Student Faces Expulsion Over Nerf Gun

[mwb970]

Student Faces Expulsion Over Nerf Gun
(WBNS-TV, Columbus, Ohio, February 17, 2009)

A high school student could be expelled after playing with a Nerf dart gun inside Northland High School, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported on Tuesday. Devon Smith, 14, said he could not resist firing the toy at a friend after a classmate brought it to class.

"He was shooting at another one of my friends and I moved closer and I had a shot and missed somebody," Smith said. A teacher then took Smith to the principal's office where he was suspended and informed that he would face an expulsion hearing.

While Smith's case could not be discussed directly, district spokesman Michael Straughter said the district follows the state's zero tolerance policy, as well as the Gun-Free School Act.

Under the act, students who bring or possess a dangerous weapon at school are expelled for at least a year, Mallett reported. The act includes lookalike weapons.

Should a nerf gun really count as a "lookalike weapon"? What weapon does it look like? This kid could get expelled.

[TwilightGardener]

1. My boys have a couple of those--bright blue and orange plastic.

There's absolutely no way anyone could confuse them with a real weapon, unless they were seriously vision-challenged AND color-blind.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. "Zero tolerance" has to be one of the...

most idotic of many idotic iventions of modern civilization.

[eShirl]

9. aka zero intelligence

[wavesofeuphoria]

3. Why do many high school students bring "toys" to school?

I can see why it happens in elementary .. there are designated "play" times .. but high schoolers with toys? Odd to say the least.

That said .. bringing a toy gun, and firing it no less, is to a school - given the happenings of the last few years - akin to talking about blowing up airplanes in an airport ... its just rather stupid to do.

My guess is if the kid had just brought it to school .. and it not been fired ... he would have simply had it taken away from him and told to leave it at home. But firing it .. however "nerfy" it might be .. isn't cool.

Most likely at the hearing the kid will be reprimanded .. doubtful expulsion will occur. Expulsion hearing are to hear all the evidence .. and consider the actions and interpretations .. expulsion isn't a guarantee.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. Umm...in HS, we goofed around with "toys" like nerf guns

I still do and I'm 26.

[Zodiak]

8. Yeah, we used to play spy games with water pistols and nerf guns

In the hallways of the school.

I feel so sorry for kids nowadays...adults have lost their friggin' minds and have become control freaks of the worst sort.

[Winterblues]

10. It may be "High School" but they are still children

They are going to do childish things occasionally. There needs to be "Adult" supervision that recognizes this fact. Detention maybe, suspension no, and expulsion should not even be considered...There is no way any person would ever mistake the toy as being a real weapon... It is a toy and should be treated exactly as such.

[Mugu]

4. I wouldn't want my children to be taught by people this stupid. n/t

[lame54]

5. "What weapon does it look like?"...

Have you seen Men In Black?

[Gormy Cuss]

7. The kid deserves some reprimand for the disruption.

Hard to say what level of penalty is appropriate without being there but unless this kid has a history of such behavior even an expulsion hearing is a bit too much and melodramatic if this is a typical, bright colored Nerf gun.