August 22, 2007
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The Sketching of a Gun
A 13-year-old boy was suspended for drawing a picture that looked like a gun. The school said it “posed a threat to classmates.” The parents think the school overreacted.
The parents say the drawing did not have “blood, bullets, injuries, or target any human.” The school originally gave the boy a five-day suspension and then later reduced it to three days.
The district spokesman said that the sketch was “considered a threat.” Threatening words or pictures are considered punishable. Here is the link: Link
The father said that when he went to discuss it with the school, they school talked about the Columbine High School massacre.
Does a drawing of a gun indicate a strong chance of violence in a young boy’s future?
Comments (129)
No.
sure, save time and just go ahead and put him in prison now
NO!
what’s the big deal
with drawing a gun.
he’s just creative.
No and I don’t see what the h*** columbine had to do with it. That was a violation of the boys rights in my opinion. The school should of just took it away and told him not to draw another one. By law in order for it to be a direct threat the boy would of had to of drew another person (For example teacher, classmate, etc.) as a target in the picture. In that case it would of been a threat and there for at least warrant reason to take suspension.
I think the reaction was a little harsh. But that was not your question.
The answer to your question: No.
Boys are naturally attracted to guns beacuse of video games and such, to draw one in class doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. I think the School overreacted to show the children that attend it the seriousness of a zero tolerance policy.
Ummm NO!!
nope. dumbasses.
I remember doing a report in junior high school on military bombs, complete with sketches and detailed diagrams showing how the different bombs worked and what they were designed to do. Never blew up anybody though.
Drawing a gun doesn’t indicate a potential for violence.. it indicates a potential for.. being a 13-year old boy.
And what’s the deal in here with “resembled” a gun? Is there some ambiguity if he actually drew a gun or not? How many objects look like guns that aren’t guns?
I don’t think so, unless there are other concerns with violent bahavior from this particular student.
A lot of kids go hunting with their dads.
Sure… just like drawing a piece of cake shows he’s gonna be fat.
Come on people…
I used to draw guns in class and I haven’t killed anyone. At least no ones found any bodies…. yet.
NO! What a bunch of idiots!
Obviously he’s going to kill his classmates, fuck various underage girls, and then force them to get abortions while listening to satan-worshipping death metal and playing violent video games.
Terrible.
No. *sigh*
no, only interest in it
Absolutely not. Schools and the whole “zero tolerance” thing have gone too far. My school does it too… did you know threatening violence is exactly the same as actually committing violence now? It’s totally bullshit. Let kids be kids.
Depends on the context. Schools always over-react to cover their butt and not lose funding. A few years ago, my brother in high school got a bad grade one day and said to himself “I wish this school would blow up”. Another kid heard, told a teacher, and they threatened expulsion but only suspended him for 3 days instead. Just for a comment. Unreal.
If it does then me and most all of my male friends will be extremely violent in the future. I would be worried about the boy if he didn’t ever draw guns.
That’s asinine! People take some things way too far! Just because he’s drawing a gun does not mean he’s going to go out on a shooting spree. Why don’t the schools focus on the students who really need the help instead of attacking those who are pose no threat? And being suspended? How’s that going to help anything? If they feel that it’s a real threat how about counseling or something that would help the student?
He’s just being a boy. Geez.
So…you see, I once drew a picture of a guy stabbing himself. I’m not one to murder somebody…its just a drawing. It even makes more sense if the kids a hunter….chances are he isn’t….but the school did overreact.
no.
Of course not, they overreacted.
Now if he had drawn his classmates in front of the gun and himself holding it or something, then that would be another matter.
no… a boy will pick up a stick and pretend it is a gun… doesn’t matter if they have seen it or heard it… that’s what they do…
I think schools over react about everything anymore… they don’t want to be held responsible…
All actors, movie directors, video game producers, musicians, big game hunters, action movie fans, artists and anyone who can even imagine what such a deadly device might look like are all really just cases of psychotic repression! The obvious answer is that we must lock everyone up who knows what a gun is. Oh, that includes police too, because I mean, they’re carrying them around all the time, that’s an obvious sign that they’re going to kill someone. That’s the only way we can get rid of these criminals.
