NPR: Teacher Wants to Bring Gun to High School

Teacher Wants to Bring Gun to High School

There's been a lot of discussion about whether guns should be allowed in schools and colleges, particularly after the shooting at Virginia Tech that killed more than 30 people earlier this year. Now, a high school teacher from Oregon wants to bring her pistol with her to work because she's afraid her ex-husband may come to attack her. She's concerned as well about "a Columbine-style attack."

The Associated Press reports that English teacher Shirley Katz has a concealed-weapons permit and believes that should allow her to take her weapon to her school, which bans teachers from carrying guns. "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," Katz said.

Oregon allows people with permits to carry concealed weapons into public buildings.

The district's superintendent says everyone is safer at school without guns. Katz's ex-husband, Gerry Katz, argues that her fight to bring a gun to school is a tactic in reopening their divorce to get sole custody of their daughter. "She's just scamming everybody," he said. "As soon as this thing started ... I called the principal at her high school and told her ... I am not coming to your school. I am not a threat to her. I have no desire to hurt her."

The Mail Tribune of Medford reports that as of Friday, a few students had already transferred out of Katz's class.

A judge will hear the case Thursday. The Oregonian notes that if Katz wins, the verdict would apply only in her county.

4:15 PM ET | 10- 9-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

English teacher Shirley Katz ought to enroll herself in a class exploring the particulars of the U.S. Constitution. Her second amendment argument simply doesn't hold water. Frankly, it sounds as if her students, indeed the school itself, would be far safer with Katz off the campus... preferably in a "padded classroom" someplace quiet.

Sent by Chris Pfuhl | 5:26 PM ET | 10-09-2007

Shirley should consider joining the US Army.

Sent by Progun | 6:39 PM ET | 10-09-2007

Guns in schools can be nothing but bad news, no matter who wields them.

Sent by Katie | 9:13 PM ET | 10-09-2007

i think that you are right

Sent by rafael | 9:26 PM ET | 10-09-2007

So let me be sure I understand this, this teacher is going to shoot at her ex-husband and she is planning for it to happen at school? I assume she is a highly trained expert marksman? Does she wear the gun on her hip or is it "safely" stored back in her desk for the students to use "just in case"? From a legal perspective, isn't she just publicly threatening to shoot her husband? I say send her home for good! Some psychiatric care might be a good idea too.

Sent by Daryn Guarino | 8:03 AM ET | 10-10-2007

It is our right as a law abiding citizen through proper training and permits to be able to respond and react to a possible tragedy before it occurs. The government and local law enforcement do not have the capacity to protect us at all times. Perhaps if more people felt that way, the news could stop reporting senseless killings and cover topics that are revelant to us.

Sent by stephen r temple | 10:22 AM ET | 10-10-2007

What, like sensible killings?

Sent by John R. Otten | 7:27 PM ET | 10-10-2007

I am a teacher at South Medford High School. I was surprized at the amount of support that Shirley Katz believes she has amongst her peers. I am not one of those supporters, and I have yet to speak to one.

Sent by Jon Barry | 2:47 PM ET | 10-17-2007

I support her right to carry, please keep in mind a concealed carry permit means concealed. If it weren't for the school's lawsuit no one would know who she was or that she was carrying. Frankly this puts her at greater risk.

Saddly people believe we need to leave this to the police. But until I have a personal police officer with me every day, I say let me have the liberty of being able to defend myself. Why would I ever want to rely on a governmental agency to provide for my safety? Those guys are still working on rebuilding after a hurricane. The first people we should rely on is ourselves. We need to take a step away from the rhetoric. Concealed carry holders are safety trained, have fingerprints taken and undergo an FBI background check all to excercise their constituional rights.

Sent by Scott Shaw | 12:59 AM ET | 10-25-2007

I am a student a South Medford High. I a Sr. this year, and have gone to south all 4 years of my high school education. I had Katz twice as a teacher once a my english teacher my freshmen year and as her aide last year. I AM A SUPPORTER OF THE GUN AT SCHOOL. I know Katz and she would do this all for nothing, she has a reason behind it, I agree it does rise the chances of something goin wrong, but it evens out because it also lowers the chances of anouther Virgina Tech inceddent. There is also a comment 2ed from the bottom thagt says he is a Soth Medford teacher, well like I said before I have gone to South for the past 3 and 1/2 years and I never once remeber a teacher by that name!

Sent by Brian | 4:08 AM ET | 11-29-2007

How dare this woman place her own needs over that of the safety of every single child in that school! She should be fired and have her teaching license immediately revoked! Her attitude goes a long way to exposing why the American educational system is such an abysmal failure. Fire them all and start over. Could the new teachers be any worse than the ones we have now? I think not

Sent by American Citizen | 6:36 AM ET | 12-11-2007

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