Search:

Custom Search

Readers' Comments

Total Comments: 34
Page 1 of 3

« Previous | Next »

Brandishing Gun to Students Leads to Removal--and Then to Federal Court

Weapons of Mass Destruction

HR Specialist
DoD
Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:40 AM

Post Reply

"Jamarillo had committed felony assault with a deadly weapon." A BB gun.

Welcome to 21st Century America.

I'm not condoning what he did, but a BB gun should not be considered in the same category as a machine gun, and I'm not sure what the nexus with employment was for a training technician. Had he been law enforcement, that would be another matter altogether.

Re: Weapons of Mass Destruction

HR Manager (Retired)
DoD
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:30 AM
The nexus is with his employment and not his career field – his actions brought discredit to his employer thus the nexus. There are "tons" of rulings which define nexus in this manner. Incidently, a BB gun in many areas is legally considered a weapon.

Re: Weapons of Mass Destruction

Program Analyst
OPM
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:31 AM
Ever since kids started shooting their eyes out with BB guns (think of A Christmas Story), the laws and attitude toward them really changed. I understand what you are trying to say to a degree, but it is a projectile weapon that can break the skin (despite what Chevy Chase said in Vacation). Now, had it been a Nerf gun...probably nothing would have happened to the guy.

Re: Weapons of Mass Destruction

usda
worker
Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:47 AM
assualt with a deadly weapon charges come about when someone brandishes a weapon and the "victim" fears for his safety. It has nothing to do with the object brandished. Intent to threaten and victims reaction is what probably caused this charge. I believe it is also a crime to throw objects from moving vehicles and that should have been dealt with also. Hysteria

Re: Weapons of Mass Destruction

HR Specialist
DoD
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:31 PM
I've read the responses, and I remain firm in my belief that (say) a machine gun and a BB gun are very different things--and should not be lumped under the same catagory. I understand that that's the law: I'm saying that the law is stupid.

I understand that the nexus test was found to be satisfied: the employer was embarrassed. Bring out the smelling salts. The decision is stupid.

He did wrong, and should have been punished: I'm just expressing my view that the reaction was even more absurd than his actions.

Re: Weapons of Mass Destruction

HR Manager (Retired)
DoD
Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:07 PM
Wow! You have to be kidding.

Re: Weapons of Mass Destruction

Specialist
Agency
Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:25 PM
In spite of the feelings to the contrary, the person was properly charged and processed. He had no reason to board the bus and should consider himself fortunate he is not cooling his heels in lockup rather than being on probation, for forcing himself onto a school bus in the first place, and his brandishing a weapon, BB gun, real gun, or water pistol, is, as previously indicated, in the perception of the "victim" and the fear instilled.

The former employee is also fortunate that a gang of parents is not attempting to seek him out and inflict the same actions on him that he attempted to inflict on a group of kids.

In addition, if these parents are smart, they are currently in process of sueing his backside off as well.

Sorry HR guy, no way this guy deserves sympathy.

Next time he may stick to whatever he does and leave the law enforcement to those that are in charge of that part of life.

ADW on a school bus:

Manager (retired)
VA (retired)
Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:42 AM

Post Reply

Jaramillo was definitely wrong, but I am left wondering what happened to the "student" who admitted throwing an object our of a moving bus. Such actions can kill or injure other motorists and bystanders. I will be willing to bet that the "student" escaped all punishment for his offence against good public order.

Re: ADW on a school bus:

Program Analyst
OPM
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:27 AM
I don't think you read the article. The kid threw a cap from a pen--probably no more than an inch and a half long. I don't think something of this size can cause a wreck or bodily harm. It's not like he threw a backpack or anything.

Re: ADW on a school bus:

Worker
DoD
Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:42 PM
Program Analyst
OPM
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:27 AM
You state "I don't think you read the article. The kid threw a cap from a pen--probably no more than an inch and a half long. I don't think something of this size can cause a wreck or bodily harm. It's not like he threw a backpack or anything. "

Actually, the "little" cap can cause a serious, if not fatal, accident. Tell you what, why don't you travel down the road in a car at , say 40 MPH, and let me throw a "little" cap at your face. I would bet a years pay that not only does it hurt when you get hit, I bet it would cause you to react in such a way that you may lose control of your vehicle. Sure would suck for you or the guy standing on the edge of the road.

I don't condone what Jaramillo did, but saying what the kid did isn't material is plain silly.

Re: ADW on a school bus:

Program Analyst
OPM
Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:28 PM
"Tell you what, why don't you travel down the road in a car at , say 40 MPH, and let me throw a "little" cap at your face. I would bet a years pay that not only does it hurt when you get hit, I bet it would cause you to react in such a way that you may lose control of your vehicle. Sure would suck for you or the guy standing on the edge of the road."

Well, you are just assuming how fast the bus was going--the article did not say that. For all we know, the bus was going 5-10 miles an hour when it happened. We don't have the full story. By the way, I'll pass.

I don't condone what Jaramillo did, but saying what the kid did isn't material is plain silly.

Uh, I didn't say that...besides, we don't know if they were not punished...for all we know, they were. That wasn't the Federal court's jurisdiction.

