13-Year-Old Suspended For Doodling Gun

Arizona School Says "Zero Tolerance" Policy Means Drawing Of Gun Merits Suspension

(CBS/AP)  Officials at an Arizona school suspended a 13-year-old boy for sketching what looked like a gun, saying the action posed a threat to his classmates.

"My son is a very good boy [who] doesn't get into trouble," the boy's mother, Paula Mosteller, told CBS affiliate KPHO correspondent Mary Valenzuela. "There was nothing on the paper that would signify that it was a threat of any form."

"He was just basically doodling and not thinking a lot about it."

The Chandler Unified School District declined to give more details about the incident. Spokesperson Terry Locke said in a statement, "Federal privacy law forbids the school or district from discussing student discipline."

There's nothing in a portion of the student handbook that addresses conduct to indicate the drawing of a weapon poses threat, KPHO reported.

There is, however, a rule that says students should not engage in "threatening an educational institution by interference with or disruption of the school."

The drawing, which is covered with smiley faces, did not show blood, bullets, injuries or target any human, the parents said. The East Valley Tribune reported that the boy said he did not intend for the picture to be a threat.

"We're not advocates for guns," Mosteller said. "We don't have guns in our home. We don't promote the use of guns. My son was just basically doodling on a piece of paper."

The boy's father, Ben Mosteller, said when he went to the school to discuss his son's punishment, school officials mentioned the seriousness of the issue and talked about the 1999 massacre at Colorado's Columbine High School, where two teenagers shot and killed 12 students, a teacher and themselves. Mosteller said he was offended by the reference.

The boy was initially suspended for at least five days, but after his father spoke to the principal, it was reduced to three.

[loublain]

seems to be thought crime time. if he drew a picture of a girl is that s*e*x*u*a*l harassment?.
IF he drew a picture of a poppy is that a drug crime?

[rob123459]

This is absolutely ridiculous. Suspended for doodling an image of a gun? Now, if he had doodled bullets in the gun, that would be different.

[drputt45]

Just because you are paranoid doesn''t mean people aren''t out to get you.

[glossypan]

We have fallen down the rabbit hole. Everybody with a smidgen of power seems determined to outdo the next guy in stupid.

[gopack443]

If he had drawn a peace sign would that have been a threat to the president?

[gbdmd]

You know, you read things like this from time to time and you just have to laugh. What has happened to present day society that humans have lost the ability to engage in a reasonable thought process? Citing Columbine because of the drawing of a gun. Are you kidding me with this? From the removal of shoes in order to pass through airport "non-security" and banning of liquids on airplanes to this laughably inane act. In public schools especially, it seems as though people who are supposed to be reasonably intelligent adults have completely lost all reasoning ability and have no capacity to effectively evaluate a situation. I''m saddened for the little boy and for the despicable school system he attends.

[lochlan-2009]

What the **** country do we live in?!!!!

[prolegomena]

If anyone was wondering about the quality of thought and general capacity for reason among the nation''s educational leadership... one should now be dissabused of any delusions of adequacy.

Someone needs to pull the proverbial flush handle on the nation''s public schools, and let the toilet bowl refill with fresher water.

[gunownerdan]

When I was 13 I had a target on the front of my notebook covered in bullet-holes from a .38 revolver.
I guess today I would be expelled for something so horrible and evil but back then no one ever said a single word about it.
"..the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Self Defense: A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[sgtrds]

When I was bored in class (which was often) I''d draw little WWII battle scenes in my notebook. Guess I should have been kicked out of school for being a war monger?

[lorinkundert]

The Supreme Court needs to step up and do their job of protecting our liberties, especially those the Constitution expressly forbids the Government from interfering with.

[lorinkundert]

The Supreme Court needs to step up and do their job of protecting our liberties, especially those the Constitution expressly forbids the Government from interfering with.

[lorinkundert]

The Supreme Court needs to step up and do their job of protecting our liberties, especially those the Constitution expressly forbids the Government from interfering with.

