Floridians Love Their Guns So Much They’re Fighting For A Student’s Right To Fashion One Out Of A Pop-Tart
They are referring to it as the “Pop Tart” bill, after the case of the Maryland student who chewed a Pop Tart into the shape of a gun and was suspended. Maybe he shouldn’t have been suspended for that – but I’m more alarmed that the NRA rallied around him. I shouldn’t be surprised by this, because gun. They gave the boy a lifetime membership. I wish I was kidding.
The bill would bar schools from suspending students for using their flourishing imaginations to form mock instruments of death. While I think it’s ridiculous to suspend a student for basically nibbling on a toaster pastry – I do like the zero tolerance stance against “guns” of any kind. Rules are rules – if you make a rule that a child can’t fashion a mock weapon out of anything – than he or she can’t fashion a weapon out of anything. Why rally behind this anymore than you would rally behind eating in class or screaming in the halls or any other stupid thing that could get a child suspended?
From USA Today:
It would prevent students from facing disciplinary action for wearing clothes that depict guns or “express an opinion regarding a right guaranteed by the Second Amendment.” It would allow administrators to take action if a toy disrupts learning or poses a legitimate threat.
“This is addressing a zero-tolerance policy that often will not allow people to use common sense because their hands are tied,” said Castor Dentel, who has taught at several Central Florida elementary schools.
I get that this could veer into the ridiculous. I am just inclined to support a no-tolerance policy when it comes to something as serious as guns and gun violence.
(photo: Getty Images)