Girl, 5, suspended from kindergarten for playing with a "stick gun."

[pnwmom]

They could have used this as a learning opportunity for all kids.

Instead they scapegoated a kindergartner.

This is so wrong.

http://abc7chicago.com/education/girl-5-suspended-for-playing-with-stick-gun/1824072/

It started Friday when her mother got a call from the principal about a playground incident. Caitlin explained that she and her two friends were using their imaginations, playing "King and Queen."

In this case, Caitlin was the guard protecting the royals and picked up the gun to imitate shooting an intruder into the kingdom.

Hoke County Schools said Caitlin posed a threat to other students when she made a shooting motion, thus violating policy 4331.

"Hoke County Schools will not tolerate assaults, threats or harassment from any student. Any student engaging in such behavior will be removed from the classroom or school environment for as long as is necessary to provide a safe and orderly environment for learning," the school system says.

[ck4829]

1. What's the NRA's and Gun Owners of America's position on "stick guns"?

[Initech]

2. Only a good guy with a stick gun can stop a bad guy with a stick gun?

[jmg257]

5. Always treat every one as if it was loaded.

Oh - and keep your finger off the make-believe trigger, until you are ready to mythically shoot something you want to pretend to destroy.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

14. What's the ACLU's?

[sarisataka]

19. I have no idea

but my position is that suspending a 5yro over a "stick gun" is ludicrous.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

24. Since there was no gun, the NRA probably

doesn't care (other than to mock the stupidity of it all). But since this is a public school (the government) punishing thought and expression, you would think the ACLU (as well as Americans in general) would be deeply concerned and critical of this government overreach.

[Baconator]

3. This has been going on for years...

I remember a story about a deaf kid named Hunter who signs his name like a finger gun and he got hemmed up as well.

I'm not even surprised anymore.

[LanternWaste]

12. Nor am I surprised...

Nor am I surprised when people rationalize racism as merely generational.

YMMV, part II.

[Baconator]

13. Well that was cryptic...

Did you respond to the right post?

[Jonny Appleseed]

4. I got suspended from school for a stick gun once

But that was the day after 9/11 and I didn't know about it yet.

[jmg257]

6. Which is weird, cause there were no guns (pretend or otherwise) used on 9/11.

Now pretend box cutters I could see.

[Jonny Appleseed]

8. Yeah but everyone was whipped up into a frenzy and delusional immediately following 9/11

Bush's approval rating was at 90% and Bill Maher was on the verge of being burned at the stake for saying the hijackers were "brave".

[jmg257]

10. Oh yes...I do recall. Gosh we were all so patriotic then!

[KittyWampus]

7. Are rock "hand grenades" okay?

[NurseJackie]

9. She should have just called it a "magic wand" ...

... and let them try to figure out where to go from there.

[Else You Are Mad]

11. Zero tolerance...

is never a good policy. It does nothing but to irrationally punish people.

[Amishman]

22. Yup, zero tolerance​ is a terrible idea

And this story is the dumbest thing I've heard all day... And the news was playing Trump clips earlier.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

15. When I was a kid, participating in a fistfight

probably wouldn't get you suspended.

[pnwmom]

20. Especially among kindergartners. n/t

[Throck]

16. Jokes about stick guns?

Knot funny.

[hamsterjill]

17. Absurdity has simply taken over.

Utterly ridiculous waste of the time of the teachers, administrators, parents, etc.

[lpbk2713]

18. Kindergarten is where children are taught the very basics.

It's idiotic to hold a five year old accountable for something
he/she may not have even been told is wrong yet.

[sarisataka]

21. This is clearly worth a suspension

it can only help teach a 5 year old what is socially acceptable-

Miller says Caitlin was alienated by her friends and teachers as a result of the suspension.

[Rustyeye77]

23. Obviously a danger to society. Lock her up NOW !!!

PC run into idiocy.