VA AG says guns OK at school board meetings

[paramedic70002]

http://content.hamptonroads.com/stor...311&ran=161397

McDonnell disarms school boards on gun bans
By TIM MCGLONE, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 13, 2007



Gun rights advocates are praising a ruling by the attorney general who said school boards cannot prohibit the possession of firearms at board meetings held outside school grounds.

The ruling has surprised some local school board leaders who had no idea guns were allowed at some of their meetings.

"Oh my. I'm not aware of that ever coming up," said Barry Bishop, Norfolk School Board chairman.

The case stems from a York County incident in 2005 when resident and gun rights advocate Chet Szymecki showed up at a School Board meeting with a firearm strapped to his hip. Before the meeting, Szymecki checked with the local sheriff and was told he could legally carry his firearm as long as the meeting was not held in a school.

Szymecki is a member of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, which lobbies for the right to keep and bear arms.

York County holds its School Board meetings at York Hall, a county building. State law prohibits the possession of firearms in a K-12 school building, but not in government offices.

The handgun strapped openly to Szymecki's side apparently upset parents and children in attendance as well as School Board members, according to news reports at the time.

Last year, the General Assembly considered a bill, requested by York County Schools, to ban the possession of firearms anywhere a school board meets. When that failed, school officials sought the legal opinion of Attorney General Bob McDonnell.

"It is my opinion that the Code of Virginia does not grant to the York County School Board the authority to prohibit the possession of firearms at school board meetings that are not held on school property," McDonnell wrote in a Jan. 29 letter to York County Attorney James E. Barnett. The Virginian-Pilot obtained that letter Monday.

P O L L


Should school boards be allowed to prohibit the possession of firearms at board meetings held outside school grounds?


Yes
No
Undecided



View results


Latest Videos

Fighting fires goes high-tech with new 'robots'

ODU introduces Bobby Wilder as football coach

Local music video: R & B group 'Kazual'

Raw Video: Bear Rescued From New Jersey Tree

Woman Charged With Stealing Rabbits

Six Dead After Utah Mall Rampage

Man Kills 3 at Philly Business Meeting


See the complete Pilot, exactly as in print
- View stories, photos and ads
- E-mail clippings
- Print copies
Log in or learn more


York County School Division officials did not respond to messages left Monday.

The ruling was hailed by members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

"The truth of the matter is, schools deal with children, school board meetings are mostly for adults," said league President Philip Van Cleave.

Van Cleave said he believes McDonnell's ruling extends to meetings held at school administration buildings as well. He said his organization is continuing to push the General Assembly to lift the prohibition of firearms in schools.

"We're not going to hurt anybody," fellow league member Mike Stollenwerk said. "We're the ones you want around when you have the madman on the loose."

A survey of most South Hampton Roads cities found that while most school boards meet in administration or city hall buildings, officials could not recall anyone openly carrying a gun.

The issue has never come up, at least "not to my knowledge," said Eileen Smith, a spokeswoman for Virginia Beach schools. Chesapeake School Board Chairman Tom Mercer and Suffolk schools spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw said the same is true in their cities.

Most school board meetings are staffed by an armed police officer, who is exempt from the law.

Bishop said he planned to bring up the issue at Monday night's Norfolk School Board meeting.


Staff writers Jon Frank, Amy Coutee and Cindy Clayton contributed to this report.


Reach Tim McGlone at (757) 446-2343 or tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Ranger]

There's nothing magic about school property that alters the 2nd A.

I'm not a criminal at Wal-mart - I won't become one at the school board meeting.

School prohibitions, like most gun laws, only apply to the law abiding. Would Columbine, etc., not have happened if the young criminals had been aware that guns were not allowed on school property? I think not.

All manner of "feel good legislation" only make things worse. They allow political weasels to claim that they've done something about crime, when they've not addressed the issue at all - rather the sheep's emotional state only.

[4my son]

I voted "YES on and off campus"

My little man is going to attend public schools in about two years, I would feel safer if there were good law abiding citizens, teachers, facility, or parents, armed at school. With the new threat of terrorist on the rise, it's just a matter of time, before some terrorist tries to make a big statement by taking a school and killing more kids than all the school shooting combined to date.

That's just my opinion,

[Flippinstk]

I voted yes to on and off campus also!
If your legal to carry, there should be NO restrictions, schools, post offices, court houses.....

[paramedic70002]

Please click the link to vote in the poll!

[downrange]

Most school board meetings are staffed by an armed police officer, who is exempt from the law.

whoop dee doo. i guess I'll just lock my gun up and throw away the key. my safety is guaranteed.

[ccw9mm]

A field of pansies or mines. Pick one.

[SIGguy229]

sooo...I wonder what is behind the logic in the dissenting opinion that no firearms should be allowed at school board meetings?

[jpserra]

sooo...I wonder what is behind the logic in the dissenting opinion that no firearms should be allowed at school board meetings?

LOL,

Some years ago, I was hired to provide protection for a school board on a harassment and stalking case. We used a metal detector to check everyone coming in, and found no less than 10 knives and 2 pistols at the door.

The person in question was expelled when we found a pistol in his possession. His plea to be reinstated was denied.

John

[Janq]

I voted 'Yep, as long as it is off campus'.
Although I most accurately feel that as long as the carry is concealed and the carrier has a VA CHP it should be lawful on, in, or around school grounds.
Even as it is technically legal in VA, open carry FTL.

- Janq

[sgtD]

The only time I have to give up my 2nd am. rights is when I go to class. Why do my rights end at the edge of the school property? Is everyone safer because I leave my gun at home? NO.

So you know how I voted on this one.

[Chorizo]

But if people have guns and the students see and know that people have guns, how can the liberal, PC thought police teachers indoctinate our children that guns are evil and can kill you by just looking at them?

[mech1369dlw]

I sent my kids to school to learn about the constitution, not learn how to kill it. There should be NO place in a legal carry state that should be off limits for the good people of the state.

[retsupt99]

Yes...EVERYWHERE!

Stay armed...everywhere...stay safe!

ret

[paramedic70002]

But if people have guns and the students see and know that people have guns, how can the liberal, PC thought police teachers indoctinate our children that guns are evil and can kill you by just looking at them?

The well meaning School Board members want to protect the children from having to see or be near a gun. How admirable. Of course this becomes a little more difficult once they leave the meeting and go to McDonalds, or WalMart, or...school?! But don't doubt they'd like to get to the rest of America in good time.