Boy punished for T-shirt with gun image

ASSOCIATED PRESS ^ | March 10, 2008

[kingattax]

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.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

[monkeycard]

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

Pictures of guns have been known to cause massacres? /s

[Liaison]

Knowing the “ZERO” tolerance policy and nanny mentality of most school systems and judicial precedence the child has a low probability winning his case in the liberal lower courts.

[HighWheeler]

Here are some pics:

[mylife]

Educated Eggsheads with Zero common sense

[gathersnomoss]

But can they try to go back to the three R’s? Nah.

[HighWheeler]

that picture of a gun can scares their pantywaisted principal?

[verga]

The kids family can't win. For the simple reason that if he does the next kid will be wearing a shirt that says "Kill'em all let god sort'em out", Or how about the one that has a photograph of a couple having sex.

by drawing the line and giving the kid the option of turning it inside out they prevent any one else for doing worse.

[mylife]

That said, I wouldnt send the kid to school in that shirt.

[HighWheeler]

“...bringing even the image of a gun to school violates the district’s policy.”

— — —

So which takes precedence here: Freedom of expression, or a fabricated “policy”?

[HighWheeler]

Read up on what Patriots did to the British.

[JasonC]

Fire everyone at the school, blackball their entire extended families from any form of education employment for life, and start over.

Simple.

[Dagny&Hank]

Let them brainwash the children and the resulting adults will forever be anti-gunners voting against the Second Amendment.

[Balding_Eagle]

Based on other stories I’ve read about this case, the kid will win.

The schools policy was fuzzy at best, and if read literally, they couldn’t disallow this shirt.

They should ban all writing on clothing, but the school needs more mental horsepower to come to that conclusion.

[Clintonfatigued]

He should have worn a T-shirt depicting two people committing a sex act, preferably people of the same gender.

(heavy sarcasm)

[ozaukeemom]

If he had had a rainbow on it also, nothing would have been said.

[metmom]

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

This ping list is for the “other” articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. If you want on/off this list, please freepmail me. The main Homeschool Ping List by DaveLoneRanger handles the homeschool-specific articles. This can occasionally be a fairly high volume list.

[HighWheeler]

“...the school needs more mental horsepower to come to that conclusion.”

— — —

That, they don’t have.

[metmom]

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

Reality? Like what these people are out of touch with?