-David
I like my pencil really sharp, so sharp there is a possibility that I might be able to puncture skin. But all I do with my pencils are draw, write, and occasionally chew on.
Am I a threat?
Of course not… I do that all the time…
Direshark, I don’t normally agree with you… but I LOVED your sarcasm in that comment. It was so right on!
this is no joke. you cut give somebody a papercut with that weapon.
If that’s the case…I should probably be serving life by now
my brother draws so many swords… he also draws violent stick figure animations.
He isn’t a threat to anyone.
Wow talk about over reaction.
I wonder if I pretend my hands were a gun and see if the school would react to that.
well he drew again, what did you expect?
GAG.
At the mention of Columbine, the father should have shot the faculty on the spot.
I guess a Columbine is in my future as well…
…though it sure is taking it’s time. It’s been 20 years.
Not necessarily.
My mom’s a teacher and she had a kid in her class who told her that on a certain day at a certain time she was going to die. (she let it slide thinking he was just being his wierd self). She told some other teachers and they freaked out about it. This kid didn’t get expelled, or suspended but he was approached, got his bookbag taken away and searched and his parents had to come and get his stuff if they wanted it back. I don’t think they overreacted at all. (even if the kid was only 10 or 11)
In this case, i think the school is just trying to cover themselves. They are being harsh on this kid, but i understand why.
And again, the answer to this question is…Not necessarily. obviously kids play stupid violent video games, go hunting or just have a fascination with guns, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to kill anybody.
That’s so retarded.
That’s pretty goofy. It actually made me laugh that they considered that a “threat to classmates.”
NO.
That’s stupid.
good case for homeschooling—bring ‘em to my house, I’ll teach him how to shoot!
stupid.
I use to draw pictures in school like that all the time and I have yet to kill anyone.
what can i say that hasn’t already been said?
Seriously?? Oh my goodness, that’s just pathetic. I once had one of my daycare kids eat his sandwich into the shape of a gun. I guess I should’ve hauled him into my director’s office, huh? Sheesh.
No.
ridiculious
no, my brother liked to draw that kind of stuff when he was a kid
Guns don’t kill people, art does though!
No.
No. If he started drawing it with blood, gunshot wounds, recognizable peers and family members, then it’s whole other story… However, upon reading the entry/article again, as a 13-year-old, wouldn’t he know better, than to push the envelope?
No more than drawing boobs enhances his chances of getting laid.
sounds like we’re all in agreement then…
no:)
no. boys, guns, swords…normal.
bloodshed is a diff story. Or a gun pointing at someone
No.. wow, in all of the things I have ever drawn – i might have drawn a picture of a gun one time… I couldnt imagine if some teacher saw it and called the cops. My life could be over because i just drew something. It seems like we are going to being guilty until proven innocent instead of the other way around. This perosn got in toruble becaus eothers assume the drawing of a gun means he is violent.. assuming can get people into trouble. I hope our reality does not become like the movie MINORITY REPORT but sometimes it does seem like we are moving that way.
Daniel (doubledb)
They suspended my daughter from school for writing cuss words in a letter to a girl telling her to leave her alone.. the girl was harassing my daughter, and my daughter told her with cusswords involved to leave her alone.. she was suspended because it seemed “violent with an intent to cause harm” or some shit..
Boys liking guns is only natural. Same for girls, but rare. I like guns! lol This is crazy. I had crap like this happen to me ALL the time in school. It’s just the “authority” flexing their muscles.
no. Come on…
Guns are just something boys love. If you take away everything but a boy’s Brady Bunch lunch box and a cheese sandwich, he’ll gnaw the sandwich into the shape of a pistol and play like he’s shooting.
That’s ridiculous, I think they should be shot……..
