Article Link! Gun-owning New Hampshire teenager sues school officials who searched his truck

[Racer88]

According to the suit, Harrington told another student that he had been pulled over by police while driving off campus and had informed the officer that his handgun was lawfully stored in the glove box.

Weeks later, on April 24, school officials asked him about that conversation, confirmed he owned a gun and began to “badger” him about searching his truck. State law prohibits students from bringing firearms onto school property.

Though Harrington said he never brought the gun to school and had no intention of doing so, the school resource officer told him, “You can say whatever you want, we’re going to search it anyway,” the lawsuit claims.

“Being public about exercising your private rights cannot be grounds for being harassed and searched on campus,” said Bill Sack, director of legal operations for the Second Amendment Foundation.

Gun-owning New Hampshire teenager sues school officials who searched his truck

A New Hampshire teenager has sued his former high school principal and others, claiming they illegally searched his truck based on his status as a gun owner

abcnews.go.com

 

[NavyVet83]

I'm aware laws can/may vary by state, however, NO FIREARMS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.. doesn't that apply to even being locked in your vehicle, if your vehicle is on property? I'm assuming this is the route the defense will use? Personally i don't agree with it, as Whenever I'm around town, if I'm going to a federal/government building I'll lock mine in the glove-box and make sure the truck itself is locked, but one has to wonder how this is going pan out.

 

[Racer88]

NO FIREARMS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.. doesn't that apply to even being locked in your vehicle, if your vehicle is on property?

He didn't have a gun in his car at school. The school searched his car based on hearsay that he had (on another day) had a gun in his car OFF-CAMPUS. In other words, because they heard he OWNED a gun, the assumed it MUST be in his car NOW (on campus) and justified a search.

On that basis, they searched his car.

The plaintiff is arguing (properly in my opinion):

Courts have found that school officials can conduct such searches if they have a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed, but Harrington’s attorneys argue that knowledge of gun ownership alone falls far short of that standard.

 

[NavyVet83]

ahhh... I must have mis-read part of it. Yeah, now that I understand it clearly and based on what is publicized about it, I'd like to read that he wins this case.

 

[Bobster]

I can't count the number of times I've been on school property with a gun(s) in my car as a parent. Never ever questioned about it but this IS Florida after all. Many people have guns with them.
The incident in question was extreme overreach especially if they "broke into" his car. I'd like to see the principal get fired for being such an anti-gun asshole...

 

[Racer88]

I'd like to see the principal get fired for being such an anti-gun asshole...

But this isn't even an 2A or "gun" issue. This was a 4th Amendment issue.

 

[Bobster]

The incident in question was extreme overreach especially if they "broke into" his car.

This was a 4th Amendment issue.

Yes, I got it...
But if they didn't give a shit about a "gun", they wouldn't have violated his 4th Amendment rights...

PS: that sounds like I was "justifying" their behavior and I wasn't. Insert "drugs" or "booze" for "guns"...