Teen suspended and arrested for wearing NRA shirt to school

I remember hearing about high school students being told to change their American Flag shirts (or turn their shirts inside out) on Cinqo de Mayo because it might offend Hispanic students.

^^^ Quote from Canovsp

Are you serious? That's why I can say with confidence that although I am not a rocket scientist, I feel I'm smarter than the majority of the population. But that's really not saying much because there are some really stupid people in this world. And some of them are obviously in our education system.

SwishSwish... why wait until you're of age to get involved in the issues you're passionate about if you can get involved now? Sometimes if you wait, it's too late. He might enjoy hunting with his dad, so he wants to protect his second amendment rights.

Randy... thanks for the input. But to answer your question, the school policy prohibits a student from wearing a shirt that alludes to violence. Hence, a shirt with a message about killing white people wouldn't be tolerated.

Slovak... I do agree with you. It is most certainly a douchebag move. But being a douchebag as you know isn't against the law.

The kid might be very passionate about his rights, and he feels the need to express his passion. Bottom line is, he wasn't breaking any school policy therefore he shouldn't have been suspended let alone arrested. What law was he breaking? If this attorney is worth anything, he'll have a field day with this.

I realize it's a very controversial issue these days but freedom of speech doesn't "go away". And you also have those rights if you're 14 years old. The people that tried to take away his rights should have to stand trial. End of discussion.

I wonder what they would do if he had showed up with a picture of a plant on his shirt (marijuana)?

what happened to free speach the kid should wear what he wants to. kids all around the united states should stand up for them selfs and wear what they want to. I think if 100 studentss in every shcool did this on the same day it would definitly send a message that we are still a free country,

NRA lawyer made a simple phonecall. Done.

Its not a right to go to school, its a privledge. We dont always get to do what we want, especially when we are on somebody elses time.

Such is life.

Yep...

The thing is, he didn't break any school policy. I don't know why he wore the shirt... maybe his dad bought him the gun and he likes shooting it. Then he saw a shirt and liked it and bought it. It doesn't really matter. I once wore a shirt with a skull on it because I liked it and I thought it made me look tough lol. As I said before though, I don't know if it was the smartest move to wear the shirt, but it really doesn't matter what I think. If you read the article, you'd realize that he DIDN'T break any school policy. So hence, he CAN'T face any penalty. It's really as black and white as that. The school can't all the sudden say, "We don't think that shirt is appropriate so you can't wear it." That would be like a cop saying, "We don't like that bumper sticker supporting a pro-choice stance so you need to remove it." There's no law that prohibits that bumper sticker, so to have him remove it would be preposterous and wrong.

Just my opinion... peace :)

The thing is, he didn't break any school policy. I don't know why he wore the shirt... maybe his dad bought him the gun and he likes shooting it. Then he saw a shirt and liked it and bought it. It doesn't really matter. I once wore a shirt with a skull on it because I liked it and I thought it made me look tough lol. As I said before though, I don't know if it was the smartest move to wear the shirt, but it really doesn't matter what I think. If you read the article, you'd realize that he DIDN'T break any school policy. So hence, he CAN'T face any penalty. It's really as black and white as that. The school can't all the sudden say, "We don't think that shirt is appropriate so you can't wear it." That would be like a cop saying, "We don't like that bumper sticker supporting a pro-choice stance so you need to remove it." There's no law that prohibits that bumper sticker, so to have him remove it would be preposterous and wrong.

Just my opinion... peace :)

Actually, the REASON is irrelevant.

     With all due respect, I have to disagree.  There are plenty of law abiding tax paying citizens that speak out when they feel their rights are being taken or threatened.  This is, actually, part of being an American.  It's our right and our obligation to act when our government's direction seems to be going the wrong way in regards to laws.  If we never did this, woman would still not be able to vote.  Blacks would still be slaves.

     It sounds like you're suggesting that we should be a nation of sheep. 

     No thanks.

     This country was built by the forefathers and the Constituition.  When a kid wears a shirt like this, people think this and think that, but the bottom line is, he's practicing freedom of speech, and he SHOULD be able to.  He'll probably regret it later, but that's all irrelevant.  Anybody can wear that same shirt anywhere.  It's a shirt with a gun on it... nothing more. 

     People like him are going to do controversial things all the time but they still have rights.  When they break the law, they must face consequences.  But if they don't break laws, you can't simply make new laws on the spot and throw them in jail.  I have no idea what he was charged with, but I have a feeling it won't stick.  You might dislike what he did, but that has no bearing on his rights.  You can't pick and choose who has rights and who doesn't. 

Not suggesting for a second that you become a nation of sheep, nor a nation of wolves. On the contrary - a progessive and intelligent nation, a nation responding to current day crisis and issues in a manner that is best for everyone.  That is what I see happened here. 

If a muslim came into school wearing a t-shirt with firearms or perhaps explosives on it there would be such an uprising it would be incredible.  Would you be just as quick to say no problem - this person is exercising freedom of speach and has his rights.  I wouldn't think so.

Good debate SteelCash.

     I once wore a shirt in Middle Bass Island with a Cannabis leaf on it and it reads "LEGALIZE FREEDOM".  I didn't wear it to be noticed or to be controversial, I wore it because I like the shirt and I believe in the statement.  Should I have been arrested?  Should I have been illegally frisked?  The answer is no, and I wasn't.  But if I had been, it may have been in the news, and then people would be debating that incident on Covers.  I didn't break any laws and I was not acting like a drunk idiot that night.  

          

I wouldn't like the Muslim doing that, but that doesn't matter.  Now if the shirt promoted killing people, then there's a problem.  This kid's shirt did no such thing.

