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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsImaginary guns to be protected in schools
Introduced by Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), the Student Protection Act says that schools' zero-tolerance policies are being used to outlaw "harmless expressions of childhood play" and teach students to be "afraid of inanimate objects that are shaped like guns." It cites several examples of students being disciplined at schools for seemingly innocuous uses of imaginary weapons, including a 7-year-old Colorado student who was suspended for throwing an imaginary hand grenade.
The bill provides a list of activities that would be grounds for cutting federal funding. Among the activities: "brandishing a pastry or other food which is partially consumed in such a way that the remnant resembles a gun," "using a finger or hand to simulate a gun" and "sing a pencil, pen or other writing utensil to simulate a firearm."
The pastry addition comes in response to a Maryland student who was suspended for partially eating a Pop Tart to make it look like a gun.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/gop-bill-would-block-federal-funding-to-schools
I hope this gets fast tracked as this is important - unlike all the other stuff that's been held up for years.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Cue gungeoneers to tell us how this is great for the Gun Far-Rightist movement.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)is that a gun in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me ?
Robb
(39,665 posts)Right to work, indeed.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)but the 'zero-tolerance' crap about suspending a kid because of a poptart, slice of pizza, chicken finger, piece of paper, finger, or a pencil is obviously ridiculous. All of those items has been the reason for suspending a kid from school.
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)Things like this would never arise.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)EC
(12,287 posts)They are both frivolous. Don't they have better things to do? How about taking care of their state?
They should be making laws to regulate businesses from destroying towns, land and water.
1monster
(11,012 posts)schools whatsoever.
It was the Repubicans who started this zero tolerance garbage, so it is fitting that they should begin the backlash against these illogical policies.