Going to address a couple of issues. Someone asked which is more important my safety or education. Well without the education I'm stuck at low wages and in shady parts of town. Where just having a gun in that are makes you suspect by the police regardless of a permit or not, but regardless education is paramount to bettering my life and the life of my family. I don't particular want to have to rely on government handouts for the rest of my life just to survive and squeak by.
I could change schools, you're right it's not the only school I can go to. There is one really close, but the education there is worthless and it could take 5-7 years for a 2 year degree. Plus they charge students 15 dollars a day for parking. There is another school as well, I could attend about the same distance as the one I am in now. I am considering a change, but first I need to find out if my financial aid is transferable or if my current school has used it all up for the fiscal financial aid year. I plan to find that out today. if I have the financial aid to transfer believe me I'm am probably going to.
Persuant to ORS the school has no legal grounding and cannot bar me from carrying a firearm if I have a license to do so. ORS specifically prohibits schools public or private, including colleges and universities from making such laws and rules regarding firearm possession without exception to CHL holders. However the school's main office and most of their campuses are in California and they frankly don't give a damn. When I go into the school today I am bringing a copy of Oregon State Law with me, and going to bring it up to the dean, and have him call California on the spot, and have a chat with them. If they once again say who gives a damn, and my financial aid will transfer I will be starting the paperwork to transfer and will be contacting a lawyer. The school I would like to attend used to have such rules, but have gotten too much flack and hassle about it, and have now proclaimed firearm posession on school property is to be determined by federal and state laws. State law is dead clear with no gray area on that.
There is the deal of a local amusement park which has a written rule of no firearms no exceptions except for ON DUTY police IN UNIFORM. Detectives not in beat uniforms are prohibited. Yes it is private property BUT, Oregon law again states that privately owned or not, it is considered a public place, as is any store. Public place for the purpose of firearms possession is considered all state and local prioperty and buildings as well as public and private schools, universities and colleges, and anywhere the public has general access too including hallways and rooms anywhere that a personal residence is not implied. Also further down included is hospitals and "places of amusement" which would say to me amusement park. The amusement park in question is general public access with no entry fees or gates. The governing body of the park is extremely liberal and has often stated the law does not apply to them as they are non profit.
What I want to know is since when does a "policy" make someplace above the law? When they say "the law does not apply to us" that says above the law but when you ask them they say we are not above the law, that particular law just doesn't apply to us because we have a policy against it. Anyway ORS states that rules regarding firearm possession in public places may be put in place PROVIDED exceptions are made for a list of people, including law enforcement officers, anyone who a law enforcement officer transfers a firearm to, a person licensed in Oregon to carry a concealed handgun, and any person who otherwise isn't barred from owning a firearm has their unloaded firearm secured in their vehicle. Yet people are getting fired everywhere for having their legal firearm in their car while at work on an employers property where the general public has access. Sounds like a violation to me, but everything thinks privately owned property so nothing they can do about it. Me I can't afford to get fired or kicked out. Not at this time, doing so could be detrimental to my future and the future of my family.
Anyway I think thats it for now. I probably missed a couple of things. I appreciate all the comments and suggestions, and think this is making for a very good discussion.
Rev. Michael
