Stemmers Run Student's Grandfather Charged with Gun Violation

Joe September 12, 2012 at 11:51 am

Past AG Curran said in an opinion that Maryland has 2 militias, the 'organized' and the 'unorganized'. The organized being the one the state arms and trains the unorganized is all other able bodied males.
So yes, we are all a part of the Maryland militia.

Tim September 12, 2012 at 12:34 pm

In fact, the Supreme Court just situationally detached the service in 'a militia' (from a Constitutional standpoint) from the right to possess a firearm.
(2008)District of Columbia v. Heller. In it, simplified, the Supreme Court ruled anyone could legally own a firearm for specific purposes only, such as self defense within their home or current domicile.

Tim September 12, 2012 at 12:41 pm

Now see, I'm still undecided, personally, about allowing normal citizens the right to carry. I'm not completely against it.
This anti-gun/liberal belief that it'd turn into the wild west is fairly inaccurate. Why? If you kill someone (non-self defense), you're going to prison one way or the other. If you kill an assailant who's robbing you at gunpoint, then you know what? they deserve it. I completely agree with allowing folks from owning a firearm, however, at least for the sake of home defense. I also completely agree about education though, Matt. My wife was raised around firearms.

Carla September 12, 2012 at 12:49 pm

According to my son, who goes to this school, this boy was repeatedly bullied by other kids. They made fun of his height and how he speaks. I asked my son why he did not tell the principal or teachers and my son's response: "He was afraid to because he would look like a snitch only to get further bullied"!! I think it is all of our responsibility as parents to teach our children not to make fun of other kids and especially not to bully anyone. Kids that bully have serious problems. Although that does not make it right to bring a gun to school and threaten others! This was an unfortunate event that no one got hurt, but it will keep happening until the root problem is dealt with.

Tim September 12, 2012 at 12:52 pm

Yeah but bullying has happened all throughout time. I was picked on in high school for being a Northerner (I went to high school in Richmond, VA). Sports was eventually my avenue out of it (tennis) but it was tough because they didn't play hockey down there (if they had, my lot in social life would've been much better off). Instead for the better part of my first three years of HS I was a hardcore gamer/shutin at home. I never wanted to kill anyone, I just wanted to be left alone.
Heck, I'm still a gamer today, 20 years later. A more 'balanced' gamer, I suppose, but that part of me will never go away. In my limited (and I stress limited) experience, the ones who are bullies at school are either bullied at home, or are enabled by their father to be bullies because they too are bullies. Reporting to teachers and administrators, well, I don't really see how that helps matters. There isn't much schools can do, is there? They can't babysit the bullied at their bus stops, in the hallways, at lunch, etc can they? If we, as a society, want to eliminate bullying, punishments - legal punishments enacted by our government(s) - need to be enacted on the parents of bullies. Kids won't bully as much if their parents are aggressively working against it at home.

PerryHallParent September 12, 2012 at 12:52 pm

Excellent response Sam. SROs are a great addition to school staffing. When my son was an unfortunate member of Dundalk Middle's population, he had signs taped to him that said, "Kick Me: I'm Autistic" and "I'm a Re**rd". No one "ever saw any such thing" going on. It was only until other students came to my home with their parents to help collaborate with us to go to the school was something done. My son was pushed around and bullied for being a snitch and threatened. I finally got him out of that horrible place and into a school that specializes in helping those with Autism, but not without witnessing him crying every day after school, begging not to go back and his stating he wanted to die. A SRO was there for him during the worst of it, offering someone to talk to during school and a safe place to go when he couldn't take the bullying anymore. My son comes from a loving and decent home and I know first hand how bullying can affect a child. SROs can't be everywhere at once.

Carla September 12, 2012 at 01:40 pm

@Tim:
In your exact words - you wanted to be left alone! What all of us want! However, the bullying today is relentless and much worse today than 20 years ago.

Catons-villain September 12, 2012 at 01:59 pm

"Reporting to teachers and administrators, well, I don't really see how that helps matters. There isn't much schools can do, is there? They can't babysit the bullied at their bus stops, in the hallways, at lunch, etc can they?"
****************************************************************** No they cannot. However, if more kids were encouraged to report these bullying incidents to administration AND administration took a serious stand against bullying (not just a “window dressing” stand as I strongly believe they have in the past) – perhaps things would get better. These bullies should be expelled. First offense, detention. Second, expulsion. We have laws on the books penalizing adults for assault and battery. But kids bully, kick, and harass each other -- with little to no penalty -- until the bullied reaches his/her breaking point. This nonsense has got to STOP. I implore Superintendent Dance to draw a hard line on bullying NOW. Bullying should fall under the "mandated reporter" umbrella -- any administrator who witnesses bullying incidents on school property should be required to report it.