Why didn’t I make the news when I made that paper sword for the class play?
I could have seriously injured somebody.
No of course not! Schools are getting carried away with this stuff anymore.
No
Stupid paranoia. Why doesn’t the school spend its time enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for bullying instead of a zero-tolerance policy for students’ doodling on their assignment papers?
uh, no. gosh, schools are pretty screwed up
boys make guns out of everything, its what they do.
Yes.
The fact that he likes guns, or would want to draw one, or even something that looks like a gun is just absolutely disgusting.
People are too politically correct now. They overreact at the slightest thing. Generally, drawing a random picture of a gun doesn’t indicate much. Except that the boy is a boy. It’s just something that boys do – girls draw their families and houses while boys draw trains or guns. Whatever.
In this instance, why did the kid draw a gun on his homework that he turned in when a previous notice had been sent home about a gun scare? Not too bright. He doesn’t deserve to punished so harshly though.
no. HE’S A BOY. Boys generally like guns. geez
Gun-maker is a legitimate profession.
“In this instance, why did the kid draw a gun on his homework that he turned in when a previous notice had been sent home about a gun scare? Not too bright.”
I agree with this…
Absurd!
if they’re mentioning columbine… then shouldn’t they be trying to help him rather then suspending him? if they suspended him that’d just make him more pissed and have more of a reason to start shooting the people in school
OK, the only thing I’m going to say is that there better be a lot more to it that we aren’t being told because otherwise the school is being idiotic! A drawer of JUST a gun is in no way a threat. If the kid had drawn the gun, looked at another kid and pointed at the gun and then at the kid in a menacing gesture then that would be grounds for discipline.
Gah!
No.
I mean look at Cupid–he shoots arrows ( a weapon) yet what happens. . .people fall in love.
Now I’ve never heard of a love gun,
but were guns around when the idea of Cupid first started?
No, if anything it is detrimental to the child’s mental growth and may grow into a murderer because of the suspension. Children can hold grudges.
ROFLMAO what a joke this world is becoming. I drew guns, blood, violence, and every weapon I could think of. Not because I wanted to kill my classmates, but because I’ve always liked guns and stuff, and violent poses are hard to draw, and help build skill. When you draw someone cut in half, and their insides showing, and to get it accurately, that’s work. I’d understand if there was a drawing of the kid’s teacher and the kid drew himself shooting the teacher, then it goes beyond just drawing to get better at drawing or even fun.
i like b_marclar’s answer.
Thanks for the comment!
And no, that’s a huge overreaction. If that kid was suspended for just drawing a gun, I don’t know what they would’ve done to me. I didn’t really draw anything like guns, but…let’s just say there was a lot of blood in whatever I drew and wrote for quite some time.
Nope… That’s a big fuckin’ exageration from the school who don’t remember about Columbine.
Oh good night, that is totally overeacting! Personally I’d be more concerned over what is on the lunch menu.
no. that is absurd.
I want to say No, but the only people whom I know who draw weapons have very serious mental problems.
Hardly. Sheesh, it’s just a drawing.
I used to draw pictures of green feilds with sunshine and butterflies and then a headless body leaning against a tree. Hahaha.
I’m not about to harm anyone.
No.
i had a teacher once that taught us how to shoot guns at the opposing army and how to bomb pearl harbor… that was fun… i dont think anyone killed anyone at my school though
as far as drawing it goes… there is a lot of detail in a gun… i wonder how good it looked… bet hes a good artist… or not
pshh… i think about killing a lot of ppl… in detail… say it sometimes too… im sure i never will though
ive even drawn pictures of shooting someone in particular… ive never killed anyone yet
i ran over an ant once with my bike… i felt pretty bad about it
people are crazy… that kid did nothing wrong
id sue the school for treating my kid like a pariah if they did that…
or maybe id just shoot them
*giggle*
hey the kid already has a name now that the school board created
if he does kill anyone id blame the ppl that put that title on him
No! I sometimes draw that too… -_-’. I don’t think it is considered threatening unless he’s poiting it at someone.