[terrileib]

I really think some people have lost their mind,
to subspend a child for just drawing a gun!!!
These people need a brain transplant.

[agnim]

"13-Year-Old Suspended For Doodling Gun
Arizona School Says "Zero Tolerance" Policy Means Drawing Of Gun Merits Suspension"

That unfortunate and mindless decision by so-called educators is a clear indictment of their INCOMPETENCE in trying to guide the minds and behaviors of the younger ones.

Little wonder our educational institution is in such a mess: The so-called ''educators'' are even more mentally challenged than the children they hope to educate. LOL

That principal should be suspended without pay for at least a week; and the money saved should go to the family of boy for the mental distress caused them.

[lorinkundert]

What can you expect from our public school system? It has been completely overrun by liberal teachers and administrators, I had to take my children out of those schools so they could be educated rather than brainwashed.

[mike71067]

This is by far the stupidest thing the liberals have come with in a while. Our soldiers are equipped with guns, as are our law enforcement officers. People hunt for their meals with guns.

Our country is going to become a nation of wussies if the liberals play their cards right.

[passerby2]

It seems that some of the stupity from the white house has trickled down through the system.

[zuser-2009]

what a bunch of complete idiots at that school... I hope they see these comments on this page....

[gunownerdan]

You don''t have to be a liberal in order to be a rabid anti-gun extremist.
Some liberals are capable of understanding the importance of our constitutional rights.

Liberals With Guns
http://www.liberalswithguns.com/index.html

Amendment II Democrats
http://www.a2dems.net/

Pro Gun Progressive
http://www.progunprogressive.com/

The Gun Toting Liberal
http://www.guntotingliberal.com/

More Gun Toting Liberals
http://www.geocities.com/guntotingliberals/

[gunownerdan]

You don''t have to be a liberal in order to be a rabid anti-gun extremist.
Some liberals are capable of understanding the importance of our constitutional rights.

Liberals With Guns
http://www.liberalswithguns.com/index.html

Amendment II Democrats
http://www.a2dems.net/

Pro Gun Progressive
http://www.progunprogressive.com/

The Gun Toting Liberal
http://www.guntotingliberal.com/

More Gun Toting Liberals
http://www.geocities.com/guntotingliberals/

[infidel_us]

ROFL!!!! Looks like the lib educators out there can''t distinguish between, "the boy drew a gun" and, "the boy drew HIS gun and FIRED!"

He ''drew'' a gun, so he gotta be suspended - it says so right here.

What a bunch of MORONS! It''s no wonder public education is in the state it''s in.

[mike71067]

Another great example of the idiocy of the public school system. My daughter is in a private school, and they have an annual "wild game cookout" every year as a fundraiser. They give away a .50 muzzle loader as a raffle prize, and you can shoot a crossbow - right there in the school gymnasium.

Those parents and their children are some of the smartest individuals I''ve ever met. Perhaps that''s why the public schools need such stupid regulations - the populace is stupid, so the regs need to match.

[bhappy2-2]

Does this mean we must rewrite history or just replace all the text books? There are photographs in them showing ACTUAL GUNS being carried and used! There are photographs showing ACTUAL BOWS being carried and used by Native Americans, there are photographs of ACTUAL SWORDS being carried and used by Pirates, Soldiers, etc. How ASININE these people are getting. His suspension was reduced to 3 days?!! I would spend those 3 days in deep conference with an ACTUAL ATTORNEY!!! Why do we continue to let these insanely ignorant people have control over our kids?

[gunownerdan]

%u201CDemocracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!%u201D
- Ben Franklin

[anonymous010]

If I was that child''s father, I''d first pull him out of that school, then I''d sue them for every dime they had. They have absolutely no legitimate basis for suspending him. From the description of the drawing provided in this article, I don''t see how any rational person could possibly consider this drawing a threat.

[hwk_i67]

It seems that some of the stupity from the white house has trickled down through the system.
Posted by passerby2 at 01:26 PM : Aug 23, 2007

This cr-a-p has been going on looooong before Bush took office. It''s simple:

Zero tolerance=zero thought processes=zero common sense.