Carrie Wrightson Keys September 12, 2012 at 05:53 pm

I think Baltimore County as well as all other Counties should EXPEL any child that bullies. Kids need to learn that this is a crime and there will be consequences with your wrong actions. Also, Baltimore County has issued that the Police on duty in the schools will have hand held metal detectors BUT can only use them if they feel a crime is going to be made. This will not do anything. The two Police Officers at the schools cannot be at all teachers and students shoulders 24/7. They need to scan every person that wants to enter the school premise. That means morning scans on all students as they enter and if a parent or someone comes later in the day, they are not just buzzed in, they are to be scanned also. They also need to put into place a class that teaches on Bullying and the effects of bullying just like they teach Sex Education. All kids are not taught certain things from home due to having parents that dont care or parents that work too much to make ends meet and the kid feels they dont care so it has to be taught somewhere.

number9dream September 12, 2012 at 06:19 pm

If the child has parents that don't care or parents that work too much to make ends meet, how will expulsion resolve the "bullying" problem?

Tom Brown September 12, 2012 at 07:37 pm

I taught at Stemmers Run for 30 years. Most with their comments seem to be demonizing the parents of this student. No one knows the situation with his parents. Good parents will have good kids who do bad things as well as the opposite. It's human nature to look for simple answers/solutions when something like this occurs.
I'd like to give a "shout out" to the teacher who defused the situation in her classroom. Lets hear more about that!

Pat W September 12, 2012 at 08:27 pm

Baltimore County Police said they were going to beef up police presence ha thats funny I havnt seen the SRO in our school for the last 2 days Guess they were in training. If the SRO is not out and about walking in the halls in between classes being in all lunch shifts the kids wont get to know them and feel like they can talk to them when they have a problem. SRO's can be a great asset to the schools but they have to be seen and willing to get involed with the kids not hidden in a room somewhere. SRO's need to jack a kid up for causing trouble like bullying then maybe kids will stop thinking they can get away with causing trouble at schools. Maybe after having to pick there kid up from the police stations or at least the SRO office at school some parents might start taking a stand at home. I know as a parent I would not want the police calling me everyother day saying my kid did this or that I would put a foot up his you know what. I am not saying it all falls on the school or SRO but it is a start if they are not going to put up with it then the parents have no choice but to do something or start homeschooling their child. Schools can not keep sweeping this kind of stuff under the rug and they do! I know if my child brings a friend home and they do not act right in my house then they have to go and are not welcomed back until the can act right under my rules. My house my rules your school your rules thats it.

Al Day September 12, 2012 at 08:27 pm

Nonsense. Pure and simple. Where I live a gun is a necessity and is as common as a pocket knife or keychain. We have rattlers and wild hogs and because we carry we don't have thugs.

Pat W September 12, 2012 at 08:27 pm

Schools are to worried about suspension rates rather then getting the trouble makers to follow the rules.

Al Day September 12, 2012 at 08:31 pm

Mark, let me get this straight. If someone breaks into your home during the night and you and your wife are threatened you would rather call the police and wait for them to respond? And if you did possess you would want it locked up instead of next to your bed? What's the crime rate where you live? Must be fairly bad. Thieves usually pick spots where there are gun laws in place. They generally don't care about the law themselves and find those that do make for easy pickin's. I wish you well buddy cause you are a sitting duck.

Al Day September 12, 2012 at 08:36 pm

Mark, thats an easy one. Because the law is wrong. Just cause no one has challenged it yet doesn't make it right. Like I said flakes like you are the reason thugs have such and easy job. We are allowed to carry where I live and have actual real live guns available for intruders which means we haven't had an intruder in our community in over 60 years. Guess that shoots your argument to hades.

Robin Fortner September 12, 2012 at 08:36 pm

Finally someone else has recognized that it doesn't matter how many police are stationed at every school and how many wands are on school property.....unless EVERY person entering EVERY school is scanned, prior to entering, NOTHING is going to change. It's time that the school system gets back to the basics of life; allowing teachers to discipline appropriately, allowing counselors to probe into childrens lives, etc all of the things that were in place and used on a regular basis back in the 60's and 70's. AND allow the teaching of morals - right vs wrong, real vs reality. Our youth today are on their way to hell in a hand basket because adults have stopped being adults and parents and grandparents and guardians. Kids can't thrive without strong and firm leadership and being treated AGE appropriately. The only thing I can do is pray....

Al Day September 12, 2012 at 08:37 pm

Why is gran pop and idiot? Does love of live and ability to defend it equal idiot in your world? If so you deserve what you get.

Al Day September 12, 2012 at 08:41 pm

Okay Tom, great job teach. Next time you may want to pack a Smith and Wesson so you won't have to take such a risk. Just like the shooting in Aurora. If someone had a gun in the audience the perp would have been dead instead of shooting it up and killing 12 people. Call it vigilante if you want but it works.

fred September 12, 2012 at 08:55 pm

searching every day will catch someone with a weapon, however are parents ready and willing to add a couple of hours to the school day for this to occur.

number9dream September 12, 2012 at 11:10 pm

Yes Pat, and the schools also realize that in a vast majority of cases suspended students have nothing but an empty home to go to.

