Students take gun from classmate at high school

[paramedic70002]

Local News | Students take gun from classmate at high school in Lacey | Seattle Times Newspaper

Students take gun from classmate at high school in Lacey
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When two students at River Ridge High School in Lacey found out another student had a gun in his backpack they took it away.

One distracted him Wednesday while the other grabbed the backpack and gave it to a teacher. A resource officer arrested the 16-year-old who brought the gun to school.

A North Thurston Public Schools spokeswoman, Courtney Schrieve, says there is no indication the student intended to use the gun or that anyone was threatened. She says school officials wish the two students had reported what they knew instead of taking matters into their own hands.

A Lacey Police commander, John Suessman, praised the students for protecting their classmates.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[deadeye72]

She says school officials wish the two students had reported what they knew instead of taking matters into their own hands.

I have to agree with them, this could have turned out very bad if they had been unable to get the backpack.

[retsupt99]

With the zero tolerance garbage, I'm surprised that the two 'quick thinking' students weren't charged with 'temporary possession' of a fire and expelled...

[TravisABQ]

With the zero tolerance garbage, I'm surprised that the two 'quick thinking' students weren't charged with 'temporary possession' of a fire and expelled...

Wait for it...

[OM44]

Teaching children to report something to the authorities is once again
teaching them to rely upon someone else for their protection. You are
saying they should have dialed 911 and waited for someone to come
to their rescue.

What is wrong with teaching them to act to protect themselves? Isn't that what CCW is all about?

[KenpoTex]

<sarcasm>gasp! They shouldn't have done that...they should have cowered under a desk like good little victims <sarcasm>

[bluelineman]

Yet another reason that teachers should be allowed to CCW. What would've happened if the kid started shooting? It would've been like shooting fish in a barrel like all the other "gun free zone" shootings.

[ccw9mm]

She says school officials wish the two students had reported what they knew instead of taking matters into their own hands.

Hm. I view it somewhat differently. To my way of thinking, the important first step is to defang the snake. Once the gun was taken away, the threat was largely gone. That's smart. He very well could have had another weapon, but the entire backback was taken hence it's unlikely. The children saw that, even if the adults now dithering over the children's actions don't.

Kudos, kids! Ya done good.

[deadeye72]

Teaching children to report something to the authorities is once again
teaching them to rely upon someone else for their protection. You are
saying they should have dialed 911 and waited for someone to come
to their rescue.

What is wrong with teaching them to act to protect themselves? Isn't that what CCW is all about?

I agree with teaching them to protect themselves, but they were not attacked. That is no different than you seeing someone walking down the road with a gun. If you are not being attacked or defending someone who is, I do not believe you would be within the law to chase them down to disarm them. As to CCW, if you are carrying, you have the means to stop the threat if it comes to that. These two could have failed at removing his backpack and started into motion something that could not be stopped by them.

[2AMomma]

just playing Devil's Advocate here...

Picture this - nerdy kid is being big time bullied by some much larger gang bangers. A couple of non-issue students see the weapon in his backpack. Decide to take matters into their own hands and remove the backpack and the "threat".

Would your views still be the same?

[deadeye72]

I agree with the outcome. All I am saying is, had they been unsuccessful in disarming him, he could have taken that as a threat and the two heroes would have been the first two victims.

[ccw9mm]

I agree with the outcome. All I am saying is, had they been unsuccessful in disarming him, he could have taken that as a threat and the two heroes would have been the first two victims.

Perhaps, but that assumes that Little Johnny was actually a BG-in-waiting, almost ready to snap.

Disarming an apparent threat is not, itself, a threatening act, despite how the presumed-BG might have been bummed by the action.

Data point: I clearly recall 7th grade (1970's), when knives, saps, knuckles were prevalent amongst the 'bangers at the school. That made life very rocky, for those of us who didn't want any part of it. There were two choices: take your chances, or come armed. Many chose the latter route. I've carried a pocket knife since ~6th grade or so. Never did need it for defense, though I was attacked a few times (at the level of a "schoolyard brawl"). There was a time in the not so distant past where bringing a rifle to school was something kids did (as when hunting after class let out). But, pistols brought to class in the pocket or a backpack? Verboten at all times.

But, by any standard, in the USA today, in this age of wannabe-copycat school murders and the mistaken view that feeling "dissed" is sufficient for some to feel the need to kill those who offering any offense, the brave act of safety done by these children was, simply, an act of self-preservation. Could have been done differently, perhaps, but then think how the act by administrators or teachers likely would have gone down. Short of calling in SWAT, which sadly isn't too unlikely, it's probable that one or two adults would have approached the student, by which time the backpack could have been squarely in his lap or next to him. It's an assumption that one or two adults would have fared any better than this handful of children acting in concert. Simply said, they quietly and effectively separated the weapon from the person, thereby eliminating the immediate threat. Adults should be so lucky, in their attempts at similar disarming.

[SIGguy229]

just playing Devil's Advocate here...

Picture this - nerdy kid is being big time bullied by some much larger gang bangers. A couple of non-issue students see the weapon in his backpack. Decide to take matters into their own hands and remove the backpack and the "threat".

Would your views still be the same?

Yes.

[dukalmighty]

Originally Posted by 2AMomma
just playing Devil's Advocate here...

Picture this - nerdy kid is being big time bullied by some much larger gang bangers. A couple of non-issue students see the weapon in his backpack. Decide to take matters into their own hands and remove the backpack and the "threat".

Would your views still be the same?

If kid is being bullied report it you don't bring a gun to school to try to threaten them into leaving you alone it escalates it,and you either shoot them or they shoot you either way you're dead or getting charged

[stormbringerr]

Teaching children to report something to the authorities is once again
teaching them to rely upon someone else for their protection. You are
saying they should have dialed 911 and waited for someone to come
to their rescue.

What is wrong with teaching them to act to protect themselves? Isn't that what CCW is all about?

good post.