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Deputy shoots teen in school standoff
The Orlando Sentinel ^ | January 14, 2006 | Gary Taylor and Rene Stutzman

Posted on 01/14/2006 4:56:43 AM PST by Chanticleer

LONGWOOD -- A Milwee Middle School eighth-grader, who last year threatened to blow up a school bus, showed up for class Friday with a pistol in his backpack.

However, classmates of Chris Penley, 15, didn't know it was a pellet gun.

Neither did a veteran Seminole County deputy sheriff, who made a split-second decision to open fire when Chris pointed the weapon at him, authorities said.

The deputy's single shot gravely wounded the boy, who was on life support Friday at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: lawenforcement; schoolshooting; schoolviolence
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I've read a few blogs on this incident. Some don't understand why the SWAT Team was called to a school. Some don't understand why the officer didn't just use a taser to disable the boy. Some didn't believe that a toy gun could look like a real gun. (Deputies showed the actual pellet gun side by side with a real pistol. Looked identical to me, but I'm not an expert on guns.)

I was more interested in this portion of a statement of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

According to ASCA, more than half of 6th-12th graders report being involved in at least one violent act a year.

I find this difficult to believe. Any thoughts?

1 posted on 01/14/2006 4:56:46 AM PST by Chanticleer
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To: aberaussie; proud_yank

school shooting ping


2 posted on 01/14/2006 4:58:55 AM PST by Chanticleer (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. Lewis)
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To: Chanticleer

This sort of thing was unheard of when I went to high school (72-75) - are kids so radically different now?


3 posted on 01/14/2006 5:04:09 AM PST by Ken522
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To: Chanticleer
A Milwee Middle School eighth-grader... classmates of Chris Penley, 15.

A fifteen year old eighth grader??????

4 posted on 01/14/2006 5:05:29 AM PST by raybbr (ANWR is a barren, frozen wasteland - like the mind of a democrat!)
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To: Chanticleer

"I find this difficult to believe. Any thoughts?"

Their definition of "violent act" is probably overly broad. It probably includes things like pushing and angry yelling. Stuff that while not placid doesn't rise to the level of violence that a reasonable person would think of. That would be my guess.


5 posted on 01/14/2006 5:05:46 AM PST by jocon307 (The Silent Majority - silent no longer)
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To: Chanticleer
Point a gun at a cop, get lots of bullets.

Darwin Award candidate.

No, I'm not happy that a 13-year-old is on life support.

The phrase "To Stupid To Live" comes to mind.

6 posted on 01/14/2006 5:07:51 AM PST by LibKill (Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. - Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Chanticleer

I shoving/getting shoved counts as a violent act, then I was probably in a violent act every school year.


7 posted on 01/14/2006 5:08:40 AM PST by squidly
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To: Chanticleer

Agree, I saw the two guns on the news too.

The kid was suicidal it was reported also.

Do you know what pushed him over the line to flip out and bring a pellet gun to school and do what he did?

Last I heard he was in critical condition.

Tough call in a moments notice for the SWAT team.

Also if they were at any distance it would be visually difficult to discern the type of gun being so similiar to the 9mm version.


8 posted on 01/14/2006 5:08:46 AM PST by Global2010 (St. Kolbe Militia Immaculata Ministries)
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To: jocon307

You are almost certainly correct. When today's social engineers do not have the numbers on their side they create or "torture" the numbers to justify their remedial programs. Thus we have things like the "Peace Pledge" in elementary school and other such meaningless pieces of horse$#!+, which do absolutely nothing but make someone feel better because they have done something.


9 posted on 01/14/2006 5:13:44 AM PST by David Isaac
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To: Chanticleer

Point a gun at a cop, get shot.

At a distance, and in a split second, you can't tell the difference between a pellet gun and a real pistol. When I was a kid I had a pellet gun that looked like a .45.

I's unfortunate, but it's not a surprise to think that a 15 year-old would bring a gun to school to kill people today.


10 posted on 01/14/2006 5:16:28 AM PST by rockprof
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To: Chanticleer
According to ASCA, more than half of 6th-12th graders report being involved in at least one violent act a year.

