PA Bill Number: HB829
Title: In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;
Description: An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;
Last Action: Signed in House
Last Action Date: Jul 3, 2024
Pennsylvania: Mt. Lebanon school board member takes stance against guns :: 03/02/2019
A Mt. Lebanon school board member, who opposed a recent policy on weapons, wants to see a policy that bans guns entirely from the school district, even if that means eliminating the high school rifle team.
The school board on Monday board approved by an 8-1 vote a new weapons policy, which prohibits weapons and guns on campus, with a few exceptions. Board members Michael Riemer, Elaine Cappucci, Alfonso Frioni, Sarah Olbrich, Lawrence Lebowitz, Hugh Beal, Aviva Diamond and Stephen Strotmeyer voted for the policy. William Cooper voted no.
Mr. Lebowitz, who sits on the policy committee, said the new “possession of weapons” policy “makes it abundantly clear that weapons will be prohibited with respect to students, with respect to faculty members and with respect to visitors at any and every school district policy.”
But Mr. Cooper, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said “I agree with 98 percent of the policy.” But he said he does not believe “there is any place for guns in a high school.”
“I think we’re past that time when we can permit guns in any form in the high school,” Mr. Cooper said. “I realize what I’m asking is very controversial. But I’m saying this country’s got to do something and it needs to start sometime with younger people in the schools,” he said.
Mr. Lebowitz said the policy the board voted on “explicitly prohibits any and all weapons including guns on any school property” with four exceptions.
Those exceptions include: police and licensed/approved security personnel, including the school resource officer; the use, if authorized by the superintendent, of a weapon possessed in the performance of duties as part of an approved program by individuals who are part of the program - i.e. rifles for the rifle team or starter pistols for the track team; the use of instruments or implements possessed and used by maintenance and construction personnel; and the use, if authorized by the superintendent, of weapons in connection with approved ceremonial events.
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Mr. Lebowitz was concerned that if weapons are eliminated entirely, “that would mean the rifle team’s going away.”
“I don’t think that is even on the table for discussion,” Mr. Lebowitz said. He suggested having a separate discussion on the rifle team.
Mr. Riemer said he would not want to eliminate the rifle team because many students get college scholarships after being on the team.
Ms. Cappucci said she appreciated Mr. Cooper’s comments. “I’ve gone back and forth on whether, we as a school, should be in the business of actually teaching kids how to shoot, because that is what’s happening on the rifle team,” she said.
“I certainly support the rifle team…but I see the issue,” Ms. Cappucci added.
“I feel very strongly about this,” Mr. Cooper said. “I’m sorry if their team would be eliminated. It would be very hard for them, but I think it’s a bigger issue here. The gun culture has got to change,” he said.
Mr. Frioni said he thought the policy’s exceptions were “limited and appropriate” and said he would oppose eliminating the rifle team with as much passion as Mr. Cooper showed for eliminating guns entirely.
The rifle team, coached by Dave Willard, holds its practices at the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club, located in Canonsburg.
Mr. Cooper said in an email a few days after the meeting that he has “great respect for the rifle team members and some of them are our best students.”
He added it is the only co-ed sport at the high school and the skills and concentration that the students develop through target shooting are “outstanding.”
“That being said, my main concern is the message we give to students and the community about guns,” Mr. Cooper said. “At this point in our country, guns have become such an issue that I don’t believe public schools should support the use of guns by students who could not legally go to a gun shop and buy a gun until they are at least 18 years old.
Mr. Cooper added that the safe use by guns by the rifle team is not his concern and said “Mr. Willard is a fine coach and I’m sure he makes every effort to each gun safety and promote the safe use of guns in practice sessions and matches with other schools.”
“The promotion of the use of guns by high school students is what, in good conscience, I do not agree with,” he said.
