Survival Bag/ School?

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jonnyc

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I might already know the answer here, but then again, I have been wrong in the past.
I have been reading up a bit on Bug-Out and Get-Home Bags and have been making up some lists of possible items. A firearm is often mentioned as one of the required/suggested inclusions. Problem is, I teach in a PA public school. Now, PA weapons policy allows teachers to carry pocket knives as a tool, but not a weapon. The wording of the law also lends itself to the idea that you could also carry a firearm in school with a legitimate/legal purpose. I don't know of anyone who has stretched this last bit.
The question is, is there any bit in federal or PA state law that might allow a teacher to have a locked firearm in a car as part of a survival kit?
 
First, I know little about PA law.

But if you have a carry permit, you can keep the loaded gun in your car AFAIK. You may have to park the car JUST off the campus though.

If I were in your slippers, I'd find a way to get a solid answer on whether or not I could be armed at the workplace.

The 'bag' that you bring into work should only contain "tools", and these "tools" should at least be able to get you to your vehicle.
 
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Ain't NO way I would even ask if I could carry in school, I'm just thinking about the legality of keeping a LOCKED firearm, inside a LOCKED car, on school property.
 
I never said to ask. I said find a way to get a solid answer to that question.

Sometimes that means to know the law frontward and backward. You don't have to ask anyone anything in order to do that. You're wanting to know the legality after all, so research the law.

If you do have to get the input from people, you can always contact someone other than your immediate superiors. Contact someone up toward the state level of the Dept. of Edu.
 
jonnyc said:
I'm just thinking about the legality of keeping a LOCKED firearm, inside a LOCKED car, on school property.
Click to expand...

Pefectly legal in Washington State:

RCW 9.41.280
Possessing dangerous weapons on school facilities — Penalty — Exceptions.

(3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to:
(f) Any nonstudent at least eighteen years of age legally in possession of a firearm or dangerous weapon that is secured within an attended vehicle or concealed from view within a locked unattended vehicle while conducting legitimate business at the school;
 
But, apparently, not in Pennsylvania:

http://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/2010/title-18/chapter-9/912/

§ 912. Possession of weapon on school property.
(a) Definition.--Notwithstanding the definition of "weapon"
in section 907 (relating to possessing instruments of crime),
"weapon" for purposes of this section shall include but not be
limited to any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool, nun-
chuck stick, firearm, shotgun, rifle and any other tool,
instrument or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily
injury.
(b) Offense defined.--A person commits a misdemeanor of the
first degree if he possesses a weapon in the buildings of, on
the grounds of, or in any conveyance providing transportation to
or from any elementary or secondary publicly-funded educational
institution, any elementary or secondary private school licensed
by the Department of Education or any elementary or secondary
parochial school.
(c) Defense.--It shall be a defense that the weapon is
possessed and used in conjunction with a lawful supervised
school activity or course or is possessed for other lawful
purpose.
 
"It shall be a defense that the weapon is
possessed and used in conjunction with a lawful supervised
school activity or course or is possessed for other lawful
purpose."

Wouldn't this bit cover it?
 
One "weapon" you can have anywhere is a heavy walking stick.

Not to get too far off topic but the he best 'bug out' advice I have heard is:

Always keep a thousand dollars in cash on hand for yourself and 500 dollars for each dependant, and NEVER let the gas in your vehicle get below a quarter tank.

These two simple things can get you 100 miles away from whatever disaster happens and leave you with enough cash for food shelter and gas for a week or so. A prime example of how this will solve most problems is what happened to my brother last Spring. He had to travel through North Alabama right after the tornados and did not think to fill up before leaving Atlanta. He ran low on gas and could not buy any more because the electricity was out everywhere and the gas pumps did not work. He could not get a motel room because he had no cash and they could not swipe his debit card without electricity. If he had followed the quarter tank rule he could have made it to some place that had electricity. If he carried cash he would not have spent the night in the Howard Johnson's parking lot.
 
jonnyc said:
"It shall be a defense that the weapon is
possessed and used in conjunction with a lawful supervised
school activity or course or is possessed for other lawful
purpose."

Wouldn't this bit cover it?
Click to expand...

Well, I can tell you that won't get you out of the Federal Facilities Prohibition:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/930

18 USC 930:

(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to—
(3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.
Click to expand...

I would not bet my freedom on it. (I understand the difference between a Federal facility and a school, I was just posting an example of another statute where self-protection is not considered an 'other lawful purpose'.)
 
I wouldn't even attempt it, and I wouldn't even ask anyone. The mere suggestion is likely enough to cause the school administration to lose their minds. Public schools are akin to soviet states, with forced attendance and constant monitoring.

I'd just stick a walking stick in there and forget about the firearm entirely.
 
Yeah, I had no intention of asking. I already had a good "talking to" about going to dangerous gun websites. I went on the attack (I teach history, civics, etc.) and successfully deflected that. I don't get bothered by the techies any more.
It does bother me that my security philosophy and planning is forestalled and stymied by the simple fact of where I have to park for work. I guess I will have to make work-day and off-day bags.
 
jonnyc said:
Yeah, I had no intention of asking.
Click to expand...
Sometimes, silence is golden - merely asking will put you on their radar.

Hmmm . . . have they ever gone through the parking lot with dogs to sniff out contraband? Officer Fido is sometimes trained not only to seek drugs, but gunpowder or gun oil as well . . .
 
Thought about that. I actually worried a couple of times, as my truck always has brass rolling around somewhere. And there could always be some residual stuff on my shooting rest bag. In addition, I think there is actually some case law allowing the search of student vehicles but not those of school employees, but not sure. Can anyone cite or refute that?
 
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