If this is the case, I should have gotten expelled from my Illustrator class this summer. I did a movie poster for the fictional movie “Mobster 30″ which is about Al Capone. It was complete with a Tommy Gun pointing at the release date.
no, guns dont kill people. people kill people.
A boy of that age drawing a gun is like a girl that age drawing hearts all over her papers. It HAPPENS. That’s what boys like at that age, and nothing is going to stop it. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. At the most, they should have asked the boy to stop drawing guns in school because it made them nervous.
…no!
They called me a threat because I wore a rebel flag on my belt buckle. Suddenly I’m this horrible person and everything. I only got suspended for a day, but I’m not racist and I’m not a bad person.
I’ve also sketched rebel flags and handguns on my notebooks but I’ve never gotten in trouble for it.
It’s just a sketch. I may be suspicious if he was shooting people in the drawing, but it was only a sketch.
HAHA.
No.
Good thing only two (very very misinformed) people said yes.
i read through all the comments, i don’t see two people who said yes, i see just about everyone saying the same thing. i wonder who the two “yes” people were?
13 year old boys drawing guns is normal…as a teacher I take not of kids that draw violent weapons…but really just look for how the use them in the drawing….but a boy drawing a gun is quite normal…
Awww… Poor boy….
No; drawing guns doesn’t indicate that the boy will become violent. Some of my male classmates make doodles of guns all the time when they get bored in class, and I don’t think any of them seriously considered violence. Obsession with guns it’s just part of being a guy, I guess.
Schools need to lighten the hell up on things like “drawings of guns” and instead focus on a REAL cause of violence: bullying.
No. Unfortuantely administrations, bureaucracy, and most of the public cannot use common sense, one of the main tools used in discovering threats.
“WE ARE VIRGINIA TECH”??? WTF IS THAT SHIT? WE ARE PENN STATE!
no.
um, okay that is RETARDED. I draw pictures of guns, and yet I am not a mass murderer…Does this mean if kids draw cars they will become guilty of hit-and-runs or if they draw baseball bats they will smash peoples’ heads in? Thats just crap.
Another thought…its not like he was going around showing kids this picture and saying “See this? I have one, and could kill/hurt you.” If hes not threatening his peers, how is he really a threat? Does this also mean, that and references to weaponry will be taken out of the history textbooks? Because those could be seen as introducing a child to weapons & violence.
Still, this is such a retarded act on the school district’s part.
Absolutely fucking ridiculous. What an over-reaction.
You know I’m very curious to know about the school’s protocol to teach children what is inappropriate or not. Nonetheless there are laws that hang over teachers heads so people should understand the other side of it. Posed a threat with the gun alone because usually a troubled student would show more signs rather than a simple picture of a gun. What context was it in?
NO! I use to draw guns when I was a kid and I am still OK.
wow the pussification of the american male continues
if a kid draws a rope does that mean he’s going to hang himself? No. stupid people.
if a kid draws a rope does that mean he’s going to hang himself? No. stupid people.
okay, so let me get this straight. Let’s assume for a minute the boy does have a tendancy towards violence and was indeed threatning violence. What honestly makes the school think he is going to somehow repent and be less violent after a 3 day suspension? If they honestly thought he was a threat, shouldn’t they remove him? What teenage boy is going to change his behaviour because the school told him to stay home for 72 hours?
to answer your question, No I do not believe that drawing a gun does not indicate a strong chance of violence.
A gun is really a penis. Remember Mr Freud? It just indicates that the boy likes penises. If a school kicks out every boy who likes penises, well thats just not very politically correct, now is it?
Why were two kids suspended?
