Girl might be expelled over fake rifles used as props at school

"I can't even believe it," says 17-year-old Marie Morrow. "They could have said, 'Slap on the wrist, no, no, don't do it again.' I acknowledged I made a mistake, but I didn't know I was breaking any laws." (Denver Post | Rocky Mountain News)

Comments

[G-Man]

"The policy was instituted in response to the Columbine High School shootings. State Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, said he will introduce a bill that would exempt facsimile weapons from the law. "

I still don't think they get it. How about a law that let's the schools USE COMMON SENSE. I think I'm going to dig a bomb shelter and lock myself in for about the next 10 years. I'm pretty sure armaggedon will have arrived by then.

[troschne]

Christ on a bicylcle--I "get" the fact that Columbine put everyone on their ears, but I don't "get" why this girl is in trouble. I'm not sure about how things are now, but when I was in high school, those rifles were made of wood--unless this chick gets unhinged, and starts slapping people around with those guns, they really aren't a threat. For future reference--maybe she should have just put them in her trunk.

And, BTW--as G-Man's new PR Man, I completely endorse his statement.

[sometimesilie]

G-Man, I hope it's soon. To paraphrase Mark Twain, sometimes I'd like to hang the whole human race and be done with the farce.

[sometimesilie]

G-Man, I hope it's soon. To paraphrase Mark Twain, sometimes I'd like to hang the whole human race and be done with the farce.

[KDP]

Zero Tolerance is just an excuse for lack of critical thinking.

I'd bet even money that a picture of a pistol left on the car seat would have given the same results.

[sometimesilie]

zero tolerance = zero sense

[Joe]

Why the hell do they still have "zero tolerance" policies? For the most part, they just screw over honest, hardworking kids who've simply made a mistake. How is another rule going to stop kids who don't follow the rules to begin with? I mean, kids are stupid, but they're not retarded. "Oh, i was going to shoot up the school and then kill myself, but we're not allowed to bring guns to school. Guess I won't now" - This never happens. How is kicking kids out of school good for society?

It's like our country's retarded anti-drug policy. We might as well take ten billion or so dollars every year and just light them on fire.

[Lou Sussler]

Zero Tolerence is for small minded people who are afraid to, or can't think

"even a facsimile of a gun or rifle that looks real is considered a dangerous weapon" is ridiculous because IT'S NOT.

[Jim]

If these idiots would think, it would be a better world.

[Joe]

Oh good lord. I just read the articles fully, and looked at the picture. ITS A DAMN HONOR GUARD DRILL RIFLE. They don't even have firing mechanisms.

The saddest part about all of it though, is that she wants to go to the Merchant Marine Academy. If she actually gets in any trouble, like suspension or expulsion, she probably won't get in. Service Academies are extremely selective, and if you have any discipline problems whatsoever, you probably won't get in on your first try.

[Sheila]

I've read and heard some other accounts of this situation. Some students claim to have seen the "gun" and been so frightened that they ran into the school to report the "gun." I suspect they knew exactly whose car it was and thought it would be fun to see if they could create a disaster for her because she is a good student. The legislature is to blame for creating such a sweeping law, and the school superintendent is to blame for choosing a draconian punishment. A few dunces will want her crucified, but public opinion is going to be on her side, just as opinions posted here are.

[sometimesilie]

Sheila, that's probably a very good estimation of what happened, and in that case, those kids should be arrested for Risking a Catastrophe, or whatever you get for yelling fire in a crowded theater.

[someguy]

The funny thing is that in many public schools- including in Denver proper apparently- have JROTC units which have drill rifle squads that practice on school grounds all the time. I was in JRTOC in high school and I used to see prop guns everywhere....

[cherie]

Stupidity Abounds...

[Sigh]

I think the drill team should drill with walkie talkies -- we don't want to send the wrong message to the kids.

[sometimesilie]

"I was in JRTOC in high school and I used to see prop guns everywhere..."

and lived to tell the tale?!?!?

[Phranqlin]

Yet more evidence that school administrators are dumber than dirt. Did they have to pass a stupidity test to get their jobs?

Unlike most high school students who are featured on OS&RR, this girl sounds like a nice kid who has her shit together. Her school district should be encouraging her, not threatening to expel her.

[Moose]

Phranqlin is right - here's a kid who has her shit together and has plans and a list of people who think she's a good person and yet, the school is stupid enough to think fake guns = real guns.

lol @ sigh. Walkie Talkies should replace guns just like in ET.

[RockyMtnMac]

*climbing up on Merc's soap box*

I've been watching this for a few days - the local coverage has been pretty good. The Marines asked the school board to apply a little comman sense and we all laughed and laughed! Common sense? Riiiiiiight. In post-Columbine Colorado there is no common sense that zero tolerance can't over ride. Every school district in this Gawd-forsaken state has a zero-tolerance policy to hide behind in an effort to avoid any decision making that could involve common sense. Maybe national exposure will get them to use some reason, but it hasn't helped in the past. Parents in this state tremble in fear every day that little Johnny or Susie may accidently take a plastic knife to school and, well, you know what happens then... SWAT teams and mandatory expulsion.
I will be very surprised if they let this poor girl back in.

