WI: Teacher fired over photo of herself with rifle

[Morgan]

Wisconsin is a bottom 5 state for gun rights. I'd think only Cali, HI, NJ and IL are in the same neighborhood.

[seamusTX]

What is your basis for saying that?

- Jim

[Count]

Wisconsin is tied with Maine for 21 in the Brady rankings, so that puts it ahead of 20 states for gun rights.
http://www.stategunlaws.org/viewstate.php?st=WI

[03Lightningrocks]

Wisconsin is tied with Maine for 21 in the Brady rankings, so that puts it ahead of 20 states for gun rights.
http://www.stategunlaws.org/viewstate.php?st=WI

Good Lord!!! I have never been to that sight before. A couple minutes of it and I felt like I was in some kind of bizarro world. Holy cow....i feel sick to my stomach.

[stevie_d_64]

Another local update to the story...

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp? ... enu1362_10" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I seriously have wonder if some people can actually walk and chew bubblegum at the same time...

[Lodge2004]

I wonder if the picture was anything like this:



No problems here.

[nitrogen]

She may have a basis for suing because it is a public school, and they are infringing her right to freedom of expression.

It also depends upon state law and the teachers union contract. It's more difficult to fire employees working for public schools than businesses, even in Texas.

- Jim

I doubt it.
Unless she was tenured, she's basically an at-will employee, and can be terminated for any reason.
Even with a union, most teachers union have no real power unless you're tenured.

[seamusTX]

Different standards apply to government employees as opposed to employees of private businesses or corporations.

Certain actions of government can be considered violations of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. That includes firing people for speech or political affiliation. Private organizations do not have these limitations.

I also very much doubt that Wisconsin is an at-will state, though I'm too lazy to look it up.

Even in Texas, state employees can be fired only for documented cause. It's not difficult to document a cause for most problem employees, but the circumstances described in this case would not cut it.

- Jim

[Mithras61]

I wonder if the picture was anything like this:



No problems here.

Actually, I believe this is it:




From the article and the associated blog and comments, the concern seems to be about her point of aim (apparently at the camera), and the implied "I'm sniping you" that goes along with it. I agree that the photo appears to reveal poor muzzle control, but I don't think that necessarily means what the story and parents from Beaver Dam are attributing to the situation. Looks to me like a huge over-reaction. I have to say that the over-reaction squares pretty well with what I remember from growing up less than 100 miles from there. My only other comment is "Thank God I live in Texas now!"

[seamusTX]

Many if not most digital cameras have a remote control that allows one to take such a photo with complete safety.

I would like to know the context. If she was writing about target shooting or deer hunting, fine. If she was wishing she could line up her students in the cross hairs, she may need a mental workup.

- Jim

[nitrogen]

REmote control or timers is one way I've taken similar pictures.

I've also done it with people I inherently trust, while removing either the bolt, or firing pin of the associated weapon.

[stevie_d_64]

Another local update to the story...

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp? ... enu1362_10" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I seriously have wonder if some people can actually walk and chew bubblegum at the same time...

Sorry for the re-link Jim...I can't delete it for some reason...I thought we used to be able to delete our own posts in cases like this...

[seamusTX]

You can delete your own message only when it is the last one in the thread.

- Jim

[stevie_d_64]

You can delete your own message only when it is the last one in the thread.

- Jim

Nuts...

Could've sworn you could delete posts at anytime...Oh well...

[KD5NRH]

Wisconsin is tied with Maine for 21 in the Brady rankings, so that puts it ahead of 20 states for gun rights.
http://www.stategunlaws.org/viewstate.php?st=WI

Good Lord!!! I have never been to that sight before. A couple minutes of it and I felt like I was in some kind of bizarro world. Holy cow....i feel sick to my stomach.

Yeah, we really have to get our score down. Nine points is just ridiculous.