Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FL: Woman Arrested for Protecting Children from Water Moccasin
Gun Watch ^ | 19 October, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 10/20/2014 4:49:49 AM PDT by marktwain


Who would have thought that it would be illegal to defend children from a poisonous snake?  This is where the insanity of extreme gun restrictions have brought us.   In Florida, a mother was at a school event during a football practice session.  A water moccasin was discovered on the practice field, but attempts to kill it with sticks were not successful.  From newsherald.com:
April Dawn DeMarco, 30, was arrested for discharging a .380-caliber handgun on the practice football field of Bay High School, 300 E. 15th St., during practice last week for the local Pop Warner football team. Demarco apparently borrowed the pistol from Miren Gregory, 31, to protect nearby children after a group of parents found a water moccasin on the field, police reported.

Coaches and parents told the children to get out of the area after finding the moccasin. Gregory told DeMarco she had a concealed carry permit and a handgun after some of the coaches tried to kill the snake by hitting it with sticks.
Snakes can be difficult to kill with a stick, if there are obstacles nearby.  As this was a football practice field, the snake may have been hiding under equipment on the field.  From personal experience, I can say that a firearm is often the only means to stop the threat from a poisonous snake that is in a semi-concealed position.   You do not want the snake to escape from view and remain in an area frequented by children.   It is like allowing a living land mine on the school grounds.

Here is where the law gets crazy.  Even if a person has a concealed carry permit, it is illegal to possess a firearm on school grounds during a school related event.   The penalty is a misdemeanor.  From statute 790.06(12):
(d) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree,
It is illegal to discharge a firearm on school grounds, but  there is an exception for using a firearm in defense of self or others.  From statute 790.115 2.(d)
(d) A person who discharges any weapon or firearm while in violation of paragraph (a), unless discharged for lawful defense of himself or herself or another or for a lawful purpose, commits a felony of the second degree,
If I were Dawn DeMarco's attorney, I would certainly be pleading that this was a clear case of defense of others.   It does not matter that Dawn missed the snake with the borrowed firearm.
One parent forewarned the women that having a firearm on school grounds was against the law when DeMarco said, “I will take the blame,” the parent told police.


This might be a good test case for reform of the silly gun free school zone law in Florida.   Even the federal gun free school zone law has an exception for those with concealed carry permits.

The person that Dawn DeMarco borrowed the pistol from was also arrested.   It is unknown if she had a concealed carry permit.

Gun free school zone laws have been a disaster from the beginning.  It is time to stop the idiocy.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch


TOPICS: Government; Pets/Animals; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: banglist; fl; school; watermoccasin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-39 next last
The ban on guns in and near schools has nothing to do with safety, and everything to do with making the ownership and carry of guns illegitimate.
1 posted on 10/20/2014 4:49:50 AM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marktwain

The woman who gave her the gun at the school for her to use on the snake faces charges too.

No kids were in the immediate area when she fired and missed.
The snake escaped. Hard to hit a fast moving snake with a .380.


2 posted on 10/20/2014 4:56:21 AM PDT by Sasparilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Time to ban snakes. I mean the two-legged kind that would pass and enforce this kind of law...


3 posted on 10/20/2014 4:59:46 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sasparilla

“The snake escaped. Hard to hit a fast moving snake with a .380.”

Or any handgun for that matter. That is why many farmers & ranchers have a shotgun or a handgun loaded with birdshot handy. I took out a daimondback a month or so back with my Judge loaded with 410 #7 birdshot. One shot. one dead snake.


4 posted on 10/20/2014 5:05:12 AM PDT by Tupelo (I am feeling more like Phillip Nolan by the day.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

That mug shot will be a disaster.

Could have brushed/combed her hair and “smiled for the camera” (Peg!). Hopefully, her lawyer will get a more appealing picture for the trial.


5 posted on 10/20/2014 5:06:48 AM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations: The acronym explains the science.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cletus.D.Yokel

Probably forced to shower, and not allowed a comb or brush.

People have little control over their much shots.

Even professional actors mug shots are often unflattering.


6 posted on 10/20/2014 5:18:20 AM PDT by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

“much shots” should be “mug shots” .

It is early!


7 posted on 10/20/2014 5:19:42 AM PDT by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

She was actually charged with attempted murder when it was discovered that the snake was actually a democrat councilman!!


8 posted on 10/20/2014 5:23:11 AM PDT by ontap
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

If ever a case for use of a firearm on school property was justified, this would be it.
Water Moccasins are nothing to mess around with. I got bit by one in the 50s, when I was 8. Anti-venom shot, tetanus shot, and minor surgery to remove broken off fangs embedded in my hand.


9 posted on 10/20/2014 5:28:16 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (Bomb ISIS; bomb them again; bomb them again; kill all survivors; take no prisoners.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

The ban on guns is all about control and nothing else. The king’s men/women all carry guns to control, kill, and intimidate the sheep as necessary. the purpose of the sheep are twofold: 1. Provide money for the king’s coffers and the king’s support by paying taxes. 2. Give the king votes thereby continuing him in power.


10 posted on 10/20/2014 5:29:11 AM PDT by sport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo

I find a hoe or sharpshooter works better and I don’t waste precious ammo.


11 posted on 10/20/2014 5:34:33 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo

“a handgun loaded with birdshot “
I went to the range, loaded my Redhawk 44 Mag with those. Cranked the ayatollah target out to about 12/15 feet, and turned it into confetti! Pretty funny!


12 posted on 10/20/2014 5:44:08 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

I’m sorry to say it but this was just a stupid thing to do.


13 posted on 10/20/2014 5:44:17 AM PDT by Afterguard (Liberals will let you do anything you want, as long as it's mandatory.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo
“The snake escaped. Hard to hit a fast moving snake with a .380.”

I live in Florida on a lake, my .410 Snakecharmer is loaded and just inside the door. It is put to good use several times each year. Gotta use the right tool for the job!

14 posted on 10/20/2014 5:49:40 AM PDT by ExSES (the "bottom-line")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Obviously the school administrators are at fault for not posting signs declaring the school a Snake Free Zone. Then it would have been illegal for any snakes to come onto school property and no one would have ever needed to worry about snakes again! Right? Am I right?


15 posted on 10/20/2014 5:50:04 AM PDT by servo1969
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Would they have been as upset if she’d been carrying a hatchet or a machete?


16 posted on 10/20/2014 5:52:54 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sasparilla

snakeshot was made for that purpose. Although I have it at home, I don’t carry it with me. Maybe I should throw some in the glove box tho. We have rattlers around here.


17 posted on 10/20/2014 5:53:21 AM PDT by Mom MD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: servo1969

That would be discrimatory, specist. They need to post “no fangs” or “no poison” signs. /s


18 posted on 10/20/2014 5:56:25 AM PDT by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

One of my friend’s parents told me he never wanted to be around a loaded gun, even if it was in a drawer. He is a democrat, but, I was still disappointed in him. Thought he had bigger balls than that.

Their anti gun theme is working and they are treating babies who make L shaped pop tarts or point their fingers and say, “Pew, pew, pew” like criminals.

Monsters, all of them.


19 posted on 10/20/2014 5:58:03 AM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pearls Before Swine

Would they have been as upset if she’d been carrying a hatchet or a machete?

You make an excellent case. Edged weapons such as knives, swords, and tomahawks are clearly protected by the second amendment. Perhaps moreso, because swords were specifically mentioned during the debates about ratification.

Have to find the right test case, though.


20 posted on 10/20/2014 6:00:44 AM PDT by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-39 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson