[MotorCityGun]

Police called after parent's handgun falls to floor at Pinckney school (msn.com)

Not sure what is worse:
1. Gun Free Zone laws
2. CPL carrier violating the GFZ law
3. CPL carrier not properly securing his firearm while carrying
4. School administration's conniption fit, i.e. negative reaction, to CPL carrier's violating the GFZ law

 

[G-man*]

It doesn’t matter where you fall on the GFZ issue. This was totally irresponsible of the person carrying the firearm. There is no excuse.

 

[riverrambler]

It doesn’t matter where you fall on the GFZ issue. This was totally irresponsible of the person carrying the firearm. There is no excuse.

I would agree, number 3. Stupid is what stupid does. This one does stupid and is stupid.

 

[Mike1956]

Gun free zones are the worst, followed by inept lawbreakers.

 

[retired badge 1]

When gun-free school zones were first enacted in Colorado they included a 1000 foot area around any school property with no exclusions for residences, vehicles, or public roadways.

Took a map of the city I served as police chief, highlighted the school properties, and drew 1000 foot circles. There were a few tiny little slivers not within the prohibited zones, but not many. Every member of city council lived inside prohibited zones. City Hall and my offices were inside an two prohibited zones. The US highway through town was entirely in prohibited zones.

That map was presented in a state legislature committee hearing to demonstrate how completely unenforceable the original law was. We were able to achieve minimal exclusions for private homes and properties, vehicles, public ways, and lawful uses.

Some "common sense solutions" are not based on common sense.

 

[SouthernBoyVA]

Some "common sense solutions" are not based on common sense.

I would suggest that when it comes to firearms issues, many, if not most "common sense solutions" are not base on common sense.

As you pointed out, in most places in the U.S., specifically smaller cities and towns, it would be very difficult to find very many places where the 1000 mile radiuses did not intersect other school radiuses. The town in which I live has no public schools but there are a few just outside of our corporate limits along with several private day schools within our limits. And since the 1000 limit would indeed affect citizens' homes, vehicles, or just walking while armed, the 1000 limit would be a nightmare. So here in my state, I drive down a street or can walk along a sidewalk across from a school and not have to concern myself with being arrested on some trumped up charge. I can also go onto school property to drop off or pick up a child while carrying concealed without breaking any laws. The 1000 limit is not only a joke but also a horrible example of a "common sense solution".

 

[jmf552]

The DC carry permit is hard to get, but from what I've read, another reason it has so few applicants is that it is almost useless for actual carry. The list of GFZs is onerous. Here's one I find especially ironic, Carry is prohibited:

When a dignitary or high-ranking official of the United States or a state, local, or foreign government is moving under the protection of the MPD, the U.S Secret Service, the U.S Capitol Police, or other law enforcement agency that does not include a distance greater than 1,000 feet from the moving dignitary. (provided notice has been given by signs or an officer’s order)

OK, that probably happens many times every day in DC. It says notice must be given, but it doesn't define what that notice has to entail. And what if you are carrying, minding your own business, and a motorcade comes around the corner? Are you supposed to run 1,000 feet away? And would that even be a good idea? So the protective detail sees someone running away up ahead? What could go wrong with that? It would be hard to avoid that restriction just driving down a major road or highway.

That combined with the other 17 GFZ restrictions makes it really problematic. AND...There are additional federal restrictions all over DC.

Back to the incident in the OP, I am reminded of that Air Marshal who left his Sig on the toilet paper dispenser in a bathroom stall in an airport. It was found by a young boy, who fortunately told his Dad, whole called airport police. But there was never any statement from DHS that the agent had been disciplined. He probably got hollered at, but they have a hard time keeping people, so I will bet he didn't get fired.

 

[Mike1956]

The DC carry permit is hard to get, but from what I've read, another reason it has so few applicants is that it is almost useless for actual carry. The list of GFZs is onerous. Here's one I find especially ironic, Carry is prohibited:

When a dignitary or high-ranking official of the United States or a state, local, or foreign government is moving under the protection of the MPD, the U.S Secret Service, the U.S Capitol Police, or other law enforcement agency that does not include a distance greater than 1,000 feet from the moving dignitary. (provided notice has been given by signs or an officer’s order)

OK, that probably happens many times every day in DC. It says notice must be given, but it doesn't define what that notice has to entail. And what if you are carrying, minding your own business, and a motorcade comes around the corner? Are you supposed to run 1,000 feet away? And would that even be a good idea? So the protective detail sees someone running away up ahead? What could go wrong with that? It would be hard to avoid that restriction just driving down a major road or highway.

That combined with the other 17 GFZ restrictions makes it really problematic. AND...There are additional federal restrictions all over DC.

Back to the incident in the OP, I am reminded of that Air Marshal who left his Sig on the toilet paper dispenser in a bathroom stall in an airport. It was found by a young boy, who fortunately told his Dad, whole called airport police. But there was never any statement from DHS that the agent had been disciplined. He probably got hollered at, but they have a hard time keeping people, so I will bet he didn't get fired.

I fully intended to get the DC license, right up until the pointlessness of such endeavor became apparent.

 

[SouthernBoyVA]

The DC carry permit is hard to get, but from what I've read, another reason it has so few applicants is that it is almost useless for actual carry. The list of GFZs is onerous. Here's one I find especially ironic, Carry is prohibited:

When a dignitary or high-ranking official of the United States or a state, local, or foreign government is moving under the protection of the MPD, the U.S Secret Service, the U.S Capitol Police, or other law enforcement agency that does not include a distance greater than 1,000 feet from the moving dignitary. (provided notice has been given by signs or an officer’s order)

OK, that probably happens many times every day in DC. It says notice must be given, but it doesn't define what that notice has to entail. And what if you are carrying, minding your own business, and a motorcade comes around the corner? Are you supposed to run 1,000 feet away? And would that even be a good idea? So the protective detail sees someone running away up ahead? What could go wrong with that? It would be hard to avoid that restriction just driving down a major road or highway.

That combined with the other 17 GFZ restrictions makes it really problematic. AND...There are additional federal restrictions all over DC.

Back to the incident in the OP, I am reminded of that Air Marshal who left his Sig on the toilet paper dispenser in a bathroom stall in an airport. It was found by a young boy, who fortunately told his Dad, whole called airport police. But there was never any statement from DHS that the agent had been disciplined. He probably got hollered at, but they have a hard time keeping people, so I will bet he didn't get fired.

I avoid going into DC like the plague. The last time was the spring of 2015 when I had to go into that city to get an official copy of my birth certificate.

Here's an interesting scenario I have thought about from time to time. Suppose you are going to hit the range one morning so you starting putting your gear into your vehicle when unbeknownst to you, the president of the United States is in your town and drives down your street. The Secret Service sees your firearms being loaded into your vehicle on your property. What do you think might happen to you at that point in time. Yes I know, very farfetched but still rather interesting. There is a reason I ask this.

During the Clinton administration, he decided to pay a visit to the company and the building for which and where I worked. We got a short notice of this so I walked down to where he was supposed to be. He was going to be on the first floor and I was on the second floor and got up to maybe within 50 feet of where his speech podium was set up. As was my wont every day. I had a SpyderCo clip on pocket knife in my right jeans pocket with the clip fully visible. No one said anything to me about this and I don't recall any Secret Service personnel in my vicinity. I watched Clinton come out, give his speech, it was about the tremendous growth in the Northern Virginia tech industry which was leading the nation at the time, and then he left and I went back to work.