Richmond third-grader brings unloaded pistol to Westover Hills Elementary School
An 8-year-old Westover Hills Elementary School pupil brought an unloaded .22-caliber pistol to school in his backpack today.
The third-grader apparently brought the weapon to school from home, and it was discovered by his teacher after two other students reported it. The boy apparently mentioned the gun to his classmates, said Richmond schools spokeswoman Felicia Cosby.
The teacher immediately removed the student and his backpack from the classroom. No students were hurt or endangered, Cosby said.
The unidentified student was suspended pending further investigation.
Richmond police are investigating the origin of the gun and the possibility of negligence on the part of the student's family, said Richmond police spokesman James Mercante.
-- Mark Bowes
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Reader Reactions
Well atleast the parents were smart enough to store the gun while it was not loaded. Hopefully this will be a wake up call to the parents to find somewhere better (and preferably locked) to store their gun. Sometimes parents do not realize how smart children are. I was raised around guns and hunting and all of that. About 25 yrs ago when my brother was a toddler, my father had a gun safe, but often kept one hand gun in the top drawer of a tall chest of drawers. One day my brother managed to climb the dresser to get to the top drawer and get the gun. This was a major wake up call and from then on, no guns were left in any drawers. It may have been a case like that. Where the parents had the gun where they thought the child could not get it. It is always safe to keep it locked up.
I feel sorry for the kid, but I hope that the book get thrown at the parent(s) unless this gun had a trigger lock on it. Why in the world anyone would leave a hand gun loaded or unloaded laying around their house for a child to get ahold of it is beyond me. If the gun was secured then the parents should smack the little hands and say NO, DO NOT TOUCH and make it stick.
But the gun wasn’t loaded. The child didn’t take it out, point it at anyone, or threaten anyone. He probably thought it would be cool to show off. I’m NOT saying this is okay and doesn’t need to be addressed. I just don’t think expelling a THIRD GRADER sends a positive message. Educating them will send a message. This is a learning opportunity for the school and students. It’s a CHILD, not a serial killer. This child’s life shouldn’t be ruined, and his educational opportunities taken away because of a stupid mistake. Where will that leave him? He will turn into a criminal then.
It’s not to harsh at all to suspend this student. It is very obvious that the parents have not taught this child gun safety, so at least the school is making an impression on this child that this is unexceptable and also sending the same message to all the other children…who by the way may also have guns in the home and have not been taught not to bring them to school. Would you still think it was harsh if the gun was loaded and someone was shot or worse killed? Use your noodle people!
WC - don’t you think that’s a little harsh? The child is 8! It’s a parental issue. The parents should be investigated to find out where they left the gun so a child could get it. Unless kids are actively taught about guns and gun safety, they don’t know any better, especially at that young age.
I hope the parents are investigated and charged with child endangerment. To leave a gun where a little child can get hold of it should be a crime.
This student should be expelled and not allowed in any VA schools. This is the birth of maniacs shooting people in their schools. And where are the parents????
From high school to middle school.
Now elementary school.
Soon Pre-school to nursery school.
Then the nursery.
Slowly, surely, this country declines….
“and the children shall lead them “(sic)
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