I find this difficult to believe. Any thoughts?

Well, between my 6th and 12th grade, I was probably involved in most of the violent acts in my school. Of course none of them involved weapons.

We called them fist fights. Something boys were known for back then. They usually resulted in mutual respect for the opponent and whatever was pissing them off was done with. None of this long lasting grudges that seem to end in police situations nowadays.

11 posted on 01/14/2006 5:18:29 AM PST by Double Tap
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To: Chanticleer

FWIW, pellet guns look like the real thing.


12 posted on 01/14/2006 5:27:41 AM PST by Loyal Buckeye
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To: Chanticleer

In case you don't know...no more waiting for the SWAT team with an active, or potentially active shooter. First cop on scene goes in to stop the shooter. New national training in the wake of Columbine.


13 posted on 01/14/2006 5:36:00 AM PST by dasboot
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To: Chanticleer

First you must determine what is considered a violent act. It appears that a lot of horseplay is now considered violent.


14 posted on 01/14/2006 5:50:19 AM PST by em2vn
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To: raybbr

That could put him only a year behind, really. Eighth graders have to be 13 in FL, if they started school when the law says they can. Most turn 14 during the year, so if this kid was held back just once, then he easily could have turned 15 since the beginning of the school year.


15 posted on 01/14/2006 5:55:05 AM PST by aberaussie
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To: Chanticleer

I had a pump .22 air pistol and it would go through a half inch board.
It could kill someone.


16 posted on 01/14/2006 6:05:23 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (“Don't approach a Bull from the front, a Horse from the back, or a Fool from any side.”)
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To: Chanticleer

I used to shoot groundhogs and skunks with a pellet gun - killed them first shot in the head. So a "pellet gun" is, in fact, a lethal weapon. They are not toys and that is why they are made to look like a "real" gun - they ARE real guns. With a new CO2 cartridge the pellet comes out at almost .22 speed and it is almost the same size as a .22 bullet. A person gets shot in the head with one at reasonably close range and I would think that person is either dead or severly disabled.

And yes these violent incidents as they are called call tripping, pushing, or touching a violent act. I saw one of the surveys from our elementary school. Kids who participate in wrestling, basketball, football, or just about any sport except tennis and golf would have to answer yes to many of the questions. Even kids on a golf team would answer yes to the question "have you ever felt intimidated by another child?" - when facing a better playing kid.


17 posted on 01/14/2006 6:10:53 AM PST by msrngtp2002
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To: msrngtp2002

WEll since no one has said it... Never bring a pellet gun to a hollow point shoot out.
Yes, my son's pellet gun can be lethal to small animals, if he we willing to kill a few. Still a bit of a softie, but workin on it.


18 posted on 01/14/2006 6:21:08 AM PST by momincombatboots (Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber)
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To: msrngtp2002; jocon307
Thanks for the info about the gun. I didn't know.

But I still don't get tracking incidents of pushing or "feeling" intimidated? I could say the same of the After Thanksgiving Sales or theme park lines! I hate to be suspicious, but is the ASCA just trying to justify their jobs? Seems like they have enough to do with actual violence.

When I was in school (80s), the school counselor suggested college choices, sent you a note if you made honor roll and tried to help if your grades were slipping. Are things really so different today?

19 posted on 01/14/2006 6:22:40 AM PST by Chanticleer (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. Lewis)
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To: Chanticleer
I don't agree with the use of the term standoff but of course what else would you expect from the Orlando 'Slantinel'.

IMO, the boy could have been disabled in other ways or otherwise isolated. I am sick of the 'trigger time' mentality of SWAT members. Three people have committed suicide by police since I have been here in Orlando. In all cases the police should have found a better way.

I know the public needs to be protected. Instead of colluding in a suicide, how about some alternative methods for dealing with self destructive people.

The whole thing is disgusting.

20 posted on 01/14/2006 6:27:51 AM PST by Banjoguy (I will rot in Hell before I buy another Dell!)
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