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Teacher Suing to Carry Gun in School

By Justin Bathon

Sort of a shocking story out of Oregon yesterday:

MEDFORD, Ore. - High school English teacher Shirley Katz insists she needs to take her pistol to work because she fears her ex-husband could show up and try to harm her. She?s also worried about a Columbine-style attack.

But Katz?s district has barred teachers from bringing guns to school, so she is challenging the ban as unlawful, since Oregon is among states that allow people with a permit to carry concealed weapons into public buildings.

?This is primarily about my Second Amendment right and Oregon law and the simple fact that I know it is my right to carry that gun,? said Katz, 44, ...

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I almost don't even know where to begin with this. For one, she cites the Second Amendment in support of her claim. Really? After Garcetti, teachers in the employment of a public school barely have First Amendment rights! That is a pretty ridiculous argument. There are so many reasons why the government would have a compelling interest in limiting her Second Amendment right to bear arms that I am not even going to get into them all.

Next, if we say schools are a safe environment for kids (and we do), why is she worried about her ex-husband somehow breaking into the school and bullying her. What is that saying to the parents of the community? This school is so unsafe that I need my own personal weapon to protect me ... but please, continue sending your children.

                                                                 

Finally, I have to seriously question the fitness to teach of any individual who would want to bring a gun into school. What is the purpose of a gun in this situation if not to kill people? The gun she intends to carry is pictured and if she ever brought that to school, as a principal or superintendent I would immediately fire her.

Full post as published by Edjurist on October 09, 2007 (boomark / email).