PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg South High School Principal Tom Eschbacher spoke to state legislators Thursday, asking for the South Patriot mascot to be exempted from a state law banning weapons in schools.
Local legislators recently introduced two bills - House Bill 4128 and Senate Bill 327 - to exempt the mascot's rifle from the state Safe Schools Act, which bans all weapons from school campuses. The act already contains an exemption for the West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot, who carries a rifle and fires it during games.
Officials said questions about the Parkersburg South High School Patriot's musket surfaced during away games, though nonformal complaints about the replica weapon had been made. Eschbacher sent letters to area representatives asking for help.
Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, said Eschbacher was scheduled to speak before the state Senate Education Committee at 2 p.m. Thursday. Boley said Eschbacher had been "cleared" to take the Patriot's musket to the meeting so legislators could see it firsthand.
Eschbacher said he presented the musket and was asked a few questions.
"I didn't pass (the musket) around, but I held it up so they could see what we were talking about," he said. "All of the questions were the kinds I've already been answering, so there wasn't anything new or anything that threw me."
Eschbacher said the few questions asked centered on safety issues, such as the Patriot's training in loading and firing the musket.
"And I was asked is the Patriot the only person who is permitted to carry the musket, and the answer is yes," he said.
Eschbacher said it was his understanding the bill would move to the Senate floor, and a similar bill would be considered by the House Judiciary Committee.
"It went well," he said. "I'm anticipating a favorable outcome."