[angrysockmonkey]

rules are rules.... now heres your pink slip.see you in a few days

[USMerc]

If I ever decided to go postal, I think I'd have to start killing everybody with soup spoons...I'd like to see soup spoons be banned from society...Or maybe popsicle sticks...

[RockyMtnMac]

Where you been Merc? Missed ya.

I think balloons should be banned. So dangerous in their round boingy sorta way..

[some chick]

Just this week, I decided to drop out of a teacher-education program. For the second time. Stories like this are the reason why.

I'd be an excellent teacher, but I can't operate in that culture.

[sometimesilie]

Are you really serious RMM? Really? pul-LEASE. Do you even know how dangerous one of those things might be if it went off around, I DUNNO, a wicked witch?!?!

[sometimesilie]

shoot...I read water balloons. Well, I'm sure SOME brand of witch SOMEwhere could be ruinously hurt by a regular balloon...

[mianne]

Oh you're just getting started Merc. Strangle some folks with shoelaces, so only slip-on shoes may be worn. Ditto prohibitions for belts, scarves, bras, etc. Soccer cleats could easily be demonstrated to be dangerous weapons. Enough effort put into it and the administrators will have the Hobson's choice of continuing a zero tolerance policy on any weapon, or have everyone come to school in the nude.

Then, taking a cue from G. Gordon Liddy, pencils could be banned as well. It may eventually be concluded that the only means to create a safe school environment is to keep everyone under heavy sedation--The stoners will be at the head of the class now! Unfortunately, there's that pesky zero-tolerance policy on drugs too. Now what?

[mel rob]

This is a cluster $%&#. The police or sheriff, did take the fake gun and told her to get it after school. They knew that the gun was fake, how could the school not know. Some kids snitched on her to the principal, that she was carrying a gun in her car. Why did the principal investigate before doing anything? I hate zero tolerance in the schools. There is no lead way for anything. I live in Colorado, and the school districts have been going crazy since Columbine happened.

[Kelly]

I certainly understand panic after all the school shootings, but does anyone remember a time when there was a rifle club at their school and kids reguarly took real rifles on the school bus with them - and then walked home and hunted rabbits at the same time? It wasn't that long ago... I'm not that old. I wish I had a time machine!

[Bill]

Instead of expelling her, why don't they just give her a "facsimile of a suspension"?

This will allow the idiot superindentent to fill out all the neccessary forms that idiot superintendents are so fond of; but she can still be permitted to attend classes, graduation, and all the nonsense that high school seniors enjoy.

[Mikey]

I think they should ban Fleet enemas. Could be used to penetrate someone.

[RockyMtnMac]

STIL
That's ok, I said balloons without even thinking of WATER balloons. You are on top of it. Those wouldn't just cause injury, they could be fatal to witches or anyone made out of sugar!

[USMerc]

Glad to see...um...hear....um...wait a minute....READ from ya'll too! I've been lurking, and only posting a little bit the last few days. But, I'm BAAAAaaaaack!!!

[MONKEY JERK]

IDIOT SCHOOL SYSTEMS STRIKE AGAIN

[jakejake]

Another m*f who will be up against the wall when the revolution comes.

[fredzilla]

Zero tolerance is one of the most idiotic things ever invented. I grew up going to a small school in rural Arkansas. I couldn't tell you the number of kids who brought their hunting rifles to school. Especially during deer season. And you know what... Nobody even thought of shooting off their guns at school. Or if they did, they certainly didn't act on it. If someone had a problem with someone else they handled it either by talking it over or a good old fashioned fist fight. Now everybody's so scared that people are gonna shoot each other that they ban water pistols. We used to have water gun fights on the last day of school. The only thing we ever feared was the Principal. His policy on water guns was this. If you were outside the building you wouldn't get in trouble. Inside the building it depended on his mood. If he was in a good mood, he'd take it to his office and give it to you at the end of the day. If he was having a bad day, he'd drop it on the floor and stomp on it with his boots. If he was severely pissed off, he'd crush it in his hand and hand it back to you.

Yeah, he was an ex-coach.

[Farmer Bob and the City]

Sterilize them.

[troschne]

FBATC!! Welcome back--glad to see you're still kicking!

[RockyMtnMac]

Farmer Bob! We've been needing you (A LOT)

[lynn]

zero intolerance has now dropeed into the negative numbers. stupidity of school administrators is also reaching into the 4 digits.

i remember reading about another young girl in atlanta that took a rare african knife to school as a visual with her report (or something like that). she was a good student, had the knife locked up and no one could get to it, after the class,she put it away again. still they suspended her...it was not like she was wearing the thing and cutting bra straps and belts off the othere kids

sheesh

[lynn]

zero intolerance has now dropeed into the negative numbers. stupidity of school administrators is also reaching into the 4 digits.

i remember reading about another young girl in atlanta that took a rare african knife to school as a visual with her report (or something like that). she was a good student, had the knife locked up and no one could get to it, after the class,she put it away again. still they suspended her...it was not like she was wearing the thing and cutting bra straps and belts off the othere kids

sheesh

[j]

At the high school in my town (in WI) during dear season there are more guns in the student parking lot then there are at the national guard armory in town.

People need to calm down and think. the school over reacted. we need to realize that not everything is bad and needing to be regulated. Our society is based on the idea that people can think for themselves and make the right choice.