GOP bill would defund schools with rules against playing with imaginary guns

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Frazzled**

HANDS OFF. This is a local or state issue. Mind your business. Get back to me when the borders are secure, we have a balanced budget, and GDP is at 4.5%. Seriously, quit jerking around with stupid stuff and do your job.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/310079-gop-bill-would-defund-schools-with-politically-correct-gun-rules

GOP bill would defund schools with rules against playing with imaginary guns
By Pete Kasperowicz - 07/10/13 09:10 AM ET

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) introduced legislation this week to block federal funding for schools that enforce rules that punish students for playing with imaginary weapons.

The Student Protection Act, H.R. 2625, is a reaction to what Stockman says is the zero tolerance policy at some schools that has led to several suspensions of very young children who engage in these activities, including cases where students pretended their thumb and index finger is a gun.

The bill finds that these school policies are being used to outlaw "harmless expressions of childhood play," and are only teaching students to "be afraid of inanimate objects that are shaped like guns."

Stockman cited several examples, such as a school in Nebraska that demanded a three-year old deaf boy change his name because it resembled a gun when expressed in sign language. He said a seven-year-old in Colorado was suspended for throwing an imaginary hand grenade, and that two six-year-old boys in Maryland were suspended for playing cops and robbers and using their fingers as guns.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More from The Hill
• Senate fails to move forward with lower student loan rates
• Deficit talks on life support
• House Republicans set for critical meeting on immigration reform

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He also noted the 14-year-old Kentucky student who was suspended from school for wearing a National Rifle Association shirt that said, "Protect your rights."

"This government-sanctioned political correctness is traumatizing children and spreading irrational fear," the bill states.

The legislation seeks to stop these practices by blocking federal funds to any school that punishes students for a select list of activities. Those activities include carrying miniature toy guns, and "brandishing a pastry or other food which is partially consumed in such a way that the remnant resembles a gun."

The pastry language is a response to a Maryland student who partially ate a Pop Tart to make it look like a gun and was suspended.

Schools would also have funding blocked if they get students in trouble for possessing a Lego gun, using fingers and thumbs or writing instruments to simulate a gun, wearing clothing supporting the Second Amendment, and drawing or possessing pictures of guns.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/310079-gop-bill-would-defund-schools-with-politically-correct-gun-rules#ixzz2YfkjWhw3
Follow us: @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook

**purplefood**

Seems absurd that the rules even exist to start with...
I guess de-funding them is a good incentive...

**d-usa**

Isn't the GOP usually on a rampage about "the stupid federal government telling schools what they can and cannot do for federal funding"?

**whembly**

d-usa wrote:
Isn't the GOP usually on a rampage about "the stupid federal government telling schools what they can and cannot do for federal funding"?

Yup... I have a problem with that.

FWIW, the school needs to have the freedom to use those funding as best as they can. Only they know what needs to be done, not some bureaucrat in DC.

**Dreadclaw69**

While I am not in favour of the zero tolerance, I do not believe that this is the best way to address it.

**Chongara**

d-usa wrote:
Isn't the GOP usually on a rampage about "the stupid federal government telling schools what they can and cannot do for federal funding"?

Yeah but this is different because the schools are doing something they don't like.

**rubiksnoob**

Fight stupid with stupid.

**d-usa**

Reminds me of John Kerry.

"I used to be against Federal Oversight of local schools before I was for it!"

**hotsauceman1**

No, fight decent rules(Every school has rules against play fighting) with full blown slowed.

**d-usa**

And the GOP can run for school boards and use local and state pressure to fight those rules.

Embracing a process that they have vilified during every election just shows that they are hipocrites and don't have a problem with federal control of local causes as long as it is something that they support.

**Ouze**

Dreadclaw69 wrote:
While I am not in favour of the zero tolerance, I do not believe that this is the best way to address it.

Indeed. There are federal issues, and this is not one of them.

**Kilkrazy**

Can I just make certain, is it that the GOP don't want schoolchildren to play with real guns?

**hotsauceman1**

IF the GOP had their way they would give every teacher/janitor/lunch lady/yard duty a high powered rifle with no training whatso ever.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Can I just make certain, is it that the GOP don't want schoolchildren to play with real guns?

From what I understand of what I read there...They want to take the money away from schools like the one in WV, who go after the zero tolerance gun policy, like the kid wearing an NRA shirt, or the kid who made a "pop tart gun", etc.

I'm sure that, because it's the GOP, they'd rather kids be legal CCW holders, and be packin their bb guns to class everyday