https://www.al.com/news/birmin...grade-classroom.html

Why did a 74-year-old substitute teacher’s gun discharge in an Alabama 1st-grade classroom?

Updated Mar 28, 3:26 PM; Posted Mar 28, 1:39 PM

The gun that discharged inside the pocket of a substitute teacher in an Alabama first-grade classroom did so after it came in contact with a knife in his same pocket.

“I’m so sorry it happened, and I hope those kids have no memory of it after time passes,’’ the 74-year-old teacher, Henry Rex Weaver, told AL.com on Thursday.

The incident happened midday Friday, March 22, at Blountsville Elementary School. Authorities at the time said only that the gun discharged in Weaver’s pocket and that a fragment injured one student.

Through court records made public Thursday and the interview with Weaver, a clearer picture emerged.

According to an affidavit in the misdemeanor criminal cases against Weaver – reckless endangerment, third-degree aggravated assault and possession of a firearm on school grounds – this is what happened inside the elementary school classroom: Weaver had a Taurus .380 pistol and a knife in his front right pocket. He bent over to pick up an item off the floor and when he straightened back up, the knife, a clip-on, entered the trigger guard of the pistol and caused it to discharge into the floor.

A fragment struck a 7-year-old girl in the leg. There was a welt on the girl’s leg, records state, but the fragment did not penetrate the skin.

Weaver was taken into custody at the scene, interviewed and then booked into the Blount County Jail. He was released the same day on $3,000 bond and has a court date set for May.

Weaver said he had put his pistol up for several days because his permit had expired. He renewed his permit on Thursday and left for school Friday morning with the intention of storing the gun under the armrest of his locked vehicle.

He took a quick phone call as he was about to go into the school – he had to be there at 7:20 a.m. – and was running slightly behind schedule when he got out of the car. “I completely forgot about the pistol being in my pocket,’’ Weaver said.

Weaver is obviously upset over the incident and said he knows he will never again be back inside a classroom. “Oh, I could never substitute again,’’ Weaver said. “The parents are upset, and I understand that.”

He said he plans to stand before his fellow church members Sunday and explain what happened. “Time is a healer,’’ he said, “and hopefully that will happen here.”

It’s dumbasses like this that ruin it for everyone. This is exactly the kind of dumb shit that the antis and busy body soccer moms use to keep teachers from being armed..

Hard to believe someone would actually pocket carry a pistol with something else in that pocket and obviously no safety.

I’m so sorry it happened, and I hope those kids have no memory of it after time passes,’’ the 74-year-old teacher, Henry Rex Weaver, told AL.com on Thursday.
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This is the sort of thing kids remember for the rest of their lives. Who is he kidding? It may not be unplesant for the kids not struck by the bullet, but as lawyers like to say, "There is no eraser for the human mind."

Weird, random fact. My great aunt (grandfather's sister) taught at that school from the 1930's-1970's. She was the only first grade teacher for many decades, probably taught just about every person in that town for many years. The school had a total of 6 rooms when she taught there in the 30's.

Thats why I carry my gun and cell phone in one pocket and my flashlight, knive, and money clip in the other pocket.

This is exactly the situation that everyone who opposes arming teachers has been dreaming about.

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
Thats why I carry my gun and cell phone in one pocket and my flashlight, knive, and money clip in the other pocket.

I use a pocket holster as well. I do not ever want to be on the news for something like this.

A similar situation happened at waterstone pizza in downtown lynchburg. They have a big sign on the door, "no firearms, No CC etc." I went in told the manager, I love pizza, I love his pizza, but I will not be back till they change.

A few weeks later a moron with a .380 naked in his pocket has a ND getting his keys out. A friend told me he was a government contract employee and lost his clearance and then job over the event.

How hard is it to clip a crossbreed in side your belt?

Really thankful a kiddo was not hurt or worse because of this idiot.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
... as lawyers like to say, "There is no eraser for the human mind."

Au contraire

Glock Fotay?

I sincerely hope he's permanently blacklisted from education. Like, not even allowed on school grounds blacklisted.

An imbecile such as that has no business being in a position of responsibility.

Something like this at an absolute minimum.
https://blackrhinoconcealment....rigger-guard-holster

one hic up in 74 years, that's a pretty good run,

let's check his rap sheet
this might be forgivable

heck , most of us will be 74 , some day

I was 16 when I had my n.d.

C'mon man! A DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster is like 15 bucks on Amazon and you should NEVER put anything in or near that pocket except the holster and gun.

Unfortunately there are a good number of people with concealed weapons licenses running around armed who haven't the faintest idea of what they are doing and have zero training. Not so much of a problem when they just do damage to themselves, but this guy put children at risk in a big way.

quote:

Not so much of a problem when they just do damage to themselves,

They damage us all sadly even without injury.

Being 74 does not excuse this. The firearm was placed in a pocket without a holster capable of covering the trigger, inexcusable. I am surprised he hasn't had a ND in the past.

I have had too many conversations this week convincing people to take basic safety precautions with firearms. Holsters and/or trigger protection is table stakes when carrying.