After sorting through a lot of bleak budget news early this week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders hoped they'd win their fight to keep guns out of school parking lots. But Tuesday night legislators approved House Bill 937 with the clause intact that allows people with concealed handgun permits to keep those guns in locked compartments of vehicles on school grounds.
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He says Mecklenburg County has about 8,500 car break-ins a year, which means guns sitting in school lots are guns that could end up stolen.
Police chiefs at all 16 campuses of the University of North Carolina system made a similar argument, according to the Associated Press. The bill now heads to Gov. Pat McCrory for signing.
At a Wednesday news conference, Superintendent Heath Morrison said he hasn't seen the gun bill but opposes anything that allows guns on school property. He said he believes police officers should be the only people carrying weapons at school.
And he noted that the day Hagler went to Raleigh to oppose allowing guns on school grounds was the day two CMS students got into a shootout with police in the parking lot of Hidden Valley Elementary. A 17-year-old student died in the incident. Morrison said that illustrates the danger of guns getting into the hands of students.
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He says Mecklenburg County has about 8,500 car break-ins a year, which means guns sitting in school lots are guns that could end up stolen.
How many of those break-ins occurred on school grounds?
8,500 break-ins is 1.2% of registered vehicles in Mecklenburg County, so again, what are the facts related to school related vehicle break-ins on school property?
The 1.2% could actually be lower because it doesn't include those who drive into Mecklenburg County from surrounding counties to work.
Facts people....
I personally know of people that have had their cars broken into while parked on CMS property. It happens far more than people want to think.
Gosh, I hope they are able to defeat this bill. Guns don't belong around children.
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THIS POINTS TO HOW DIFFERENT MECKLENBURG COUNTY IS FROM THE REST OF THE STATE….and maybe a solution.
CMS families look around the town and see a prosperous community and wonder why teacher pay is low. But just venture out 60 miles and the landscape changes to rural and low wealth.
In the rural areas gun ownership and hunting are still community values. Hunting is a family activity, for both guys and gals. Once you understand that, then you understand that Charlotte’s citified fear of guns doesn’t translate well in Duplin County.
There has got to be some clever way to resolve this. Maybe the parking areas could be redesigned so they could be designated as classroom buildings. I know that sounds absurd. But sometimes you have to reach for a solution.
Bolyn McClung
Pineville
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We should be worried about these statistics instead of law abiding citizens who have a conceal/carry permit.
CMS crime statistics for 2011
Guns
One each at Garinger, Rocky River and West Charlotte high schools; Robinson and Northeast middle schools and Endhaven Elementary.
Weapons
Schools with more than 10 acts (this category includes knives and BB or pellet guns) were Southwest Middle (22), Martin Middle (13), Carmel Middle (11), Spaugh Middle (11, closed in 2011), Rocky River High (11) and West Meck High (11).
In the case of K-12 schools, it's not about school safety, but rather to allow faculty and staff to be able to posses a firearm for self defense on the drive to and from school.
Ann,
The legislature cut master's pay for teachers starting next year. Does that apply to every teacher or just those who earn them after this year?
There are already guns in cars at school. Not to mention at work, church, the grocery store... The law doesn't change that either way. It just defines a punishment if you get caught.
CMS "leaders" should worry about graduation rates, academic standards and what goes on in the classroom, not some imaginary danger in the parking lots. This bill will not make kids less safe. It's silly that CHP holders aren't allowed to carry on campus, but this is a step in the right direction. At least someone dropping off or picking up their kids at school won't have to choose to be unarmed or break the law. Gun free zones simply infringe on the rights of honest, lawful people, provide a false sense of security to some, and safe hunting grounds for armed criminals.
CMS should not care about guns in parking lots in a locked car. What they should be concerned about is not requiring a visitor in their buildings without ID. He could have a bag of weapons or snakes for that matter. You dont know who he is and he is close to children. WAKE UP !
I agree with CMS on this. The guns should be concealed on their person, not locked in the car. The legislature should fix the law.
11:21
masters pay will be grandfathered for those who obtain their masters by june 30, 2014.
Good answer, 12:13 -- no one who already has the pay is losing it.
I once knew of a student who arrived at school after early hunting and forgot to remove is gun from the locked case in his truck. When he arrived in class he was almost in a panic afraid of getting kicked out if caught. He was an " A " student and came to me almost in tears asking what he should do. Thankfully our principal handled the situation wisely and with common sense. THAT is why this law was needed.
This law does not apply to kids. being you must be a CC holder which you need to be 21. 95% of students in k-12 are under 18.
"He says Mecklenburg County has about 8,500 car break-ins a year, which means guns sitting in school lots are guns that could end up stolen."
Please keep in mind the part about
"locked compartment of a car on educational property."
LOCKED. In a concealed carry permit holder's car. not just anyone, a CCW permit holder's car.
Guns don't belong around children.
Neither do sharp objects (scissors, pencils, protractors).
How many adult pocket knife carrying individuals have slashed anyone on educational property?
Um... none.
And another thing, Just because it has a trigger doesn't mean the gun will go off in a LOCKED CAR.
What this part of the law is about, in my opinion, is allowing the law-abiding citizen the ability to pick their child up when they call you because they're sick or you have to stop by after work for a conference and now you won't have to first drive home from Uptown Charlotte to Indian Trail in Union County and take your lawfully owned and concealed firearm inside, then proceed to the school for business. It's common sense. It is also beneficial to those in the faith community who attend services that meet in a school on Sunday, a nonschool day anyway.
CMS does not like this gun law change? Well I dont like their board members taking vacations with tax payer money so have it ! Nobody really cares what Mary McCray or any of these other fools think get that loud and clear. She says what Kojo tells her to and nothing more.
So now the TARGET WILL BE CMS PARKING LOTS...and trying to steal GUNS...REAL SMART...
GOP has got to GO!!!
The Smoke Free Zone signs on CMS campuses should also read Gun Free Zones. Guns have no business being near children. So let me get this straight - at Friday night football all across CMS there could legally be allowed guns in the cars that are parked at a high school. Now that just sound like a grand idea to me! Let's just tempt fate a little more and just allow guns right in the schools. Do you people watch the local Charlotte news ever?
You seem to want to lump gun owners in with illegal gun owners. These shootings are now are most often stolen guns, illegally possessed. As the new law states it must be in a locked compartment. So just breaking into a car will not get you access to the gun. Plus finding the car that has the gun in the first place is near impossible, not the concealed aspect. Just an FYI the make small gun safes for your car; I can assure you getting access to my gun in my locked car is not an easy task, that is if you can find what I drive in the first place.
Sounds like the emphasis needs to be on preventing break-ins, not denying gun owners their civil rights. Sorry, the sheep don't get to tell the sheepdogs what to do.
"How does it make schools safer if guns are stored in locked cars?" Agreed. They are much more effective when carried.
How about Crime Free Zones instead? Wouldn't that cover everything?
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