Virginia woman charged for threatening to bring guns to school over mask mandate
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A Virginia woman was charged Friday with making an oral threat on school property when she said at a school board meeting that she would show up with loaded guns if her children were required to wear masks at schools, according to the local police department.
Driving the news: "My children will not come to school on Monday with a mask on," Amelia King, 42, told the school board. "Alright? That's not happening. And I will bring every single gun loaded and ready to ... I will call every..."
- After King was interrupted for going over her allotted time, she replied, "I'll see y'all on Monday."
- A magistrate released King on a $5,000 unsecured bond, according to the Luray Police Department.
The big picture: The school board had been discussing COVID-19 measures in school amid the spread of the Omicron variant and in response to an executive order by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) to overturn Virginia's mask mandate for public schools.
- The school board voted 4-2 to lift the mask mandate in schools implemented by former Gov. Ralph Northam (D), according to the Winchester Star.
- The school board said that they would increase police presence in schools after the comments, according to CNN.
What they're saying: "Violence and threats are never acceptable or appropriate," Superintendent Antonia Fox and school board Cair Megan Gordon wrote in a joint letter to the school community after King's comments.
- "At each PCPS school [Friday] and Monday, there will be an increased police presence with support from the Page County Sheriff's Office."
- "The Luray Police Department will also provide additional police presence at the Luray area schools on Monday," they wrote.
Go deeper: Youngkin makes good on Critical Race Theory, mask promises
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from Superintendent Antonia Fox and school board Chair Megan Gordon.
