boy punished for gun image on shirt

[gunsmith]

links and story!

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.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Honoring his uncle in Iraq? What a joke! He wanted to wear the shirt because it seem so cool and tough. If he was honoring his uncle in Iraq, then why doesn't the shirt say anything about the military, his uncle, or Iraq? He is just trying to play a patriotism card to get out of wearing a shirt that violated school policy.

 

[Ash]

Yeah, I gotta agree. While I like the shirt in a John Wayne sort of way, it seems like he is grasping at an excuse to wear the shirt. Of course, the police is absurd.

Ash

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Double Naught Spy,

I agree with you that it's a stretch that that shirt is honoring his uncle fighting in Irag, or the military. One would have to make the connection that his uncle is fighting in the war on terror to say the shirt honors him.

One could claim that the Terrorist Hunting Permit aspect advocates violence.

However, exactly how does wearing a shirt bearing the image of a gun somehow make the environment of the school, less safe?

I'll bet that if he was simply wearing a shirt with an AR, a 1911 or a Glock on it, the school would have reacted the same way.

Sam

 

[Nobody's_Hero]

The kid doesn't need to provide a reason for wearing the shirt.

 

[Wineoceros]

A silly "feel good" policy, to be sure. But the policy none the less. If the boy wants to wear the shirt in protest, as a form of civil disobedience against the policy, and his parents choose to support his doing so then I say more power to them.

But don't cheapen the notion of supporting fighting men and women by using them as a B.S. excuse for wearing a shirt they knew was a violation of the dress code.

 

[Citroen]

Perhaps he was wearing the shirt in the belief that his uncle was fighting to defend freedom of expression? Perhaps he was wearing the shirt because his uncle sent it to him?

Who cares? Instead of carping about what he did why not initiate an effort to raise some funds to pay an attorney to defend his actions? Write a letter (polite one) pointing out the error of such action by the school?

Words are pretty cheap but when someone actually steps out and does something some of us would like to help.

Post an address and I am in for a donation.

John
Charlotte, NC

 

[Crimp]

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

Perhaps the kid's excuse is pushing it, but the message from the school district's attorney is a bit thin too.

 

[moosehead]

Since when do schools allow kids to wear t-shirts? I have to agree with the school on this one, that shirt does not seem appropriate for a school environment.

 

[Todd A]

It is just a shirt, I have seen worse on kids that do not relate to firearms. Some kids just have bad taste.

My son likes NRA logo stuff and he gets a ready supply from my side of the family. All those "free" items you get in the mail.Of course he has a ready defense as his initials really are N R A.

And yes I did that on purpose. My now ex chose a first name with "N",and let me choose his middle name.So with a last name of "A" whats a guy to do

Took her a year to catch that

 

[plexreticle]

Thought crimes, how dare a child think guns are cool.

 

[SJG26]

Mods...
Duplicate post............earlier one in general:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=346787

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

....

 

[Eightball]

bringing even the image of a gun to school violates the district's policy.

Since when did looks kill?

 

[fletcher]

I just saw this article and then this thread to make sure I wouldn't post a dupe

If this succeeds, would this mean that children can wear/possess apparrel with *evil* gun pictures/logos/etc. on them, and have the protection of the 1A?

Here's the link to the Fox article (slightly different):
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336793,00.html

If he was honoring his uncle in Iraq, then why doesn't the shirt say anything about the military, his uncle, or Iraq? He is just trying to play a patriotism card to get out of wearing a shirt that violated school policy.

The shirt was a gift from his uncle in Iraq, and violated nothing more than a ridiculous policy. Try to hold judgement before the facts are out, although I'm sure it will be nearly impossible to find out what actually happened when a school is involved.

 

[Wineoceros]

Since when did looks kill?

You're not married, are you?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

However, exactly how does wearing a shirt bearing the image of a gun somehow make the environment of the school, less safe?

Simple. It scares all the tree hugging domestic terrorist wannabes who attend that school along with any foreigners attending the school who are also here for the purpose of terrorism. It is the type of shirt that is a threat to the Chos, Klebolds, etc. It does not create a suitable learning environment for those who wish to do us harm. D'uh!

However, there are two issues here. One is whether or not the rule is valid for a school and the second is whether or not the kid broke the current rules. I personally think the policy is stupid. I also think the kid was aware of the policy and opted to break it. The crap about the uncle is bogus.

 

[Eightball]

You're not married, are you?

No, but my girlfriend's definitely given me "those looks" before, and I'm not dead...



...yet.

 

[nicki]

Poltical correctness run amok

Guys.

This "gun free" issue is not only effecting schools, but also the workplace.

And it is not just guns, it is anything that can be percieved as "offensive".

ONe of my coworkers left a Maxim magazine in our breakroom and there was a big issue.

Of course typical female fitness magainzes have cover models that are just as skin exposed, but that is another issue.

Gun magazines are a no no because they promote "workplace violence".

I guess it is still okay to have a local paper or magazine with someone on the cover holding a gun, maybe.

Yes, we have a stressed out society, and I believe alot of it is because we have too much control on our lives and many of us are on overload.

Adding more stress is the last thing we need to do.

Unfortunately those who adovcate tolerance are among the most intolerant people around.

 

[yokel]

Fear mongers and rabble rousers who, for their own mercenary reasons, are forever striving to steal the people's liberty.

And if it were an NRA teeshirt with the silhouettes of three shooters on it?

 

[Wineoceros]

No, but my girlfriend's definitely given me "those looks" before, and I'm not dead...

The look by itself is not lethal. It must be combined with a wedding ring in order achieve full killing potential.

 

[Geno]

Based on past cases, I predict that the argument is going to be:

1. Schools have an interest in maintaining a proper educational environment, and therefore the students' speech/expression rights may be somewhat restricted.

versus

2. The students, while not enjoying full free speech/expression rights in schools, also are not without some right of freely express themselves. Clothing and hairstyle, etc., are matters of free expression.

I predict the school will prevail due to the need to have a non-disruptive environment.

 

[chris in va]

If he had a shirt that said something to the effect, "Honoring those that serve overseas" with a picture of a soldier holding an M-16, I'd say he had a REALLY good case.

As is, no. Personally I think those 'terrorist permit' logos are very tacky.

 

[LAR-15]

Where is the ACLU on this??

 

[45Badger]

How do you guys think a "Got Sig?" shirt will go over? or "Gun control means using both hands"?