interesting story

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Not sure how or if there is anything in this story to watch but it is interesting. There are so many things "wrong" with what happened and the charges filed odd perhaps? Maybe not, but thought it might be worth showing:

STAMFORD -- Fourteen Stamford High School students filming a movie with guns and a baseball bat were arrested Thursday after a neighbor feared they were fighting in the school parking lot, police said.
The neighbor called a school assistant principal because it looked as though the students were about to fight with the weapons, said Lt. Jim Matheny, commander of the Stamford police family services division.

The assistant principal called 911, and school security officers responded to the scene. Police arrived soon after.

"Immediately on their arrival, officers realized it was not a fight, there was no violence," Matheny said.

Two students told police they had recruited the other 12 to make a movie they planned to upload on an Internet video site. There was a camera nearby on a tripod, and the students used pellet guns, toy guns and other facsimile weapons, Matheny said. Police recovered one wooden baseball bat.

The students, aged between 14 to 17, were all charged as either juveniles or youthful offenders with breach of peace, and two were charged with possession of a facsimile firearm. Matheny said they were charged because they caused alarm.

"People saw it, didn't know what was going on and were scared" he said.

Sarah Arnold, a schools spokeswoman, said in an e-mail that two students were in the school's film club. Police determined the students did not have permission to make the movie.

"Another reason why theywere charged is the school reacted to it as if there was an incident of violence," Matheny said.


Arnold said all the students were suspended. She said most students charged with breach of peace would likely receive a two-day suspension and the two charged with possession of facsimile firearms would likely receive a mandatory 10-day suspension with referral for exclusion. She said school officials will meet with the students and their parents Monday.

The students were released to their parents and are to appear in court either Dec. 15 or 16. Their names were not released because of their ages.



Isn't carrying a pellet gun carrying a firearm on school property? Why was there no charge for this?

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A very interesting observation made two years ago when I began researching the Connecticut General Statutes is the fact that Brandishing a fake firearm has more severe consequences then openly displaying a real firearm by those with a permit.

I assumed right or wrong that the Brandishing a facsimile firearm statue was the reason that most members of law enforcement were confused and incorrectly believed that doing so with an "ORIGINAL/REAL"firearm was a criminal violation of the law.

Sec. 53-206c. Sale, carrying and brandishing of facsimile firearms prohibited. Class B misdemeanor. (a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "Facsimile of a firearm" means (A) any nonfunctional imitation of an original firearm which was manufactured, designed and produced since 1898, or (B) any nonfunctional representation of a firearm other than an imitation of an original firearm, provided such representation could reasonably be perceived to be a real firearm. Such term does not include any look-a-like, nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898, or traditional BB. or pellet-firing air gun that expels a metallic or paint-contained projectile through the force of air pressure.

(2) "Firearm" means firearm as defined in section 53a-3.


(b) No person shall give, offer for sale or sell any facsimile of a firearm. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any facsimile of a firearm, which, because of its distinct color, exaggerated size or other design feature, cannot reasonably be perceived to be a real firearm.

(c) Except in self defense, no person shall carry, draw, exhibit or brandish a facsimile of a firearm or simulate a firearm in a threatening manner, with intent to frighten, vex or harass another person.

(d) No person shall draw, exhibit or brandish a facsimile of a firearm or simulate a firearm in the presence of a peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician or paramedic engaged in the performance of his duties knowing or having reason to know that such peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician or paramedic is engaged in the performance of his duties, with intent to impede such person in the performance of such duties.



(e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.


(P.A. 88-237.)

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Filming a movie on school property without school permission? Not a bright move. Actually, filming on anyone's property without permission wouldn't be bright, either.

Of course, we are dealing with young, very young filmmakers, and hopefully the authorities will take this into consideration and give them a good scolding, with nothing on their records.

Then again.....



Had a similar incident near here, but it was more a case of the school board disapproving of the film's content after it was made. Situation was eventually resolved since it was pointed out that approval had been asked and received, and content approval was not part of the original deal.