Drizzt
Member
Bill seeks exemption to prosecution for having guns in schools
BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Gun-rights activists want to protect people from being prosecuted for bringing weapons onto school grounds that don't display "No guns allowed" signs. On Thursday, they won backing from a Senate committee.
National Rifle Association official Darren LaSorte said the bill is aimed at law-abiding people carrying guns onto property they don't know is owned by schools.
"That person can still be charged and convicted for a felony," he told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "This is very serious stuff."
The bill cleared the committee despite opposition from a couple of senators who worried that it would weaken the hand of law enforcement.
"If we pass this bill, we're going to have a loophole you could drive a Mack truck through, and it's going to make prosecution almost impossible" for carrying guns onto school grounds, said Sen. Ernesto Scorsone, D-Lexington.
He said state law protects those who unknowingly possess a gun on school property.
"But if you do it knowingly, or if you're a kid bringing a gun into school, or you're an adult walking into a school with a gun, you've got no business doing that," Scorsone said.
The bill's supporters said some schools don't properly warn people against possessing weapons. If the bill becomes law, people found with weapons on school grounds failing to post the signs would be asked to leave and wouldn't face prosecution and the chance of spending five years in prison.
Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, said he worried the bill would be too restrictive for police officers who encounter someone with a weapon who appears suspicious.
"I want them to be in a position to do something, and not just ask somebody to leave the property," said Neal, who also voted against the bill.
The bill would require schools to clearly post no-gun signs at all entrances to school buildings, gymnasiums, stadiums and cafeterias. Under current law, schools are expected to display the signs in "prominent locations," including gyms and cafeterias.
Sen. Ray Jones, a bill supporter, said it's easy for someone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon to forget they have the gun when walking onto school property that doesn't properly warn people to leave their weapons behind.
"And all of a sudden they're a felon," said Jones, D-Pikeville.
Another section of the bill would allow hunters onto rural lands owned by school districts that aren't properly posted as closed to hunting.
To end any confusion, Neal suggested strong vigilance by the state to make sure schools properly post the no-weapons signs.
Scorsone said he respected people's gun ownership rights.
"Just leave it in the car when you get to the school," he said. "Don't take it inside. That's not too much."
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/state/13830598.htm
BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Gun-rights activists want to protect people from being prosecuted for bringing weapons onto school grounds that don't display "No guns allowed" signs. On Thursday, they won backing from a Senate committee.
National Rifle Association official Darren LaSorte said the bill is aimed at law-abiding people carrying guns onto property they don't know is owned by schools.
"That person can still be charged and convicted for a felony," he told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "This is very serious stuff."
The bill cleared the committee despite opposition from a couple of senators who worried that it would weaken the hand of law enforcement.
"If we pass this bill, we're going to have a loophole you could drive a Mack truck through, and it's going to make prosecution almost impossible" for carrying guns onto school grounds, said Sen. Ernesto Scorsone, D-Lexington.
He said state law protects those who unknowingly possess a gun on school property.
"But if you do it knowingly, or if you're a kid bringing a gun into school, or you're an adult walking into a school with a gun, you've got no business doing that," Scorsone said.
The bill's supporters said some schools don't properly warn people against possessing weapons. If the bill becomes law, people found with weapons on school grounds failing to post the signs would be asked to leave and wouldn't face prosecution and the chance of spending five years in prison.
Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, said he worried the bill would be too restrictive for police officers who encounter someone with a weapon who appears suspicious.
"I want them to be in a position to do something, and not just ask somebody to leave the property," said Neal, who also voted against the bill.
The bill would require schools to clearly post no-gun signs at all entrances to school buildings, gymnasiums, stadiums and cafeterias. Under current law, schools are expected to display the signs in "prominent locations," including gyms and cafeterias.
Sen. Ray Jones, a bill supporter, said it's easy for someone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon to forget they have the gun when walking onto school property that doesn't properly warn people to leave their weapons behind.
"And all of a sudden they're a felon," said Jones, D-Pikeville.
Another section of the bill would allow hunters onto rural lands owned by school districts that aren't properly posted as closed to hunting.
To end any confusion, Neal suggested strong vigilance by the state to make sure schools properly post the no-weapons signs.
Scorsone said he respected people's gun ownership rights.
"Just leave it in the car when you get to the school," he said. "Don't take it inside. That's not too much."
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/state/13830598.htm