[klingon69]

"Zero Tolerance" is a euphemism for "No Thought".

Arizona? Red State.

Regards,
Posted by nancy_naive at 01:09 PM : Aug 23, 2007
I think this is going far beyond the red/blue state issue. This is an example of pure unadulterated stupidity. The rights that many take for granted are slowly be subverted and removed. Students/children have never been protected by those rights. If you doubt me, then read your childs school handbook and then you will see.

[klingon69]

I guess today I would be expelled for something so horrible and evil but back then no one ever said a single word about it.
"..the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Self Defense: A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

Posted by GunOwnerDan at 01:16 PM : Aug 23, 2007
Back then, you didn''t have to have armed guards, attack/drug dogs, metal detectors and unwarranted locker searches. Many school districts now have their own police force, many of these Naziish police officers could not make it in the regular police force, so they get on the school and terrorize the kids.

[nolalou]

You know what I have "Zero Tolerance" for? Stupid school administrators with their heads up their butts! I can''t believe that boys father settled for a 3 day suspension instead of 5! I''ve have sewed the *** all the way the supreme court if necessary!

[klingon69]

It''''s difficult to write this off as idiocy without more information. What if he drew a picture of a gun and then pointed at it and then pointed at a fellow student?
And then? The picture would''ve fired a paper bullet and then paper with red ink would''ve been dropped all over the floor?

Just not so quick to judge on this.
Posted by vbnvbn at 01:46 PM : Aug 23, 2007
Yes, don''t be so quick to judge, unless you''ve been in a similar situation and know that the public school system is not what Thomas Jefferson envisioned. That our teachers and administrator(mostly coaches) are knuckle-dragging barely sentient beings, who retreat to their theachers lounge to squat, grunt and pick at themselves.

[oakishpines]

if girls are left to run naked ignorant lazy profane and blemished through the gardens and trails and pages undisciplined, what fun''s the men with the guns gonna remmeber in their prestory books

[obiwan234]

This is more politically correct bullsh!t. I think the administration needs to get a grip on reality. Mindless application of so called rules are ruining education, the kid was drawing for God sake, there was no message to his drawing, just doodling. The teachers and administrators need to be sent home for 5 days without pay for being do *** stupid.

[hwk_i67]

Isn''t it amazing though THE place where we send out kids to become better thinkers is the one place where our educators/administrators do the least amount of thinking?

[russ1985]

What does a drawing imply now, intent? I''d say he has a great lawsuit simply on the grounds of limiting artistic expression. At the very least it should be used as a reason to get someone in Chandler Unified fired. While they''re busting rembrandt for a gun drawing, how many REAL guns were on campus?

[becker3att]

lets not judge ALL educational staff by a few people who made a bad judgement call. Most of our teachers are overworked underpaid angels. my son has blossomed with his teacher and the staff at his school is amazing and loving and dedicated.

lets just pick on the decision makers on this one case..never say never or all ...

[sgtrds]

Our country is going to become a nation of wussies if the liberals play their cards right.

Posted by mike71067 at 01:25 PM : Aug 23, 2007

A comment even more ignorant then this schools rules. This has nothing to do with liberals and you dam*n well know it, but you can''t pass up the chance to try to make it so. I''m so liberal I''d make Micheal Moore blush, but I''m not in favor of more gun control and certainly not in favor of the stupidity here, both by the school and by your comment.

[ron4691]

Are we so ruled by fear that this kid will lose a year of his life, and the follow-on for years to come, for a doodle? Kid, use the freedom of speech our constitution gave us to defend your right to write, draw, or say what you will.
To the school administration, what the hell are you thinking?

[edintex]

My son was in 7th grade in a school district just south of Houston. He drew a pic of a gun while in class. He was taken to the on campus police department and issued a civil misdemeanor citation to appear before a local judge for "disruption of class".

