Posted on 03/03/2009 8:31:31 AM PST by yankeedame
For CCSU [Cen. Conn. State University] student John Wahlberg, a class presentation on campus violence turned into a confrontation with the campus police due to a complaint by the professor.
On October 3, 2008, Wahlberg and two other classmates prepared to give an oral presentation for a Communication 140 class that was required to discuss a “relevant issue in the media”. Wahlberg and his group chose to discuss school violence due to recent events such as the Virginia Tech shootings that occurred in 2007.
Shortly after his professor, Paula Anderson, filed a complaint with the CCSU Police against her student. During the presentation Wahlberg made the point that if students were permitted to conceal carry guns on campus, the violence could have been stopped earlier in many of these cases. He also touched on the controversial idea of free gun zones on college campuses.
That night at work, Wahlberg received a message stating that the campus police “requested his presence”. Upon entering the police station, the officers began to list off firearms that were registered under his name, and questioned him about where he kept them.
They told Wahlberg that they had received a complaint from his professor that his presentation was making students feel “scared and uncomfortable”.
“I was a bit nervous when I walked into the police station,” Wahlberg said, “but I felt a general sense of disbelief once the officer actually began to list the firearms registered in my name. I was never worried however, because as a law-abiding gun owner, I have a thorough understanding of state gun laws as well as unwavering safety practices.”
Professor Anderson refused to comment directly on the situation and deferred further comment.
“It is also my responsibility as a teacher to protect the well being of our students, and the campus community at all times,” she wrote in a statement submitted to The Recorder. “As such, when deemed necessary because of any perceived risks, I seek guidance and consultation from the Chair of my Department, the Dean and any relevant University officials.”
Wahlberg believes that her complaint was filed without good reason.
“I don’t think that Professor Anderson was justified in calling the CCSU police over a clearly nonthreatening matter. Although the topic of discussion may have made a few individuals uncomfortable, there was no need to label me as a threat,” Wahlberg said in response. “The actions of Professor Anderson made me so uncomfortable, that I didn’t attend several classes. The only appropriate action taken by the Professor was to excuse my absences.”
The university police were unavailable for comment.
“If you can’t talk about the Second Amendment, what happened to the First Amendment?” asked Sara Adler, president of the Riflery and Marksmanship club on campus. “After all, a university campus is a place for the free and open exchange of ideas.”
Somebody has been educated WAYYY beyond their intelligence.
???
Who keeps guns that are registered under their real name??
In 1970 I was on the 8th grade rifle team at my Jr High school. We shot .22’s in the school gymnasium.
You’re kidding! Ohmygosh. I can’t imagine. Liberal
heads are doing 360’s....
I guess right there I would have sworn out a complaint against the professor saying that she was making him uncomfortable and threating. I mean she could give him an “F” for nnot agreeing with his presentation. OH, and also she ASK him to do this assignment. So the police and the professor are threatening his 1st & 2nd amendment rights. OH YA sue and ask for an apology.
Completely irrelevant but funny. Line from the new TV series Dollhouse.
Guy handing a gun to Eliza Dushku: “Do you know how to use this thing?”
Eliza Dushku replies: “I have four brothers, none of them Democrats”.
It would be interesting to find out (through an FOIA action?) all communications between the campus police and the state regarding this matter. Unfortunately, in this Democrat-infested state, it's almost a given that any such action to obtain that kind of information would be doomed to failure, laws or no laws.
A government apparatchik can always find a way to say "No" to the public. Similarly, a government apparatchik can always find a way to say "Yes" to anything that can deprive a citizen of their rights. Still, inquiring minds want to know - Was it handled through some kind of official channel or through a back door? Is firearm registration data considered to be a public record? If not, what are the rules for who may have access and how they may have access, what uses of the data are permissible, etc.
As the "Joe the Plumber" incident illustrated so graphically, you can not trust any government body to keep from misusing data and or government resources to deprive citizens of their rights.
No one thought anything about it... I would go goose or duck hunting with friends & brother before school and kept a car load of shotguns in the parking lot. Guys would refinish gun stocks in shop class.
Over half the pick ups in town had gun racks in the rear window... Including the first two trucks I had...
Rule One: The police call, and want you to stop by and answer a few questions.
Your IMMEDIATE next action should be to call your lawyer. NEVER speak to the police without a lawyer present. ..
OK good point. A good lawyer can make the police look pretty stupid.
This student needs to enlist the help of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
None of your effing business. You need to talk to my lawyer.
OTOH, you guys never had shootings at school. we had three shootings, and 2 more guys expelled and arrested for carrying.
“If you can’t talk about the Second Amendment, what happened to the First Amendment?”
You got it, sister. It’s gone, too.
Growing up in in households where you respected adults, authority, guns, rules, the Word of God, sportsmanship, living things, a dollar, womanhood, and never having to learn any of the aforementioned more than once, shooting on a markmanship team in junior high wasn’t really very much out of the ordinary.
Apparently not.
Campus police in CT are just like regular police. In fact they go through more rigorous training than municipal police, but less than state police.
They are not ‘rent-a-cops’.
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