAKES LIBERAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION LOOK STUPID.
Discussed at length on FR yesterday. How many of us as parents could do the same thing at our schools? Likely all of us. How long did it take the police to respond, that is the big question this demonstration raises. Bit it was 7-15 minutes. Proves the failure of gun free zones, the failure of school security. All schools should allow faculty, staff, and parents with valid CCW to carry in the school, on school property, and at school events. We cannot, as seen here and over and over again, depend on the police response to protect our kids. Give us, as parents, give faculty and staff the ability to do so.
School security should be tested just like they do at airports.
This guy is just ahead of his time.....and now will be doing some time.
I'd say a lot of it has to do with how small the school is....and if he was "known" to the officials as a parent of a child.
I could probably do the same thing at our small, small, Elementary school because I know all the people there (and they know me) after years of volunteering my time there for my kids and now grandkids.
That being said....does his punishment fit the crime of bringing attention to security problems in the school?
There is a huge gulf between the potential danger of a known normal parent and the potential danger of a known mentally ill kook with grievances.
PROFILING, people. It’s another word for “use some common sense”.
Criminalizing the thought of a gun. What they have done is arrest the person for something that showed that the thought “gun” is in his mind. That is the crime.
Imagine that a non-violent person gives a card on which is written “gum” to a school principal. No other words spoken. I absolutely guarantee you he will be arrested for disturbing the peace.
They are not interested in stopping crime.
Meanwhile, muzzies slice necks, rape and murder and nothing is done about it.
I don’t have guns. I have arms to defend myself, family, neighbors, and property against anyone or anything which places said same as as being threatened.
No motive?
Duh..... maybe he was pointing out how easy it was for him to enter even with a ‘gun’
They just let everyone in?
Charge: Violation of Title 666, Section 381.1, making government look stupid and incompetent.
Show the STUPID legislators why their state is now called FloriDUH!!
Videos: How to Bumpfire Effectively without a Bumpfire Stock! Turn UP your sound!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIC8SMttjjo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9fD_BX-afo
No need for a Bumpfire stock. Amazingly fun! Accuracy is naturally compromised, though. Short handgun cartridges have the highest cyclic rate, since less bolt travel is needed.
Bumpfiring is 100% legal, and safe in a properly maintained modern sporting rifle. Some gun ranges do not like it, though, because they feel you don’t have adequate control of the firearm. I am sure that could well be the case of you bumpfired a cartridge anywhere from 7.62 NATO (.308 Winchester) on up.
Imagine what they would have done to him if he had given her a piece of cardboard with the words “Nuclear Weapon” on it.
It’s called “zero tolerance”, and applies to things like pieces of paper, pop=tarts, and pointed fingers that induce the idea of “gun”. Children are arrested and expelled for violating it. This is the first I have heard of it being used on an adult.
The Chief of Police said what the man did was not “appropriate”. He didn’t say it was against the law.
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