North Carolina Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn is in the crosshairs of the law once again after being accused of bringing a large knife to a school board meeting in his district.
The story blew up the evening of September 13 after Jay Carey, a Democrat running to replace Cawthorn in North Carolina's 11th congressional district, posted to Twitter a photograph of Cawthorn attending a meeting for the Henderson County Board of Education.
The photograph appears to show Cawthorn brought a knife to the meeting, prompting Carey to remark Cawthorn "must have feared for his life."
Attended the Henderson County School Board meeting tonight to speak for continued mask mandates for schools. Meanwh… https://t.co/vZfJmwcARG— JayCareyforCongress (@JayCareyforCongress) 1631585883.0
@jrcareyncdist11/Twitter
Bringing knives onto school grounds is a class 1 misdemeanor in North Carolina.
North Carolina knife laws state:
"It is unlawful to possess or carry, openly or concealed, any bowie knife, switchblade, dirk, dagger or other pointed or sharp-edged instrument on school property"
Carey's post received widespread attention.
Many not only criticized Cawthorn for his actions but agreed he should face charges.
So who’s going to charge him? https://t.co/vxv9oiTMPC— Karen Adams 🌎🕊 🏳️🌈 (@Karen Adams 🌎🕊 🏳️🌈) 1631736250.0
@jrcareyncdist11 @RepCawthorn I am a wheelchair technician. That is not a tow bar or any other part of mobility se… https://t.co/PrGk9CGyt0— 🎤MusicLizard 🎸🇨🇦 (@🎤MusicLizard 🎸🇨🇦) 1631730867.0
@jrcareyncdist11 @RepCawthorn He'll say he forgot he had them, just as he said about his gun at the Asheville airport.— Helen #GETVAXXED (@Helen #GETVAXXED) 1631673145.0
That weapon was in no way secured. Anyone could have grabbed it. https://t.co/wSPC2M6kXv— LizzieSpeaksTooSoon (@LizzieSpeaksTooSoon) 1631735876.0
Here, imho, is an elected official who believes he’s above the law. Especially as he’s done this crime multiple tim… https://t.co/pubOdDvfx0— Charles Boisclair (@Charles Boisclair) 1631730723.0
As a North Carolinian, I'm so over this idiot. There have been multiple school shootings in NC in the past month bu… https://t.co/txLlUuscYD— ChrissyH (@ChrissyH) 1631717220.0
It’s past time that Madison Cawthorn faces the consequences of his actions. He’s tried to board a plane with a gun… https://t.co/OQjwcIHr6p— 𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓮 𝓝𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮 (@𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓮 𝓝𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮) 1631667198.0
A knife to a mask fight. They really don’t come any stupider than Madison Cawthorn! https://t.co/r0ltNp3jIK— Stephanie Jurney (@Stephanie Jurney) 1631720017.0
Why would @RepCawthorn feel the need to bring a knife to a school board meeting, that he wasn't even invited to? Lo… https://t.co/2KAb5qwqtp— A Blue Dot in Oklahoma 🌊🌈🇺🇸 (@A Blue Dot in Oklahoma 🌊🌈🇺🇸) 1631710887.0
After Carey's photos went viral, the Super PAC FireMadison.com announced it had identified the weapon in question as a MicroTech Borka Blade, part of a line of highly sought after models.
The Super PAC has reported Cawthorn to the authorities and urged them to conduct an investigation into the incident.
The weapon allegedly smuggled into the Henderson County board of education meeting by @RepCawthorn has been identif… https://t.co/ePQxp8qbKQ— Fire Madison Cawthorn - American Muckrakers PAC (@Fire Madison Cawthorn - American Muckrakers PAC) 1631657635.0
A few eagle-eyed members of the Twitterverse identified a second weapon in Cawthorn's right front pocket, also a MicroTech.
@HateWonFour @jrcareyncdist11 @RepCawthorn Looks like you're right, here's a better angle of the second knife:… https://t.co/Dnudw6vyGb— Cody (@Cody) 1631644274.0
@Yedois/Twitter
@jrcareyncdist11 @RepCawthorn Both Microtech blades....the clip is an OTF... definitely not allowed on school prope… https://t.co/04NcaR7umj— Stephen Hertz (@Stephen Hertz) 1631654384.0
A spokesperson for Henderson County Public Schools confirmed the school district has notified the Henderson County Sheriff's Office.
Cawthorn, who appeared at the school board meeting to protest Covid-19 restrictions and mask mandates, denied the allegations.
"I don't really know anything about that. I'll have to look into it, but I don't know anything about it."
The incident isn't the first time Cawthorn has been accused of unlawfully carrying weapons.
Back in February, Cawthorn was stopped at the Asheville Regional Airport after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents discovered an unloaded Glock 9mm handgun and loaded magazine in Cawthorn's carry-on luggage.
Cawthorn's gun was confiscated.
He was allowed to retrieve it when he returned to Asheville.