The Washington Post is reporting that Montgomery County, Maryland prosecutors are dropping charges against Stephen Lafferty, an employee of a private school in Montgomery County, Maryland who had a Smith & Wesson revolver on his desk at the school. Lafferty was in charge of the building and grounds department.
It is surprising to me that Lafferty's actions are not illegal. The Washington Post reports:
. . . [A]n employee spotted the gun in Lafferty’s office, took a picture and sent the image the school’s dean of students, according to court records.
Police were called, summoned him outside and asked him if he had a gun. “There is a revolver on my desk,” Lafferty responded, according to arrest records. “You can go in and get it if you want.”
The officers found a Smith & Wesson Model 500 with a scope, the records state. . .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
However, prosecutors reviewed the law and determined that Lafferty's actions did not violate the law. Maryland Criminal Law Section 4-102 provides:
A person may not carry or possess a firearm, knife, or deadly weapon of any kind on public school property.
(emphasis mine)
http://law.justia.com/...
Assistant State’s Attorney for Montgomery County Keith Jacobsen concluded:
The statute, 4-102, does not apply on private school property,” Jacobsen said, adding that prosecutors had . . . consulted with state police experts about what laws might apply in the case. “It seems there really aren’t any.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Hopefully, the Maryland legislature will fix this loophole.