(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – The Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) is supporting a Buffalo School Board resolution that suspends and bars a Buffalo City Council Member - Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr. - from the City’s Public Schools after he carried a loaded weapon into a school building.

The BTF’s Executive Committee and Council of Delegates from all Buffalo Public Schools has unanimously approved a Resolution of Support for the proposed Board of Education Resolution, which calls for the immediate suspension of Masten Councilman Wingo - who brought a loaded gun inside Riverside High School - from District property for no less than 18 months.

Firearms are prohibited on school property for anyone other than Law Enforcement Officers, Buffalo School District Officials have said. 

The BTF resolution also supports his being prevented from attending his son’s graduation.

In a statement, Federation (BTF) President Phil Rumore said: “We know it is difficult to prevent someone from attending their own or a relative’s graduation - however, students who bring a weapon into a school are suspended for a year.  Students and relatives have been prevented from attending graduation for far less offenses than committing the crime of bringing a loaded weapon onto school property.  In these times when school and community gun violence are a constant threat, we must ensure that the message is clear - we will not accept and must do everything possible to prevent gun violence.  The message must be that everyone committing illegal actions, such as bringing a loaded weapon onto school grounds, will be severely punished regardless of position or status.  To do less leads to undermining everyone’s safety.  Shouldn’t the message be that I have committed a crime and must accept the consequences of my action?  Wouldn’t that be a preferred message to send?”

Last month, Rumore said: “It is a ‘matter of grave concern’ that Councilman Wingo ‘brought a loaded gun into one of our schools despite all the horrendous school shootings and the fact that every knowledgeable person knows that it is illegal to bring a loaded weapon into a school’ (unless you are a Law Enforcement Officer).  What is ‘far worse and unacceptable is his complete refusal to accept responsibility for his dangerous action and his attempt to blame the School District for his illegal and dangerous action.’  His statement that ‘I am remorseful that this has come to our doorstep as a community. This further enforces the need for a more robust security program at all of our schools’ - Rather than saying that ‘he was wrong and had violated the law by bringing a loaded firearm into the school, he attempts to blame’ the School District’s Security Program for his bringing a loaded weapon into the school.  ‘Yes, we would all like more security in our schools.’  However, that will ‘never remove the responsibility of a person who illegally brings a loaded’ weapon into the school. ‘Blaming the school district is unacceptable.’

Upon realizing that he had or was bringing a loaded firearm into the school, after notifying the administration, ‘he should have immediately returned to his vehicle and locked it in the trunk.’  ‘We teach our children to accept responsibility for their actions.’  Councilman Wingo ‘obviously ignored this life lesson.’  He ‘owes an apology’ to the community, ‘our’ Security Officers ‘and all in our’ School District.  We note that while Councilman Wingo ‘shamelessly attempts to blame’ the School District ‘for his unlawful act of bringing a loaded weapon into a school, the Common Council has not increased its allocation to the School District for over three years.’” 

Wingo has also stepped down as Chairman of the Common Council's Education Committee until an investigation is completed, The Buffalo News reports.