Mpls. Elementary School Employee Caught With Gun At Work

One of the topics of discussion in the wake of last week's Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut was arming staff members of schools to to prevent another tragedy. A Minneapolis Elementary School employee decided to take matters into her own hands by bringing a loaded .357 Magnum to work because of last week's shooting.

I read the story with great interest because it was at Seward Elementary. The Elementary school I went to from kindergarten through sixth grade. It's in the heart of what was a great neighborhood. I walked the eight blocks to and from school for all those years. The sledding blog I wrote last week was at the same location. It's unbelievable to me that times have changed so radically that educators and employees feel they HAVE to bring loaded firearms to school.

The staffer has been placed on leave after authorities discovered a handgun inside her locker Wednesday, according to a school official. Police say the staffer, who’s is not a teacher, told a teacher that she brought a gun to school. That teacher then told school officials, who searched her locker and discovered a .357 magnum revolver loaded with five rounds.

A school representative said the female staff member is in her 50s. She has worked at the school for more than 21 years with no prior issues. The staff member has a gun permit, but guns are not allowed on school property. She was removed from the school and placed on administrative leave.

The staffer told police that she brought the gun because she was concerned about what happened in Newtown, Conn. last week.

There are no charges yet, but the staffer could face a misdemeanor charge.