It would be different because if it promoted killing people, that is violence, and the school policy prohibits shirts promoting violence.

I agree with you Allbutbroke... good debate. 

 

Reality Check... FACTS, FACTS, FACTS...

How about lets look at the FACTS of this situation. I know it is more fun to ignore the FACTS but they do exist...

Facts:

1. He had wore the shirt to school and been suspended the day before for the same exact shirt.

2. He KNEW he was not suppose to wear the shirt to school.

3. He WAS given the opportunity to remove the shirt or leave school.

4. He refused to remove the shirt or leave the school grounds.

I know the FACTS take away the perception that he was targeted and never given any kind of chance to avoid arrest but the FACTS prove he was given multiple chances.

He knew the school had prohibited the shirt when he went to school wearing it.

And I would really like for anybody to tell me directly and specifically that they feel the school has no right to tell student that an article of clothing is improper and prohibited.

Please... Consider the Fact that school is the #1 stepping stone to joining the work force and getting a job and being a productive and contributing member of society.

I know of very, very few jobs where you can come to work wearing what you please. The child needs to get a gripe on the reality of the Fact that when he joins the workforce, if he ever does he will have to conform to the rules and the norms of society.

Yes, I know school is where children should be able to run free and enjoy life... But it is also an environment that has to have structure so that the most learning can be accomplished.

There were no hobnailed booted Gestapo called in to beat the child down with clubs. Anybody who is knowledgeable of the public school system knows the school IS sensitive to law suits and bad publicity. It IS obvious the child was given the chance to remove the shirt but refused. He did what any good protester does, he refused to cooperate and was removed by force. That simple.

Please, you Really are comparing a child bucking a school dress code with Women's Right to Vote and Slavery??? I am impressed.

A human being placed in chains and sold as property to be used in any manner that the master sees fit IS exactly like a child being told a tee shirt is inappropriate and not to wear it.

Sorry, but I do have a problem when people trivialize Slavery. I would imagine most slaves would have been joyful to get freedom if all that was required was changing their shirt.

How about not so much HYPE and a bit more reality...

You are getting desperate to make it sound as if the child wore the shirt into the school building and was arrested NO Warning, NO chance to avoid arrest... Really, is that actually the way you see it?

How about some perspective???

He was expelled for a day over the exact same shirt.

He did what any good protester would do...

1. He knowingly violated school policy... He had been told the shirt was inappropriate and STILL wore it.

2. He refused to change shirts.

3. He refused to leave the school grounds.

4. He was arrested.

He is well on his way to a career as a protester as a right to wear activist.

Steel,

Quick question...

If I worked for you, and wore a tee shirt to work everyday that said: (In Big Bold lettering)

Only the STUPID Smoke Pot... FACT!!!

Would you support my Right to Freedom of Speech? Or would you as my employer be against Freedom of Speech and tell me not to wear the shirt.

Test of honesty...

I know the FACTS take away the perception that he was targeted and never given any kind of chance to avoid arrest but the FACTS prove he was given multiple chances.

^^ From Randisist

So he was given multiple chances to avoid arrest for something that wasn't against the law. 

If someone tells you multliple times to stop doing something when it's not against the law, are you going to stop doing it?  I won't.  You presented facts, but he wasn't breaking any law.  This is a fact.  HENCE HE WAS WRONGLY ARRESTED.

1. He had wore the shirt to school and been suspended the day before for the same exact shirt.

I would wear it again too.

2. He KNEW he was not suppose to wear the shirt to school.

Yes he did.  He also knew he was doing nothing illegal or against school policy and that he was exercising his freedom of speech and not hurting anyone.

3. He WAS given the opportunity to remove the shirt or leave school.

Wow.  Thanks for the choices but I'm doing nothing wrong so... I'm not going to do either and you're in fact in the wrong for harrassing me.

4. He refused to remove the shirt or leave the school grounds.

This is called standing up for your rights that are protected by the Constitution of the United States.  I applaud him. 

He knew the school had prohibited the shirt when he went to school wearing it.

The school has policies in place so that a student cannot wear a shirt that reads "kill all the white people".  This is promoting racism and violence.  His shirt does neither.  However, there is no school policy that prohibits images of guns on shirts.  Hence, and again, he wasn't breaking any school policy.  The school can't, on the fly, force a student to take off his shirt if they don't like it.  I understand he was pressing his luck and he could have chosen the easy route and agreed to not wear the shirt again.  But instead he chose to wear it because he should be able to.  It's not violating school policy. 

 And I would really like for anybody to tell me directly and specifically that they feel the school has no right to tell student that an article of clothing is improper and prohibited.

They don't.  The peoples' taxes help pay for the school.  They pay for books.  They pay so that the kids can play sports and other extra curricular activities.  If the school wants to make a policy that no student shall wear any clothing with any messages, then that's their choice.  Put it in writing and submit it to parents and students.  But they never did that.  What if a student wears a shirt that reads "The Browns Suck"?  Then we have a teacher that happens to be a big Browns fan and so is the principle.  Is going to be given a choice of leaving or taking off the shirt?  

There was no policy in place prohibiting a shirt with a gun on it.  Hence, they were in the wrong.  It's really as simple as that.

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

Please, you Really are comparing a child bucking a school dress code with Women's Right to Vote and Slavery??? I am impressed.

^^ From Randisist

Ummm... no.  I wasn't doing that.  And he didn't "buck" any dress code.  Why don't you get this?

I simply stated the fact that these people stood up for their rights just as he is doing.