We did not have representation, so we took a plea deal of 60 hrs community service. He & I worked on a Habitat for Humanity home together.

A few months later, my son was given an assignment in art class to warp a drawing of a gun into a dove, then another one of an animal warped into a pistol.

I took the artwork to the same judge & showed him. He was almost as angry as I was. He said "Obviously, zero tolerance means ZERO THOUGHT in this district"

[prairiefox1]

Were they afraid he would shoot someone?
Typical indication of a moron!
BEWARE: if you point your index finger with your thumb up, you will be arrested for assault with a deadly weapon if not shot by the AAAWWW---DUHHH police!

[ron4691]

Sorry, I just finished the article and saw it was three days. Dad, take these people to court. Defend your son and kids across the country from Zero Intelligence rules.

[itgranny]

This is taking it too far. Does this mean all their history books may not contain any pictures of guns? Let''s say you have a student who''s crazy about hunting and paints a picture of himself out hunting, walking a field with his springer spaniel while holding a shotgun? Perhaps suspending kids that drew Star Wars pictures with the laser sword, or kids that draw swords from Lord of the Rings? Common sense, and thinking things threw.

Why is it people can''t take a look at the stupid rules they think up and see the possible outcomes/abuses that are possible created before they are implemented. This applies towards our state and fed. lawmakers too. They make these laws that allow these big corps. to get away with really serious stuff. frustrating!

[erasmus6]

"I guess today I would be expelled for something so horrible and evil but back then no one ever said a single word about it." posted by GunOwnerDan

Well duh! That is probably because things are a little different today, don''t you think? Look at all the school shootings you have now. If people were looking and paying attention maybe some of them could have been avoided.

Now I do admit that suspending this kid for 3 days might be a little extreme but with all the shootings in schools they need to be paying closer attention. For a kid to draw a gun and a knife, it says to me that that is what is on his mind. That of course does not necessarily mean anything but if it should, I wonder how many parents would be jumping up and down later to find out that this could very well have been a sign and it was ignored. What would YOU do if this was ignored and later he shot your kid? You would be the first one doing the jumping up and down.

[gunnerv1]

See what our P*u*s*s*y liberal PC Socity has come to.

[xzavierbrown]

now this is IDIOTIC..MY GOD!!!
we are becoming a bunch of Politically Correct Winnies

[rushlimpdrug]

One more criminal off the streets.
Has anyone ever been shoot with a sketch gun?
Look up the statistics they are alarming.
Good for Mesa, Arizona for bringing this growing problem into the limelight.
If we lock up more of these kids, well we can have more criminals off the street and we can all feel much safer.
Give these people a medal (sketched of course).

[itgranny]

Yikes, i messed this one up!

This is taking it too far. Does this mean all their history books may not contain any pictures of guns? Let''''s say you have a student who likes to hunt and paints a picture of himself out hunting, walking a field with his Springer spaniel while holding a shotgun? Perhaps suspending kids that drew Star Wars pictures with the laser sword, or kids that draw swords from Lord of the Rings?

Common sense and thinking things through; where are the people who can do this anymore? Why is it the people making these rules can%u2019t see the possible outcomes/abuses that such rules create? This applies towards our state and federal lawmakers too. They make these laws with loopholes that allow big corporations with fancy lawyers to get away with all kinds of boloney. (I am beginning to think this maybe isn%u2019t so much of an oops as it is intentional).Frustrating!

[gunownerdan]

When I was in grade school I would take "Guns & Ammo" magazines to school with me all the time. In art class, for a class assignment I even drew a part of a Glock pistol and got an "A" on it.
This was not even 15 years ago in a public school. All this P.C. idiocy of today is doing a lot of harm to the future of America.

[dmorg4]

boy just when i thought my country couldnt get any stupider it did! what is wrong with these idiots you cant fire a drawing of a gun no more than you can get warm with a painted fire.
D"mb ASESSS

[bareemperor]

Kids will make guns out of sticks all the time, it''s called imagination.
Bu$h kills thousands for oil, and it''s called ''national security''