MEDFORD, Ore. - The Medford school teacher suing her district for the right to bring her concealed weapon to school revealed her identity Tuesday on the Lars Larson Show on KXL 750.

Calling from a phone in Medford during her lunch break, Shirley Katz, a teacher at South Medford High School, said only a few co-workers knew she was involved in this case. She said they are supportive of her because they know about her turbulent history with an abusive soon-to-be ex-husband.

"I felt that it was imperative that I go ahead and (go public) because my school district was pressing forward in court so that it would eventually come out," Katz said. "So I felt that basically I was bullied in going ahead and coming forward."

A pro-gun rights group is funding her legal effort, and she is being represented in this lawsuit by Jim Leuenberger.

"The district has filed a motion to dismiss, and one of the issues they raised was we didn't have right to file under Jane Doe and that we had to identify her by name," Leuenberger explained.

He maintains the district's policy of not allowing concealed weapons on campus is illegal and places his client's life in danger.

Katz told Larson and his listeners that she will not back down, and feels more resolved than she ever has before.

"I would be the first to say I was never the activist type. I would have been quite happy to fly under the radar, but I was a battered wife for seven years, and it has to stop," Katz said. "I am particularly sensitive to bullying. And I won't be bullied by my ex-husband.... I'm not going to be bullied by the school district."

During the radio interview, Katz said she has the firearms training to carry a weapon safely - even in her class.

"This is something I take seriously. I practice regularly," Katz disclosed. "Our kids do need to be protected. I think it just comes down to making sure it's done responsibly."

Last month, Oregon Deputy Superintendent Ed Dennis told KATU News,"You can't guarantee when you take a gun into a classroom and onto a school, that it isn't going to fall into the wrong hands."

Dennis said Tuesday he stands by that statement.

Katz said she would have preferred to remain Jane Doe, but now, she sees this issue as a way for her to stand up for battered women.

We called the Medford School District Tuesday to ask for a response to Katz's going public, but they declined to comment and said they would resolve this issue in court.