Teacher Busted for Bringing a Gun to Newtown, Connecticut, School

On Wednesday, middle school teacher Jason M. Adams was arrested and charged for carrying a firearm onto school grounds in Newtown, Connecticut.  The science teacher had a valid permit to carry the gun but he was not authorized to carry his weapon on school grounds and was subsequently charged for doing so, which is a class D felony.

The teacher was placed on administrative leave.

In 2012, a crazed gunman shot up Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The schools in Newtown take this kind of thing seriously.

“This matter is very serious and troubling, both the Newtown Public School system and the Newtown Police Department took immediate steps to address the matter. The teacher was immediately detained by security personnel,” the school system said in a statement. “Both agencies have been working closely together to investigate the incident and are taking precautions to ensure the continued safety of our students, staff and community members,” the school system added.

We don’t know why Adams brought the gun to school; he did not return any media request for comment and the police have not released any information about the particulars.

Adams had to know he wasn’t allowed to carry on school grounds. He should not have brought the gun to school and it’s unfortunate he did since he is  being charged with a  felony and his ability to possess a firearm in the future is in jeopardy.

But that’s not to say there ought to be a law preventing staff from carrying a concealed firearm onto school grounds if they are permitted to do so.  This is an idiotic law designed to appear to ensure the safety of school children and staff; in fact, it actually does the opposite. If a crazed madman wants to be certain he can execute  a murder spree without risk of being stopped, a school is a good place to go. Everyone is helpless.

Why are schools different than any other place one can carry a concealed weapon? If a teacher can be trusted to carry a gun in a mall or a 7-Eleven, what makes this same person dangerous the minute he walks onto school grounds?

Scott Wilson, president of Connecticut Citizens Defense League, said of the situation, “We disagree with the law as far as permit holders not being able to carry on school grounds. However, the law is the law and hopefully this person had the intent to protect students from harm’s way in a worst-case scenario.”