My family is in a little situation.

[paramedic70002]

Try to make this short as possible.

A few years ago had a next door neighbor "Rick" that beat up his wife "Peg". My wife was subpoenaed to court to testify as a witness. "Rick" is a big mountain man with a bad attitude. "Rick" threatened to come after my wife 'or her family.'

We later moved to a different jurisdiction and he to another.

Tuesday, my wife shows up to the first day of school with my 5th grade son. "Rick" is there with "Peg's" daughter "Missy." "Rick" is not the father and to my knowledge has not adopted her. "Missy's" father retains parental rights. Last I heard "Missy" was living with her grandparents.

"Rick" gives my wife the stink eye but skunks off without comment. Wife spoke to the Principal but got blown off. Wife then talked to the SRO (my old HS buddy) who took it a lot more seriously.

The SRO pulled me aside yesterday and told me what I already know. Almost impossible to get a paper after this long, can't do anything unless he acts first, blah blah. (I forgot that "Rick" had no parental rights until after this conversation) I told him I was not interested in getting a useless paper that would only inflame the situation. We (family and SRO) will simply go about our ways in heightened awareness. Nothing else we can do but wait and watch. I am not going to be so bold as to suggest to the SRO that he ignore me or my wife committing a felony by carrying a firearm on school grounds.

Per the law here we must disarm and secure our weapons before exiting the vehicle. The school requires us to go inside and sign out our kid at the end of the day. I am tempted to force them to let my son sign himself out and wait outside with a teacher or the SRO for us to pick him up but I'm sure that will be a real fight especially if I tell her it's so I can shoot the loser if I need to.

If "Rick" comes after me I have a few nasty surprises for him. If he comes after my wife I am concerned as she has bad fibromyalgia and will not be able to defend herself. My greatest concern is if he tries something with my 5th grade son or my 3 year old. Having known this guy in the past, I give him full credit for having the mentality to carry out his threat against any of us.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Ghettokracker71]

Yikes, I'm sorry to hear this. Whats an SRO? Sounds like a bad spot to be in.

[fastk9dad]

I'd ask to have the kids wait outside with someone because you don't feel safe getting out of your car knowing "Rick" might be around just incase you need to make a quick exit. No need to mention firearms.

[fastk9dad]

Yikes, I'm sorry to hear this. Whats an SRO? Sounds like a bad spot to be in.

I believe it's a School Resource Officer. They are uniformed officers assigned to the school.

[ErnieNWillis]

Let me get this straight...Big bad dude threatens your wife and you didn't deal with him immediately? Not questioning your manhood or anything but I would have had MAJOR issues with that!

[WHEC724]

Ugh. I'm sorry to hear that. This sounds like one of those situations where you have to take it step-by-step. I've dealt with death-threats from people who could walk into my office on any given day. You fear the worst, but none of us know what the future holds. I can't keep track of how many times that I needlessly stressed over something that never came to fruition. Plan for the worst, but hope for the best and know that 'worry' only takes your game down a notch.

[KWAG]

Ugh. I'm sorry to hear that. This sounds like one of those situations where you have to take it step-by-step. I've dealt with death-threats from people who could walk into my office on any given day. You fear the worst, but none of us know what the future holds. I can't keep track of how many times that I needlessly stressed over something that never came to fruition. Plan for the worst, but hope for the best and know that 'worry' only takes your game down a notch.

Very well put my friend! I agree.

[tkruf]

Unfortunately, technically, in VA, if you must get out of your vehicle on school property, and you are armed, you must disarm and put the firearm in your glove box or whatever, "prior" to going onto school property. At no time can your firearm be exposed (even to the interior of your vehicle) while on school property (not even to disarm). This must be done before you roll onto property. As soon as you remove it from it's concealed place on your person, you then are holding an unconcealed weapon which carries a mandatory minimum 5 year sentence. Just something to keep in mind.

As Fastk9dad said, no need to mention firearms. What you do is your business.

Why do you have to sign your kid out? When school lets out, every parent has to sign out their kid? Doesn't make sense. The teachers don't walk one group out to get on buses, and one group to a specific area for traffic circle pick up? Here at our local Elementary, if you are there to pick your child up and do not want to go through the traffic circle, and would rather walk in and take them by the hand, your child is brought out with the rest of the kids to be picked up for the traffic circle and you just walk down and wait til they bring them out and call your kid out. The only time we ever have to sign our kid out is if we are picking them up early from school, before school lets out.

[Rivers]

Read the actual VA statute regarding guns and schools. Is there an exemption that allows the school administration to authorize anyone to carry on school premises? I'd expect that since there might be armed security for sporting events, etc. and the statutes aren't written for each school. More of a "one statute fits all" solution. The SRO or the principal may authorize (in writing) you and your wife to carry under these special circumstances.

[ctsketch]

Read the actual VA statute regarding guns and schools. Is there an exemption that allows the school administration to authorize anyone to carry on school premises? I'd expect that since there might be armed security for sporting events, etc. and the statutes aren't written for each school. More of a "one statute fits all" solution. The SRO or the principal may authorize (in writing) you and your wife to carry under these special circumstances.

In CT a person can be specifically permitted to carry a firearm on school property.

[peckman28]

That's a tough spot. Best of luck to you and your family. No one should have to deal with that.

[gilraen]

Dang. I try hard to be a law-abiding person, but..... just -- dang.

Have to agree with whec724 though, most things we worry about, never happen. It's the not knowing which is which that robs us of rest at night.

My thoughts go with you all.

[DaveH]

Ugh. I'm sorry to hear that. This sounds like one of those situations where you have to take it step-by-step. I've dealt with death-threats from people who could walk into my office on any given day. You fear the worst, but none of us know what the future holds. I can't keep track of how many times that I needlessly stressed over something that never came to fruition. Plan for the worst, but hope for the best and know that 'worry' only takes your game down a notch.

+ 1

BTDTGT

Paramedic,

My prayers and thoughts are with you.

If you know the SRO (or even if you didn't, for that matter), Tkruf's idea of the escort to the car might be the best solution at school. The school is far more likely to take a threat (even an old one) more serious than the court given "the petitioner is or has been, within a reasonable period of time,...." aspect of the statute on protective orders.

Good luck man.

Read the actual VA statute regarding guns and schools. Is there an exemption that allows the school administration to authorize anyone to carry on school premises? I'd expect that since there might be armed security for sporting events, etc. and the statutes aren't written for each school. More of a "one statute fits all" solution. The SRO or the principal may authorize (in writing) you and your wife to carry under these special circumstances.

Citation please!

I am aware of § 18.2-308.1.B.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to ... (iii) persons who possess such weapon or weapons as a part of any program sponsored or facilitated by either the school or any organization authorized by the school to conduct its programs either on or off the school premises....

However, I have never heard of that being used to allow for personal DC/CC.

[mrm]

Let me get this straight...Big bad dude threatens your wife and you didn't deal with him immediately? Not questioning your manhood or anything but I would have had MAJOR issues with that!

2 irrational people have never helped any situation I have ever been part of.

[Miggy]

Let me get this straight...Big bad dude threatens your wife and you didn't deal with him immediately? Not questioning your manhood or anything but I would have had MAJOR issues with that!

Ego kills. The brainpower wasted into buttressing one's self-esteem can be better used in coming up with plans on how to deal with the situation. My advice, contact a lawyer and check what kind of legal recourse you cab obtain. And make whatever plans are necessary to deal with a situation that might arise ..... stack the legal deck on your side.