Des Moines girl suspended for empty shotgun shells

[Kythas]

Yet another example of stupid "zero tolerance" policies that use no common sense.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... /1001/NEWS

An 11-year-old Des Moines girl was at home on suspension Tuesday for bringing a handful of empty shotgun shells to school last week.

Jazmine Martin, a sixth-grader at Brody Middle School, picked up the shells as souvenirs during a family trip to a ranch in South Dakota, where the rounds were fired as part of a show. They were blanks.

"I didn't think they were going to hurt anyone," Jazmine said. "I wanted to show them to my science teacher because he's into stuff like this."

She said she didn't have time to show her teacher, but she did show a couple of friends. This week, she was called into the office and suspended.

Principal Randy Gordon said the shells were considered ammunition even though they were empty, and were therefore against school policy.

A copy of the school policy shows that it specifically bans "live ammunition or bullets" but makes no reference to empty shells or casings. However, the policy says it is not limited to the items specifically listed as being banned.

The girl's mother, Chenoa Martin, 39, said school officials were trying to make an example of her daughter — and overreacted. She said she will fight to have the offense removed from her daughter's record.

"They could have handled it differently," she said. "I could have seen a detention, a conference with the parents ... but this was harsh."

[seamusTX]

A copy of the school policy shows that it specifically bans "live ammunition or bullets" but makes no reference to empty shells or casings. However, the policy says it is not limited to the items specifically listed as being banned.

In other words, "we can make it up as we go along."

- Jim

[joe817]

A copy of the school policy shows that it specifically bans "live ammunition or bullets" but makes no reference to empty shells or casings. However, the policy says it is not limited to the items specifically listed as being banned.

The principal is violating that policy. Live ammunition I can see, but dead ammunition I cannot. What's next? Getting suspended for bringing a picture of a gun to school?

[seamusTX]

A kid was already suspended for drawing a picture of a pistol. It was in Arizona, IIRC.

I wonder is the principal understands the difference between a fired shell and a live one. Whoever wrote that article used the term blanks, which is incorrect.

- Jim

[chamberc]

More nanny state absence of common sense...

[Keith B]

A kid was already suspended for drawing a picture of a pistol. It was in Arizona, IIRC.

I wonder is the principal understands the difference between a fired shell and a live one. Whoever wrote that article used the term blanks, which is incorrect.

- Jim

I think the author was inferring the round fired at the show where the kid got the shells originally were blanks.

EDITED TO ADD: Had I brought empty shells to my 9th grade Earth Science teacher, they probably would have been live before leaving class. He had reloading equipment at school and would reload between classes and after school. I ran into him a few months ago when visiting back home and while retired for many years, he still reloads about as much as he did then!

[joe817]

If I were a kid, I'd never survive in this day and age. When I was in the 6th grade, I was into collecting cartridges. Most were older cartridges. I made a cartridge board and glued about 3 dozen rounds to it and labeled them. Really neat. Wish I had it now.

I took it to school to display in a science fair. I didn't win any prize, but I sure got a lot of compliments from students and teachers alike. My how times have changed.

[shootthesheet]

This should be something both the ACLU and NRA both are against. I know the NRA has fought this before in other cases. Where is the ACLU and other so called "civil rights groups" from the Left? Or are they on the side of the Tyrants at the schools?

[isa268]

Principal Randy Gordon said the shells were considered ammunition even though they were empty, and were therefore against school policy.

well shoot (no pun intended) using that logic (and i use that term lightly), brass, lead, copper and plastic are "ammunittion even thought they are not formed into a complete casing".

[seamusTX]

You're right that the local chapter of the ACLU should be on the case. It's a due process issue. The school has a written policy, which the kid did not violate, and then the principal makes up his own rules.

The event happened less than 48 hours ago, so it''s a little soon to expect a lawsuit.

I think a case like this is problematic for the NRA. It would get twisted into "the NRA wants kids to be able to bring guns to school."

They have intervened in cases where kids were disciplined for bringing photos of firearms to school or wearing clothing related to some shooting activity.

- Jim

[karder]

I could rant on about this for hours, but what's the point? Just another example of how our tax payer funded educational system is working to demonize guns and to instill a fear of weapons in children at a very young age. We need to start organizing our communities and getting kids involved in heathy shooting sports today, or this next generation may well be the one to repeal individual gun rights at a federal level.

[Embalmo]

Guys,

This is obviously not a violation of any rule, but an example of a political entity punishing the family of this child for their political views and horrific acts of owning and actually discharging a firearm. I hope that the parents make this child understand that that she has in no way violated or broken any rule, but is instead, is in a struggle against an enemy that is against the traditional family unit, and frighteningly, specifically against Jesus Christ. I often tell my child, "You're not wrong, the school is wrong, but we have to go by their silly rules when we're there, for now."

As for the spent shells, there is nothing weird about taking the spend shell for show and tell. There is a huge amount that can be taught on Physics, Chemistry, and Math regarding the firing of a shotgun. I'm embarrassed that I can't remember which Newton's law off hand, but at Austin Community College, my Physics professor often referenced recoil in a hand gun when teaching about momentum and mass.

Embalm Oh!

[LongHairedRedneck]

I could rant on about this for hours, but what's the point? Just another example of how our tax payer funded educational system is working to demonize guns and to instill a fear of weapons in children at a very young age. We need to start organizing our communities and getting kids involved in heathy shooting sports today, or this next generation may well be the one to repeal individual gun rights at a federal level.

Just another example of how they are trying to indoctrinate the children with their political views.

I could rant on and on about this but just gonna say that and not talk ya'lls ears off.

[casingpoint]

this next generation may well be the one to repeal individual gun rights at a federal level

That's almost a foregone conclusion no matter what.

[seamusTX]

I disagree. There has been no new federal restriction since 1993. The AWB expired, and several new pro-RKBA laws passed.

I think enough of the population is getting the message that guns don't kill unless they're in the hands of criminals, and "gun control" doesn't work.

- Jim