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

[pwaldo]

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-actio...rect-gun-rules

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.

"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.

[Wickabee]

Defunding schools is very, very rarely a good idea.

[habsheaven]

The GOP is so ridiculous. Yes, what these schools are doing is ridiculous as well, but do we need the "BIG" government, that the GOP rails against continually, to jump in and punish schools by withholding funding meant to help kids?

[mrveggieman]

This is one of the rare occasions where I agree with the GOP. These anti second amendment loons not only want to strip away our constitutional rights to bear arms but they also want to stiffle the imagination of kids everywhere. Come on now all of us played with toy guns and cops and robbers growing up. Now these idiot politicians want to suspend kids for being kids and playing the same games growing up that they did. I say lets withold salary from any gov't official who comes up with any more idiotic laws or regulations.

[habsheaven]

This is one of the rare occasions where I agree with the GOP. These anti second amendment loons not only want to strip away our constitutional rights to bear arms but they also want to stiffle the imagination of kids everywhere. Come on now all of us played with toy guns and cops and robbers growing up. Now these idiot politicians want to suspend kids for being kids and playing the same games growing up that they did. I say lets withold salary from any gov't official who comes up with any more idiotic laws or regulations.

They are not withholding salary. They are withholding funding which I assume goes to the general expenditures of the schools. Since the kids are the main benefactor of a school, the GOP is punishing the kids for the actions of the school administrations. Let individual schools police themselves and leaving the funding separate from the policy disputes.

[mrveggieman]

They are not withholding salary. They are withholding funding which I assume goes to the general expenditures of the schools. Since the kids are the main benefactor of a school, the GOP is punishing the kids for the actions of the school administrations. Let individual schools police themselves and leaving the funding separate from the policy disputes.

I understand that they are not witholding salary from anyone but my point was that any gov't official that comes up with idiotic ideas such as suspending kids for being kids should have their salary withheld. Also what about the kids who are been suspended for this? How are they benefiting from that?

[habsheaven]

I understand that they are not witholding salary from anyone but my point was that any gov't official that comes up with idiotic ideas such as suspending kids for being kids should have their salary withheld. Also what about the kids who are been suspended for this? How are they benefiting from that?

The thread, and my comment on it, is about what the GOP is doing to solve this difference of opinion. I agree with their opposition to the policy, but I disagree with their approach to fighting it.

[mrveggieman]

The thread, and my comment on it, is about what the GOP is doing to solve this difference of opinion. I agree with their opposition to the policy, but I disagree with their approach to fighting it.

I don't. Money talks that other stuff walks. Imagine the school board having to explain to their community why they did not accept funding because of their stupid policy of suspending kids for toy guns. This is going to make the school system look worse than the GOP.

[Wickabee]

This is one of the rare occasions where I agree with the GOP. These anti second amendment loons not only want to strip away our constitutional rights to bear arms but they also want to stiffle the imagination of kids everywhere. Come on now all of us played with toy guns and cops and robbers growing up. Now these idiot politicians want to suspend kids for being kids and playing the same games growing up that they did. I say lets withold salary from any gov't official who comes up with any more idiotic laws or regulations.

That would be nice. Unfortunately it's the kids who, yet again, pay with their education so a few so-called adults can play politics with their futures. I'm glad to know you care more about the second amendment than properly educating the nation's youth. I'm glad to hear you'd hold the nation's youth hostage over guns. A point about guns is so much more important than a properly educated generation!

[habsheaven]

I don't. Money talks that other stuff walks. Imagine the school board having to explain to their community why they did not accept funding because of their stupid policy of suspending kids for toy guns. This is going to make the school system look worse than the GOP.

Considering it is the GOP, it's hard to make them look worse than they already do. These policies should be opposed by the parents of the individual schools, not the government (this is a case of Big brother picking on Little brother) involving itself in local policies that do not violate the Constitution.

Is there anything in the bill addressing the "no-touch" policy? How about bans on vending machines? Should the GOP (big brother) be jumping in on those (little brother) policies too?