Other Tim September 13, 2012 at 12:12 am

Should not (I said should not) be the schools' worry. Schools should only be educating our children, not mollycoddling the troublemakers. It's society today. In Chicago, the teachers are on strike and the schools are closed, but the schools are still serving breakfast and lunch to some kids. Don't know what the answer is, but I do know what the problem is.

number9dream September 13, 2012 at 01:31 am

Other Tim: I agree. I and many others do have some answers, unfortunately they're politically incorrect.

Emmy September 13, 2012 at 02:45 am

I can tell you, if you start making it mandatory for the bullies to attend some kind of Saturday detention (with their parents) where they all get taught the effects of bullying you will see a difference. Once the parents start getting "punished" too, you will see a change....I bet you my teaching degree on it. But again politics come into play.
And Other Tim: While I appreciate your comment, I think it's totally in la la land.....the environment that kids are in has a lasting effect on their schooling. While we as teachers can't control their home environment we can do something to improve their school environment to make it safe, Free and Appropriate.

Dennis Gilpin September 13, 2012 at 11:57 am

Securing the firearms in the houses is the first step. Without the ability to get control of it the weapon would not wind up in school. Some children look at the incidents where they "think" taking a gun to school to will solve their problems.. The media will
" sometimes" justify the action ( but not meaning to ) by bring up bullying as the reason for the incident. Regardless of the problems a student faces in the school environment there is no excuse for putting lives in danger. This sends a dangerous message to a student who is trying to deal with any problem in school. How to deal with lifes problems starts in the home and shouldn't be put on the backs of the police or the school administration.More education on the consequences of these actions should be taught in school. Evidently, it wasn't being taught at home.

Steve September 13, 2012 at 12:22 pm

Sure Al, firing your pistol in a crowded, pitch black, theater would really do a lot of good.

Joe September 13, 2012 at 12:41 pm

Maybe FIREARM SAFETY classes are in order. Get the NRA Eddie Eagle course in all schools.
"NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program Reaches 24 Millionth Child" "More than 26,000 educators, law enforcement agencies, and civic organizations have taught the program since 1988. “The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program continues to receive outstanding feedback from program users and parents,” said Eric Lipp, Program Manager of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. “I am tremendously happy to be able to say that Eddie Eagle has now reached over 24 million children with his life saving message.” Eddie Eagle Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program Law enforcement’s partnership with Eddie Eagle has proven to be very effective. Along with schools and libraries, law enforcement agencies are one of the few groups allowed to purchase an Eddie Eagle mascot costume. NRA also offers free Eddie Eagle materials to any law enforcement agency, hospital, or educational facility across the nation. To receive these free materials, or to purchase an Eddie Eagle costume, please contact the Eddie Eagle Department at 800-231-0752./; The answer to sexual relations in the teens was to start sex ed earlier. The answer to this could be to teach them about firearms.

Joe September 13, 2012 at 12:49 pm

Steve, the cops did just that on the street outside the Empire State Building and 7 people were shot by the cops not by the perp with a gun.

Leah Griffin September 13, 2012 at 03:08 pm

You are ridiculous to think that 2 or 3 Student Resource Officers can be EVERYWHERE at ALL times. My children attended Kenwood High and the 2 resource officers (Knudsen and Cooper) were phenomenal in dealing with the amount of issues that were presented to them DAILY. They built relationships with the students and treated them with respect, which is more than I can say for some parents of these same students. Once again, another person who wants to blame the police, the school system, ANYONE other than who should really be blamed....THE PARENTS!! Unfortunately too many parents are afraid of their own kids....I subscribe to the philosophy...you live under my roof, I have the right to know whatever the hell I want to know about your every day comings and goings. Worry first about being a PARENT and less about being a FRIEND. My kids talk to me, their friends talk to me and they all know that I will be there to help them with a minute's notice. Stop blaming everyone else and start focusing on what the problems are and work on correcting them!! Respect, attitude and social skills are first learned at home...be a ROLE MODEL!!

Leah Griffin September 13, 2012 at 03:19 pm

Tim, you are correct...bullying has taken place in every generation, but as a parent of recent high school students....all I can say is WOW, we had nothing on these kids!! Some of the stuff I see when I look at my sons' FB and twitter accounts that are posted by other kids that they know are unbelievable! If either of my sons posted anything of that nature, even now...since they are technically adults at 18 & 19, I would rip them from one end of the earth to another. Adult or not, I expect my sons to be decent, productive members of society and I reinforce my expectations with them frequently. They are far from angels...but they know where the line is drawn and they know the consequences if they cross it. Boundaries, expectations, rules...what a concept!!