Brandishing a gun

Data Manager
DHHS
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:00 AM

Post Reply

Mr. Jaramillo received punishment that was commensurate with the action he took. His gross and total lack of good judgment was demonstrated by the fact that eh took it upon himself to board the school bus over the objection of the driver.

He deserves to be fired and instead of 2 years probation he should have been jailed and he should shut up about being fired and take it like a man who recognized that he messed up. I normally do not like to use this word, but he is a “bully” of the first order. Had I been one of the parents of the students in that bus, he would have been facing me in court.

He should have taken the bus number and reported it to the school and allowed the authority to take appropriate action. His act was very stupid.

Dom

Re: Brandishing a gun

Supervisor
DOI
Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:24 AM
Sounds like you're a bit of a bully yourself. According to the article, the guy never touched one of the students. You sound like one of those pain in the a$$ parents that see everything as an affront to their precious child, and want to take every body to court. Actually, he was "brandishing" a BB gun. You do know what a BB gun is don't you?

Re: Brandishing a gun

Specialist
Agency
Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:35 PM
Hey, Supervisor DOI,

Sounds like you are either not a parent or you do not care for your kids.

In consideration of people that take action to "rush" into the control space of another, think 9/11, the jerk that did this is lucky he is not dead, based on a group of people fearing for their lives and the taking matters into their own hands to protect themselves from a manacial idiot forcing himself onto the bus.

They arm pilots now; more of this type behavior and they may do the same for others involved in protective transport of innocents (the stupid ink cap aside).

My guess is, though this is only a guess, the bus driver was someone this idiot thought he could bully. Had the driver been a burly with a baseball bat in hand I think the dipstick might have thought differently.

A swift hard kick to the groin would have settled him as well.

The guy was a jerk, and those defending his actions are in need of... hmmmmm... what is that... oh, yeah...

common sense!!!

Re: Brandishing a gun

Data manager
DHHS
Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:11 AM
To "Specialist - Agency"; Thank you for understanding the point I was trying to make. Your comments are right on.

To: "DOI SUPERVISOR"; You focused in on name calling and missed the point of the entire article and the point I was making. 1. Had it been my child who threw the cap out the window, not only would he have had to deal with the school but also with me. My children are aware of what is right and what is wrong. 2. Yes, I know what a BB gun is. My son owns three of them and so do many of the boys in the neighborhood. Recently they were horsing around and one of the neighbor’s kids shot another - the injury was severe. 3. I want to ask you if you know what a baseball bat is and what it is used for? Do you consider a baseball bat a weapon? I usually do not, but how many heads have been cracked by a baseball bat? Many.

continued below

Re: Brandishing a gun

Supervisor
DOI
Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:36 AM
I care enough about my kids that I taught them not to throw things out of a vehicle at someone. I taught them to show respect for their elders. I've also taught them that some people have no regard for others. And further, that some people can't resist threatning to take everybody to court over every perceived slight.

Gun

HR Manager (Retired)
DoD
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:15 AM

Post Reply

Good decision to get rid of this employee - he showed that he has real anger management problems. Of all the options he had to solve this problem he selected the very worst one. No employer can tolerate employees who act in this manner. Employees need to remember that there is a nexus between thier actions and their employment.

Re: Gun

Program Analyst
OPM
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:32 AM
Yeah, had it been me, I would have just said "I don't care."

Re: Gun

Diversity Manager
DOL
Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:47 AM
Sure sure pick on the gay guy this is discrimination

Re: Gun

HR Manager (Retired)
DoD
Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:40 PM
What gay guy? Did I miss something? However, even if someone in this case is gay that has no bearing on what action is appropriate. The fired employee should have either let the incident go or report it to the school system - school buses have numbers on them. Pulling a gun, BB or otherwise, was not the smart move

Fired Employee

Analyst
GSA
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:46 AM

Post Reply

First, a BB gun is not a deadly weapon. Second, I'll bet the mis-behaving students feel justified, since nothing was said about them being punished. Throwing objects from a bus can also be consdidered use of a deadly weapon, as it could distract the driver and cause an accident. This is a clear case of double jeopardy.

Re: Fired Employee

federal employee
federal agency
Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:52 AM
Just because nothing was said about the students being punished doesn't mean it didn't happen. Don't make assumptions. And its irrelevant, really - the issue before the court was the Federal employee, not the students.

Be fair.

Database Administrator
NASIC
Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:58 AM

Post Reply

I don't agree with this guys behavior and he should have been removed. However, I see a problem in the description of the 'crime'. Both "brandishing a weapon" AND "throwing objects from a moving vehicle" are bad, but in this case they are saying that "even a BB gun is horrible!", but "only a pen cap" is not a problem. Let's be fair one way or the other.

He's an idiot

Mark Sutton
SSA
Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:57 PM

Post Reply

Title says it plainly; however, charging him with "aggravated assault with a deadly weapon" for a BB gun is beyond nonsensical.

Total Comments: 34
Page 1 of 3

« Previous | Next »

Add a Comment about this Article

** All fields are required.
Note: Your comments will not show up right away. FedSmith.com selects the most insightful comments from our readers for posting. If selected, your comments will show up in the comments section after they have been reviewed and approved. See our terms of use for more information.