Monday, December 10, 2007

in the zone.

I'm at the library today. Spending 8 hours in a gun-free zone.

I am so tempted to go into the director's office and ask her what she thinks the gun-free zone sign will do, how it will protect us. (though she's not the one who made the law that forces us to display the sign) Does she really believe that a crazed gunman with a grudge against librarians will see the sign on the door, stop himself and choose another target for his rampage....

(later)
I just spoke to the children's librarian (I suppose the director is out, taking her extended lunch). I said, "What if someone came into the library with a gun? What are we supposed to do?" (the employee handbook only recommends calling 911 in event of a "life threatening" emergency. Pretty vague.) She said,"But they're not supposed to bring guns into the library! We're gun free now."

*Sigh.*

I guess I have some work to do.

18 comments:

Lydia said...

of the women who handle the childrens section...I don't trust any of them farther than I can throw them.

Weer'd Beard said...

Is the "Gun Free Zone" legally binding?

Here in Mass they can post all they want, but all they can do is ask you to leave. When its your place of emplyment, getting fired is a bigger deal.

Still its worth considering

Fenris said...

Yeah... people looking to misbehave are going to be swayed by signs. All crime and misfortune can be cured by prominently displayed placards.

Sheesh.

Anonymous said...

do you carry any other form of protection while at work? Pepper spray and a pocketknife?

Gurn said...

I'm still amazed at how people might assume that a library was a place where they could take guns had there not been a sign put up saying otherwise.

Maybe they should go half-way and have patrons sign in their guns at the front desk? :p

ibex said...

You'd really expect people who hang out at a library for a living to be smarter.

breda said...

lydia - these are the people who failed to order the leopard books.

weer'd - it's a felony.

mikew - nope, nothing. All I have is a plan to run like hell.

Anonymous said...

Weer'd,

The official Ohio CCW book you get when you get your permit states that carrying is forbidden in government buildings - and specifically that public libraries are generally considered to be such.

At least when Urbana, IL posted itself as a nuclear weapons free zone in the 80's, you could be reasonably certain that it was so. The "Weapon Free Zone" signs that are popular now are nothing more than magical thinking.

DAMN said...

Do they have a weapon check at the door? Is it a silent promise from patrons visiting the library? I'm so confused as to what a "gun-free-zone" is. Loony! They're all bloody loony!

Roberta X said...

Note to self: continue to avoid Ohio. The natives are delightful but the tribal elders are addled.

Joe Carpenter said...

Being a Library, I assume there is a no food/drink sign as well? How well-adhered to is that one?

Or perhaps visualize it for them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7pGt_O1uM8&eurl

phlegmfatale said...

Someday, a lot of lives are going to be saved by the brave soul who risked their CHL by carrying into a gun-free zone. They'll pay a terrible price, but it may be something that turns the tide on public perception of whether or not the good guys should have guns, too.

Less said...

"They'll pay a terrible price..."

Phlegmy - That's debatable... There's the doctrine of "competing harms" and that may well be enough not to prosecute your actions in that situation...

Look at the Wilmette, IL shooting - He wasn't charged.

Granted its still rolling the dice, but trying to get any jury to convict you may be a tough sell for the DA...

What sucks is the poor suckers, like at Disney World or the Sears Tower, that get caught...

Anonymous said...

I work in the music library at Case Western (right across from the Lewis Bldg where Biswanath Halder played shoot-em-up....but I was in Dayton that day) and I've been as much of a PITA with admin as I dared on the victim-disarmament-zone issue, to the point where some folks in the main library have doubted my sanity. You GO girl!!!

But don't get that CCW permit...not unless you think your patrons should get a gov't permit to READ.

breda said...

Hi Jeffrey - nice to see another armed librarian!

I'm definitely going to take this up with the director when I get a chance. She already thinks I'm pretty strange, so what's one more thing added to the list?

Anonymous said...

Just tape this sign up next to the "Gun Free Sign". But don't let anyone see you do it.

Mike W. said...

I have to go near campus this week and am definitely going to post a few of those fliers up.

me said...

Is she constantly asked by patrons to step away from the air conditioning vent as the loud whistling coming from her head is disturbing their reading?