Another student, another gun, another administrator conniption fit

Aught Six · 10-13-2004, 12:51 PM

Teen Suspended Over Civil War Weapon

Yep, more schools banning lawful activities in the name of "protecting our youth".

Maybe they're right, though. For all I know the gangs up there could be packing black powder and rusty bayonets. Scary stuff....

***

Perhaps the use of the word "lawful" is a bit off. I know that technically any firearm or replica is banned from school grounds. But I find it ironic that antiques are kept in a separate class by the BATFE (the so-called experts), yet lumped together with everything else by the schools. Then again, my cousin was almost suspended for bringing an X-Acto knife to his graphic arts class at the request of the teacher. I'm just waiting for the day pointy pens and pencils are outlawed....

CalHunter · 10-13-2004, 01:49 PM

That seems like a bit of overkill to handcuff the student. I have hardly ever handcuffed a student when arresting them at a school. Usually, I cite (issue them a citation) and release them back to the school to wait for their parents to pick them up. As for the replica musket, the article wasn't clear whether this is a replica that can or cannot fire a round or musket ball. I don't know all the facts so am wary of judging the whole incident but it seems like it probably could have been handled a bit more low key. JMHO on the legalities of the incident. As for school rules, I have long thought that schools take the easy way out with zero tolerance rules that don't allow for exceptions.

Aught Six · 10-13-2004, 02:23 PM

Quote:

As for school rules, I have long thought that schools take the easy way out with zero tolerance rules that don't allow for exceptions.

Behold the wave of the future! Have a problem? Any problem? Zero tolerance! That'll make it all go away!

8mm/06 · 10-13-2004, 04:29 PM

This is another case where the school officials and/or school board are much more comfortable following a given policy rather than try to THINK FOR THEMSELVES. If the weapon was capable of being discharged and the student had the necessary materials in the vehicle to perform the firing of the weapon then I could understand a reason for concern. But to handcuff and charge the youth with anything other than "poor judgement, please don't let it happen again" is ludicrous. Maybe I just don't understand the new rules. Maybe I'm just old fashioned.

Maybe I'm not a non-thinking automaton that wants to be so correct I just ignore common sense.