Wild Goose Chasing

Slowly I was drawn from sleep by the thump-thump-thump of a helicopter flying around behind my home. This was overtaken by the annoying rattle and buzz of my windows, vibrating from the power of the helicopters blades.

“What the hells going on?” I mumbled as I crawled from bed to look out my bedroom window.

All I could see was the Washoe County Sheriff’s Departments RAVEN Helicopter making tight passes over the neighborhood. I checked the radio, the television and finally the Internet for any more information.

Nothing.

About an hour later my housemate, Kay came pulling into the drive way. She came inside and said, “I don’t know what’s going on but I jus’ saw and FBI man up by Shaw.”

Really?

Two and a half hours later the TV news comes on reports that Spanish Springs High and Shaw Elementary Schools had been on lockdown – but that lockdown had been lifted. The newscasters went on to say, “A bus driver has seen a man possibly carrying a rifle near the high school.”

What?!

Furthermore the news anchor said, “…after a lengthy search, the man was not found.”

You’ve got to be kidding me!

When did it become illegal to carry a gun on a public street, near a school? To my knowledge – it isn’t against the law, so why the fuss?

So far the only answer I’ve been given is that the county and all other reciprocating agencies respond to prevent a possible school shooting. On the surface it sounds like an okay idea – but think hard on the subject and you may come to differing conclusion, like I have.

There ‘s no threat in simply carrying a rifle with you, especially in the unincorporated parts of the county. People go out target shooting – or plinking as its known – everyday around here.

Worse yet, precious resources are wasted every time somebody “thinks” they’ve seen something. The taxpayers money would be better spent teaching county and school district employees what a real threat is – and isn’t – rather than on wild goose chases.

Then maybe I can continue sleeping peacefully.