New York high school student suspended for NRA pro-2nd Amendment T-shirt

[SecularMotion]

A high school student in upstate New York was suspended for wearing an NRA T-shirt that touted the second amendment after he refused to turn it inside out or cover the words with duct tape.

Shane Kinney, a 16-year-old sophomore from Grand Island, located between Niagara Falls and Buffalo, served a one-day, in-school suspension Monday after he refused last Friday to turn his T-shirt inside out at the request of the vice principal at Grand Island High School. The shirt was emblazoned with the NRA logo and the words, “2nd Amendment Shall not be Infringed” across the back.

“Mr. Lauria [the vice principal] told me I had to either turn the shirt inside out or put duct tape over the words,” Shane Kinney told FoxNews.com. “I told them that I wasn’t going to do it. I had to sit in the suspension room and eat lunch alone until my father brought me a new shirt to school.”

Kinney, a card-carrying member of the NRA along with his parents, said he had worn the shirt to school before, along with others that were similar, and had been asked to put duct tape over the writing. He said he complied because he didn’t want to make waves.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/03/13/new-york-high-school-suspended-for-nra-pro-2nd-amendment-t-shirt/?intcmp=latestnews

[Straw Man]

1. And how do you feel about that?

Hmm?

[sarisataka]

2. Is this a good or bad thing?

Should a school dress code prohibit clothing which makes statements on political or social issues?

[NYC_SKP]

3. Pathetic.

That's my first thought, but schools can make dress code rules however they like, and parents can challenge them.

[HALO141]

4. this is what happens

when small minded people get the slightest bit of power.

[petronius]

5. The dress code in this school district is pretty brief, and does not appear to

mention depictions of firearms nor political statements. (Unless there is greater specificity in those periodic lists.)

http://www.k12.ginet.org/policies.cfm?printme=270&printpage=1

I would call it an irrational stretch to claim that a depiction of a rifle as a component of the logo of a well-known political advocacy group would fall under "inappropriate" or under "encourage other illegal or violent activities."

The district superintendent's statement says that "no student was disciplined for wearing a shirt expressing a position on the NRA or gun control." Rather, I imagine the student was disciplined for 'insubordination' - i.e., not obeying an illogical and arbitrary extension of the dress code (or perhaps it never happened at all).

Based on the events as described by the student, my sense would be that the school administration acted in an arbitrary and ill-considered manner...

[belcffub]

6. From their facebook page

I have a question?

In the schools statement. It clearly says.....
Quote
"I reiterate, no student was disciplined for wearing a shirt expressing a position on the NRA or gun control."

I read that as, it is OK to wear this type of clothing.

Is that the case?

Grand Island Central School District Board of Education's reply
If a student wore a shirt that says, "I support the NRA" that is acceptable. Violent images or images of weapons is considered to violate the dress code.

Superintendent's response to media reports on student suspension

[petronius]

7. "Weapons", hmm? Wonder how they'd feel about a throwback Sabres jersey...

Anyway, it seems like an illogical and pointless restriction to me, but schools do seem able to be pretty arbitrary/irrational in terms of dress. The real problem would be whether this kid was treated differently or singled out due to his political or social views...

[mwrguy]

8. He probably can't wear a KKK shirt to school either

Oh noes his rights are violated

[Straw Man]

10. You might want to ask the ACLU how they feel about that.

In any case, it's interesting that you conflate a group that is dedicated to denying rights with one that is dedicated to preserving them.

[ileus]

9. foxnews....digging in the bottom of the barrel for this one.

[Eleanors38]

11. But wait! Burkas are next!

[SQUEE]

12. OMFG.. cant breath, cant stop laughing...

I would ask how this makes you feel, but we all know how you feel on dissentng opinion... I rather think this is a gloating victory lap by you, not a post of concern,
flame bait is obvious. I thought trolling was verbotten.

[blueridge3210]

13. It appears Fox News is now an acceptable source for stories. NT