I hope others email these folks, as I just did.
Answering my own question concerning the private property exemption in the FGFSZA... State or local laws may pronounce that the FGFSZA applies to private property. The municipality of Mt. Lebanon and Mt. Lebanon School District have chosen not to.
(3)
(A)
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), it shall be unlawful for any person, knowingly or with reckless disregard for the safety of another, to discharge or attempt to discharge a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the person knows is a school zone.
(B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the discharge of a firearm—
(i)
on private property not part of school grounds;
(ii)
as part of a program approved by a school in the school zone, by an individual who is participating in the program;
(iii)
by an individual in accordance with a contract entered into between a school in a school zone and the individual or an employer of the individual; or
(iv)
by a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity.
(4)
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as preempting or preventing a State or local government from enacting a statute establishing gun free school zones as provided in this subsection.
If and when the school district decides to tell parents what is going on, the District needs to be very specific and mention the Federal Gun Free School Zones Act and its exemption for private property that the municipality is applying. As a result, Tim needs to go on to say that shooting MAY occur on certain private properties near or bordering on school property. Extra caution should be urged. And please send a letter on District letterhead, not just forward something from the municipality as done in the past.
Elaine Gillen
