Boy Punished For T-shirt With Gun Image

[Doublebass73]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080310/ap_on_re_us/t_shirt_gun

Boy punished for T-shirt with gun image

LANCASTER, Pa. - The family of a middle school student who was given detention for wearing a T-shirt bearing the image of a gun has filed a federal freedom of speech lawsuit against the school district.

 Donald Miller III, 14, went to Penn Manor High School in December wearing a T-shirt he said was intended to honor his uncle, a U.S. Army soldier fighting in Iraq.

The shirt bears the image of a military sidearm and on the front pocket says "Volunteer Homeland Security." On the back, over another image of the weapon, are the words "Special issue Resident Lifetime License — United States Terrorist Hunting Permit — Permit No. 91101 — Gun Owner — No Bag Limit."

Officials at the Millersville school told him to turn his shirt inside out. When Miller refused, he got two days of detention.

His parents, Donald and Tina Miller of Holtwood, have accused the Penn Manor School District in a lawsuit of violating their son's First Amendment rights with a "vague Orwellian policy" that stifles both patriotism and free speech.

But an attorney for the school district said school must create a safe environment for students in the post-Columbine era, and bringing even the image of a gun to school violates the district's policy.

"There's a much higher level of sensitivity these days," Penn Manor attorney Kevin French said. "But it's based on reality."

The lawsuit was filed in January. A federal judge will hold a conference on the case March 31

[zombiewolf]

This is kinda like the "bong hits for jesus" thing.

Both the school, AND THE PARENTS need to lighten up and get a sense of humor...

The knee-jerk lib reaction from the school was uncalled for.

If the parents don't like the school their kid goes to, find another!

[Brett]

If the parents don't like the school their kid goes to, find another!

Easier said than done.  Unless they can pony up the bucks for a private school they could be stuck with that one unless they want to sell their house and move to another school district.   

[torpedoman]

they have suspended kids for having a g.i. joe toy with a gun for bringing a gun to school someone need to sue them to get some common sense back in the system.

[zombiewolf]

If the parents don't like the school their kid goes to, find another!

Easier said than done.  Unless they can pony up the bucks for a private school they could be stuck with that one unless they want to sell their house and move to another school district.   

Yea, that's true.

Mabey they could get some of them gub'mint vouchers!

[30-06man]

Well its just like wearing the Confederate flag anywhere today. At my job I worked also 25 some odd years at they would write us up for wearing the flag. That's about stupid and I hope they have a fun time in where they moved to trying explain the stupid foreigners how to turn a wrench.

[Moss88hunter]

I am sick of all this politically correct bs. My junior year in high school they threatened to suspend me for having a revolver on my belt buckle. I actually gave in, though now I wish I hadn't. My senior year they threatened to suspend us for wearing confederate flags. Myself and others held our ground and the school decided to not enforce that threat. I am glad to be in college where I can finally make my own decisions.

Evan

[gypsyman]

Moss88hunter, be careful in college. My wife finished up last year, from a major university here in Ohio. The professors are so off base it makes ya want to puke. After they have their tenure in, their opinions are much more important to your grade than how you actually do in your studies. If you disagree with them on a subject, be it gun control, abortion, welfare, the war, whatever. I can guarantee you, YOU WILL NOT, get a good grade. Play the game. I hope your going to a small college, MAYBE, it might not be as bad as the big university's.
These people live in their own little universe. They would not survive in the real world. Kinda like the school that gave this boy the 2 day detention. Did they look at the boys school record. Was he a trouble maker, kicked out of school for fighting? Probably not. High school is turning into a PC atmosphere. Don't agree with global warming-Al Gore-tough. Watch the stupid movie and like it. Bring up the fact that the earth goes thru climatic changes, with out any help form us, always has, always will, tough. Bad grade anyway. Enough of a rant, going to go load ammo!   gypsyman

[Moss88hunter]

Gypsyman, I was lucky to get into a smaller college, University of Tennessee at Martin. It is in the UT system but only has about 6,000 students. The only teachers that I have found very opinionated are English teachers. The teachers there really seem to care about you getting a good education. I try to kinda feel the teachers out at the beginning of the semester though. But I agree there are some professors that are a little off their rocker.

Evan

[Tn Jim]

Political correctness will be the downfall of this country. I have yet to see anything in history that brings on this level of mass stupidity.

[Windwalker 100]

The "Zero Tolerance" policy should be abolished in all school districts. Can any reasonable person believe that a second grader drawing a picture of a gun, two 4th graders at recess playing cowboys and pointing a finger at each other saying "Bang", a student wearing a shirt with a Military Logo, Aircraft, or Gun, and a student who brings a real gun to school all deserve the same punishment? All infractions must be judged on their own merit. If your school administration won't abolish the No Tolerance policy, go to the school board and if they won't act, vote them out and elect some who will.

[30-06man]

The "Zero Tolerance" policy should be abolished in all school districts. Can any reasonable person believe that a second grader drawing a picture of a gun, two 4th graders at recess playing cowboys and pointing a finger at each other saying "Bang", a student wearing a shirt with a Military Logo, Aircraft, or Gun, and a student who brings a real gun to school all deserve the same punishment? All infractions must be judged on their own merit. If your school administration won't abolish the No Tolerance policy, go to the school board and if they won't act, vote them out and elect some who will.

Didn't get the same punishment. Don't know about playing Cowboys but the boy in this case only had 2 days of dention according to the orginal post.