It may indicate potential violence depending on what the assignment was. I have to agree with proudtobeachristianfruitcake-if the administration honestly thought he posed a threat-shouldn’t they just remove him altogether, try to get his parents to take him to counseling or something a little more productive than 3 days at home
ButifulDisaster19,
XxNiRvAnA74xX and forever_llamas
I’ve drawn plenty of weapons in classes, I play violent video games, I’ve played paintball, and I played with toy guns as a kid. And yet, for some crazy reason, I’ve never been in a physical confrontation or shot anyone. Hmm, makes me wonder if they’ve missed the true reason for Virginia Tech and Columbine…
Perhaps the school was confused when they were told the boy drew a gun. Perhaps they thought he was in a gunfight and had drawn his gun to fire it. (Get it? It’s using the OTHER definition of draw.)
Seriously though, think about it. If this is such a valid indication of the mindset of the child, do you REALLY want to upset him by suspending him for stupid stuff? Perhaps the act of overreacting will cause him to do the very thing they overreacted about in the first place.
Hmmm……
No. That’s absolutely ridiculous.
Id have to see d drawing. Maybe its more of a boomerang, in which case tendencies towards reciprocality may be deduced. Maybe its a churro n he was just hungry. Maybe its a failed attempt at taggin. Maybe… we should rise as one and electroshock the school officials.
What’s the big deal? It’s not like he drew a picture of him shooting another classmate.
MAN is superbad was a serious thing and misconstrued everytime it happened in public school, there would be “future pedo” labels handed out like candy
HECK NO!! All the guys from my class draw swords, guns, and tons of other weapons and it’s totally looks like it not some what. That was really harsh. It’s a free AND safe country, it not like her had a REAL one anyway.
No
It’s a good thing they caught him at an early age. Nothing like a three day suspension to cure the murderous rage out of an young boy.
i really don’t think so. all guys are into that kind of thing when they’re young.
No…it’s just a drawing of a gun. The school definitely overreacted. People are crazy…
Ummm… all boys do that. I was an art teacher for elementary children. Come on now! Even my pacifist father used to chew his bread into a gun shape as a kid.
The world’s gone silly.
This zero tolerance nonsense in the school systems shows a terrifying lack of brain power in a place where brains should actually be flourishing.
I put forth this: it’s asinine thinking such as “zero tolerance” which created the environment where Columbine could happen in the first place.
actually yes. Sounds very conservative but some kids i knew at my middle school would draw guns and random stuff and they had huge emotional and physiological problems. That isn’t a generalization on all human beings who draw guns but…
ohnoes
I don’t know all the information, but I’m thinking this is a case of overreaction.
Regarding your question, I don’t think drawing a gun is an indicator that a kid is gonna turn violent.
absolutely not! that is just plain craziness–little kids draw some strange things–it’s just part of being a kid–gheez!
no more than drawing a tree indicates a career in cardboard manufacturing in a boy’s future. In my part of the country, it might indicate the pride a boy feels after going out with his Dad and shooting his first deer. Folks are just a little bit too edgy about guns these days.
This reminds me of something that happened at my high school last year; a teacher told her students to write anything they wanted in the notebooks, and that she would not be reading them. The teacher then read the notebooks and was freaked out by two boys who wrote very violent and graphic things in their notebooks. The two kids got in serious trouble, and one of them who had a scholarship for playing football which was taken away. I think these two kids got punished pretty fairly, because they knew exactly what they were doing and some of the things they described were just freaky.
But for this 13-year old kid, I don’t think he should have been suspended for drawing a gun. I mean, if I draw a fire or a Katana on my notebook, does that mean I want to burn down the school or stab someone with a sword? So yeah, the school has done it again and over reacted to a minor incident. 5 days for drawing a gun; come on, two girls at my school got in a fight, and one ripped the other’s ear ring out, and was only suspended for a few days.
This kid should not have been punished for doing something so minor, and if this was strictly enforced, then I would have been suspended from school for a really long time.
I also just remembered that at my school, if you absolutely need to fight back in self defense, you will still get in trouble and suspended. So you have to choose: “Do I want a broken femur, 2 cracked ribs, broken wrist, and a black eye, or do i want to be suspended for five days and mess up my record?”