Teacher not allowed gun in school

A US judge ruled today that school officials can forbid a teacher from carrying a gun on school grounds. Shirley Katz sued the Medford School District in Oregon, arguing that its policy against firearms violates a state law that allows people with concealed weapons permits to carry guns into public buildings. The high school English teacher said she had a right to carry a handgun, as a defence against intruders or her former husband.

But Circuit Court Judge Philip Arnold ruled that the Legislature has forbidden local governments from passing ordinances - local laws - to regulate firearms. He says an ordinance is different from a school employment policy, so state law does not prohibit the district's policy.

Katz, who has a concealed weapons permit, filed a lawsuit challenging the school policy. The South Medford High School Teacher says she wanted to carry her 9mm Glock automatic pistol to class because she feared an attack by a Columbine-style intruder or her former husband. "On any given day, we would be naive to not acknowledge there are guns in schools," Katz has said. "I am just the first one with a concealed-carry permit" to come out in public.

Katz's demand for the right to carry her pistol onto school grounds appears to be rare. School security consultant Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services in Cleveland, Ohio, has said he had never heard of a similar case while working in 45 states.

Katz has said she bought her pistol in 2004 and took training classes after her husband at the time, Gerry Katz, grabbed her by the throat and threatened to kill her - an allegation he denies. They have since been divorced and share custody of their six-year-old daughter. A restraining order she had against him has expired and not been renewed. Shirley Katz will not say whether she has ever brought her gun to school, but has said she feels that in light of school shootings around the country, students and staff would be safer if properly trained teachers were armed.

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