- Jan
20
2013
No one was shot at the gun rally in Capitol Rotunda in Pierre yesterday... perhaps in large part because state law prohibits anyone but law enforcement from carrying guns inside our temple of democracy. Around the country, five people were injured at three similar gun-lovers events.
The House Education Committee meets at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday to discuss House Bill 1087, possibly the worst idea yet to bubble up out of the 2013 Legislature. House Bill 1087 responds to the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut by authorizing school districts to increase the danger that my child will get shot by increasing the presence of firearms in our schools.
For the record, the last fatal school shooting in South Dakota took place 52 years ago, at Delmont High School. I reprint here the full news report from the Winona Daily News of January 5, 1961:
Student Killed By Shot Fired for Sound Effect
Delmont, S.D. (AP) — A high school student was killed Wednesday night by a bullet from a .22 caliber rifle intended as a sound effect in the senior class play.
Donald Kurtz, 17, Delmont High School senior, was struck in the chest minutes before the play, "Heading' for a Weddin'", was to open.
The rifle, which belonged to Kurtz, was held by Denny Kappler, 17. Sheriff Glen Caldwell said there will be an inquest, but added there was no indication the shooting was anything but accidental.
Caldwell said both guns that were to have been used in the play were loaded with live ammunition, in violation of an order by school officials.
Kurtz died within 30 minutes, shortly after a doctor arrived.
He was cast in a prominent role in the hillbilly comedy. The youth had been active in sports and music ["Student Killed By Shot Fired For Sound Effect," AP via The Winona Daily News, 1961.01.05].
Guns on campus didn't stop Columbine. Guns on campus inherently increase the danger of accidental shootings. Let's not accelerate South Dakota's next entry into Wikipedia's list of school shootings. House Education, kill HB 1087 before it kills one of our children.
9 Responses to “Remember Donald Kurtz: Don’t Bring Guns to School”
Rachel: do you know this story? Is this guy one of our people? Found an obit for a Gloria.
Amen Cory. I';ve already contacted my Reresentative who is a co-sponsor on the bill and told him what a mistake this bill is.
mercer harpoon here:
http://my605.com/pierrereview/?p=7536
No relation to you, Mr. kurtz. (unless you go back to Noah)
In 1991 a student held a math classroom at Stevens High School hostage with a shotgun. He order the teacher out, and the teacher agreed to leave. Police credit that with helping to relax the hostage-taker. While he shot off a number of rounds, it wasn't at students. All during the hours-long event, police were in contact with him, providing pizza and other things to the classroom. The ordeal lasted hours, with police negotiating with him and the students playing hacky sack. It finally ended when the hostage taker felt relaxed enough that he set the gun down momentarily, and a student swiped the gun away.
No one was hurt, let alone killed. Not every situation is the same. Sometimes the smart approach is to talk it out. Making this guy feel threatened may have caused a bad situation turn into a tragedy.
Right on, Cory. By increasing the presence of guns, it will no doubt increase the chances of something horrible happening.
Let's just keep the classrooms for what they are intended. Education. Period.
Donald, you invite us to imagine how that Stevens incident might have played out if we had a bunch of citizen gunslingers hopped up on adrenaline in the hallway. You're right: being cool and talking has at least as much chance of protecting lives as being armed to the teeth.
Dana, why is it so hard for us to get that message across?
House Education committee includes District 31 freshman Rep. Tim Johns. He needs to hear from us before Wednesday morning's hearing.
I don't know Cory. I really don't. I think you are on the right track, though. Our legislators need to hear from us on issues. Yeah, it may not do any good from time to time, but I'd rather make a squawk about things, than to sit back and say nothing - and always wonder "what would have happened if I had said something?" I do think that the squeaky wheel does get the grease alot of the time.
And I have noticed that at times, people's "heels in the ground" opinions tend to start softening (well, reasonable thinkers) when then are confronted with facts. I have changed my mind on many things after learning more about issues. But that's just me....
Speaking of that, I need to go write/call some more of our folks in leadership positions!!!
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