Boy punished for T-shirt with gun image

[Chris_]

Boy punished for T-shirt with gun image

LANCASTER, Pa. - The family of a middle school student who was given detention for wearing a T-shirt bearing the image of a gun has filed a federal freedom of speech lawsuit against the school district.

Donald Miller III, 14, went to Penn Manor High School in December wearing a T-shirt he said was intended to honor his uncle, a U.S. Army soldier fighting in Iraq.

The shirt bears the image of a military sidearm and on the front pocket says "Volunteer Homeland Security." On the back, over another image of the weapon, are the words "Special issue Resident Lifetime License — United States Terrorist Hunting Permit — Permit No. 91101 — Gun Owner — No Bag Limit."

Officials at the Millersville school told him to turn his shirt inside out. When Miller refused, he got two days of detention.

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Zero tolerance, zero intelligence.  In this context there should be no problem with the t-shirt.  "zero tolerance" removes context and simple, common sense from the schools.   

[mamacags]

I would have been pissed that he was wearing the shirt too.  That shirt doesn't belong in school.  Terrorists are a group most of us hate, some people hate cops.  What if it had said Cop Hunting, No Limit on it?

[Chris_]

I would have been pissed that he was wearing the shirt too.  That shirt doesn't belong in school.  Terrorists are a group most of us hate, some people hate cops.  What if it had said Cop Hunting, No Limit on it?

He wasn't in trouble for a "hate message".  He was in trouble because of the image of a gun.  I suspect that an image of a gun with no other message would have received the same treatment.