BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation today announced that it is supporting a lawsuit filed by an Oregon high school teacher against the Medford School District, in a case that could have statewide, if not national implications.
The teacher, identified as “Jane Doe” to protect her privacy, is licensed to carry a concealed firearm under Oregon state statute. She is fearful for her safety, and that of her students, because of threats she has reportedly received from her ex-husband, against whom she has a restraining order. School officials are refusing to allow her to bring her gun on campus, despite Oregon law which appears to allow it. Anti-gun State Sen. Ginny Burdick (D-Portland) has vowed to introduce legislation that will exempt Oregon public schools from the state’s pre-emption law.
“This is a case where the issue seems crystal clear,” said SAF founder Alan Gottlieb. “Here is a woman who has taken all the proper, legal steps for her own safety, and quite possibly the safety of her students and fellow teachers. Oregon’s pre-emption law appears to be on her side, and so are we.
“Today, I am sending a check to Lake Oswego attorney James Leuenberger, who is representing the teacher,” Gottlieb stated. “We believe this case to have lots of merit, not only for the individual rights of the plaintiff, but also for the rights of all Oregon firearms owners, and especially other women who may find themselves in a similar unpleasant situation.”
A hearing on the case is scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 11 in Jackson County Court.
“We are confident that the court will make a decision based on the clear wording of the Oregon statute, rather than on political correctness,” Gottlieb said. “There is no good reason why a school district can simply ignore state law, much less the safety of one of its employees.”