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CLEARWATER — A teacher's assistant found an unloaded handgun in a kindergartener's backpack Friday at Leila G. Davis Elementary School.
The incident happened about 9:30 a.m. when the assistant was going through backpacks looking for student planners, according to school district spokeswoman Andrea Zahn.
School police and Clearwater police were notified and the gun was confiscated.
An investigation by the Clearwater police found that the 6-year-old boy, who lives with his grandparents, took the old .22-caliber handgun from a container in the grandparents' bedroom.
Officials said the child apparently brought the gun to show his friends, not to harm anybody.
Police spokeswoman Joelle Castelli said police would notify the Department of Children and Families about the incident but do not plan to file criminal charges.
School district policy holds that any child who possesses or exhibits a gun at school will be suspended and recommended for expulsion, Zahn said.
Friday afternoon the school made phone calls to parents telling them what had happened.
Classes were not suspended and parents picked up their children as usual.
Parent Patricia Hicks said she felt very comfortable with the way the school handled the incident and notified the parents.
"It's under control," she said in the parking lot.
Erik Hall, who has two children at the school, was bothered by the fact someone brought in a gun.
"It's an elementary school," he said. "I'd be worried about it even if the kids were in high school."
If there was anyone to be upset with, he said, it was the adults who allowed the boy access to the weapon.
Across the parking lot, Raine Johns said she hadn't been home to hear the call from the school where she has two children. A gun in school, she said — even an empty one — was a serious concern.
"Most of the gun injuries take place when children think the gun is empty," she said.
Jonathan Abel can be reached at jabel@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4157.
[Last modified: Oct 27, 2008 01:19 PM]
Comments on this article
by Lisa
Oct 27, 2008 1:19 PM
I have a 6 yr old who has very clear rules at home & school, the teachers make it very clear that toys are not to be brought or else will be taken away, 6 yr olds absolutely can comprehend rules & consequences and this should be severely punished.
by Kelsey
Oct 26, 2008 1:10 PM
if the kid brought a gun to school and he's living with his grandparents chances are very very good he's black. and you people still want to vote for obama. HAH!!!!!!!
by Lisa
Oct 26, 2008 1:10 PM
The grandparents should lose their gun license. I don't think the child should be punished, but the grandparents, definitely. Anyone that owns a gun knows gun safety, they are just careless.
by Don
Oct 26, 2008 1:10 PM
Six months in juvenile detention for the future thug. Obviously hes old enough to know what a gun is, so hes old enough not to pack it to school. Grandparents six months in Big jail for lack of sense.
by Bill
Oct 26, 2008 1:10 PM
They got it for show and tell
by Donna
Oct 25, 2008 2:00 PM
Doesn't the law say the gun has to be locked up or have a trigger lock? Was that the case here? Gun owner should be punished. The kid needs to be helped, not hurt.
by Richard
Oct 25, 2008 2:00 PM
Suspend suspend suspend, what does that acomplish. What is acomplished by sending the child to another school and taking him away from his friends. O tolerance may be fine for some but at times it shows it was writen by idiots.
by Ken
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
I agree with Nugent, Teach the grandparents gun safety. Also teach the children about gun safety, and what to do if they run across a firearm accidentially.
by PR
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
I'll be curious to see what the reaction is as far as his punishment. 6 years old and zero tolerance would have us expel him. Even if he intended harm are we able to accept that a 6 year old is beyond help? Zero tolerance would indicate yes.
by CC
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
I agree with Nugent. It's all about education. The NRA a great educational tape/dvd on gun safety. Don't ruin the kid so early in life.
by Lugi
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
Jail time for the Grandparents and expulsion for the little punk
by Diguel
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
I think the kid shouldn't be charged with anything, I understand that the child had the gun but it was a simple accident. I think the child just needs a warning.
by Kim
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
It is sad but the kid needs to be suspended and needs to go to an other school. Grandpa and grandma need to get their act togetther and get a lock for the gun and put it in a safe place.
by Concerned Mom
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
And if it had been loaded?
by mom
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
I agree with Nugent.
by Glen
Oct 25, 2008 1:17 PM
I sure hope the powers that be use good judgement and consider this child's tender years in deciding on expulsion. Six year-olds aren't SUPPOSED to have the judgement to know better than he did. Mistakes do happen, let's move on.
by Nugent
Oct 24, 2008 9:55 PM
Let's not over react and make this kid nuts because of a mistake. Curiousity got the best of him and the Grandparents need to be educated about gun safety.
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