Palmer kindergartener disciplined after bringing quarter-sized toy gun onto school bus (MA)

The Republican ^ | May 28, 2013 | Conor Berry

[libertarian27]

A mother says she's upset over the punishment her 6-year-old kindergartener is facing after the Old Mill Pond Elementary School student boarded a school bus last week with a Lego plastic gun about the size of a quarter.

"I think they overreacted, totally," Mieke Crane told abc40.

The tiny toy gun is the type that snaps into the hands of a Lego figure, and another student saw it and yelled to the driver. Both Crane's son and the student who alerted the driver had to apologize, according to Crane, who says her son also must serve detention on Tuesday. Palmer school officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

[texas booster]

I understand that schools can have rules regarding weapons, but I have never understood or seen a rule that outlaws “images of weapons”.

The toy was clearly not a gun or even a replica - if we were to allow that replica guns have been used in crime, and thus to provide a school the fig leaf to ban them.

Even with “zero tolerance” this is beyond the pale.

Once the school made the kids apologize, it shows that officials clearly understood the nature of the toy. Detention is completely unwarranted.

What next - criminals must apologize, serve time out and then it stays off their permanent record?

[IMR 4350]

The ammo was in a high capacity clip in his pocket, cleverly disguised as a Pez dispenser with extremely powerful bullets designed specificly to kill our babies.

[Dr. Sivana]

I guess playing the board game “Clue”, with its two inch revolver would be out of the question.

[Dad was my hero]

I tell you this crap will stop when someone organizes an entire grade or more to bring in squirt guns, pictures of guns, pencils held as guns, finger guns, you name it and the school has to discipline all of them. What are they gonna do then, shut an entire school down? Call the police on an entire class? I doubt it. Maybe then the community and police will force this crap to stop.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Palmer school officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment. “

figures,

Lets call and see if they have an explanation for this:

Welcome To Old Mill Pond School

4107 Main Street
Palmer, Massachusetts 01069-1869
413-283-4300 phone
413-283-2619 fax

Old Mill Pond School, Palmer, Massachusetts

[MrB]

The left is trying to demonize anything having to do with guns that aren’t under the control of the State.

[Kirkwood]

Did they find the concealed pop tart in his stomach?

[FamiliarFace]

It’s also possible that the kid who told the bus driver is just a bully and wanted to get the first kid in trouble.

[BitWielder1]

Yet one more example of Zero Tolerance leading to Infinite Stupidity.
Libs use the term "Common Sense" a lot but seem unable to apply it to themselves.

[Antoninus II]

My son made the mistake of bringing a BB pistol to school. He had to attend an alternate school for the rest of the year. They told us that if it had been loaded criminal charges would have been in order!

[Blood of Tyrants]

Zero tolerance rules are nothing but a way to prepare the people for a totalitarian regime. Absolute obedience with no delay is the only thing acceptable.

[American in Israel]

Fire all the teachers, bus drivers and Administration involved in this. Retarded people should not be teaching school classes. Perhaps they can work for the EPA, they are of like minds in making mountains out of mole hills.

[Resolute Conservative]

Private school or home school. we took our youngest two out 3 years ago and haven’t looked back.

[cincinnati65]

"It’s also possible that the kid who told the bus driver is just a bully and wanted to get the first kid in trouble."

In which case, I'm sure, another kid would've yelled at the bus driver about the "bully"!

No guns! No bullies! Just be an unarmed little sheep and let daddy government protect you.

[American in Israel]

The anti gun generation will be killed off in mass, thereby reseting the equation. What is left of the next generation will be staunchly pro gun and anti marxist.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

No, but Palmer school officials are.

Just say no to detention.

[Arkansas Toothpick]

Let’s have a Lego gun turn-in event!

Everyone, mail in your child’s Lego guns to:

Old Mill Pond School
4107 Main Street
Palmer, Massachusetts 01069-1869

Be sure to enclose a letter expressing your gratitude to them for keeping Lego guns off the street!

[sickoflibs]

Here's the dangerous weapon

Toy Gun Causes Disturbance On Palmer Elementary School Bus May 24th, 2013 (Fox 6 WGGB)

[Exit148]

I’m with you! I thought of dropping all kinds of toy guns on school property, but your idea is better. This craziness needs to stop!

[FamiliarFace]

You’re probably right.

I’m glad my own children are grown, but heaven help us when they have their own. I may have to homeschool my grandchildren, and will do it happily if their parents agree to let me. (Private schools have plenty of problems, too.)