Resident Taking Hardin Co. School Director Gun Case To Grand Jury
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A Hardin County man is taking justice into his own hands, after the director of schools was accused of bringing a handgun onto the campus of the middle school last November, even though it is against the law. A police report was never filed, and John Thomas never faced charges. Savannah resident Jerry Fowler does not believe that is right, and he is trying to get the case brought before a grand jury. “We feel like it’s wrong for persons to be excluded or above the law and we feel that in this case that Mr. Thomas has been given that exclusion,” Fowler said. He said no police report was filed, and District Attorney Hansel McCadams only responded with a letter, saying he would not prosecute. “Our School Board is happy with it, our local officials seem to be happy with it, but there are a lot of citizens here in Hardin County who are not happy with this,” Fowler said. Fowler told 7 Eyewitness News he has even written the governor about the incident. He heard back from the state’s Homeland Security Department, and they said Thomas was not an exception to the law. Fowler said he called Thomas when he heard about the gun, and Thomas admitted to carrying it. “He seemed almost like he was arrogant with it that he had done this for 20 years into schools and public buildings and he just failed to see the importance of it, that the no carry into our schools is a safety issue.” And since, Fowler said he has sent a letter to the grand jury, requesting to meet with them on March 19 and see if they will take up the case. He said it is the “last step,” and is optimistic that truth and right will prevail. Thomas told 7 Eyewitness News by phone that the school board advised him not to comment on the matter.
