Another chapter in the country-wide irrational gun scare just begun in the city of Lewinston, Maine, where a 10th-grader has been suspended for 10 days for carrying a bright yellow squirt gun. The Sun Journal says the teen was suspended in accordance with Lewiston High School policy after the toy fell out of his backpack. [1] The student wasn’t identified. Superintendent Bill Webster says he is not refuting any of the media reports that claim a student has been suspended. But he would not confirm any specific details either. Bill Webster tells the newspaper that the suspension could be reduced and that administrators “will work to balance the discipline with the facts of the case.” [2] The Superintendent wholeheartedly defend the school’s policy on toy weapons no matter what other more common sensed people might say. The school department’s policy on weapons states if a student has a weapon in school, toy or otherwise, he or she will automatically receive a ten day suspension. The school department will then further investigate the incident to determine how long the actual suspension will be. Webster defend his position saying that in order for the weapons policy to be effective, it has to apply to all situations where weapons or fake weapons are involved. “Now a yellow squirt gun, some may argue that’s not a weapon,” Webster said. “Well if it were black would we feel differently? Or if it were a little different shape would we feel differently? We are not in the business of differentiating whether this particular toy is appropriate and this one over here is not.” [3]
All this non-sense for a yellow toy gun
Webster also said that school officials are also concerned about a game called “Assassins” that some Lewiston High School students are playing. The game involves being given the name of another student by the game leader and squirting the assigned target, often in public. Webster says while it may seem innocent enough, the game has led to a car accident and a report of perceived stalking. [4] Webster says school officials are planning a public meeting to educate the community about the game. The Superintendant said that he thinks that the kid they had suspended was involved in this so-called “dangerous game.” [5] He also says that water pistols, even ones that don’t look like guns, can be disruptive. [6] Visibly, the surintendent Webster is doing things “by the book” and doesn’t have a problem in going along with the country wide overeaction toward guns. Elsewhere, the current anti-gun hysteria has led to the implementation of draconian bans of harmless toys, and even finger gestures, at U.S. schools.
Detective Sgt. Joe Bradeen tells the Sun Journal that city residents have been calling police lately to report strange vehicles and people walking through their neighborhoods, often at odd hours. He says some squirt guns looks like real weapons, which could lead to a dangerous situation. [7] The same game made headlines late last month in Merrimack, N.H. Officials became concerned after a student backed out of his driveway and into a car that was blocking his exit, possibly on purpose. Police said the student who was trying to leave his driveway was a target in an “Assassin” game. So-called zero tolerance policies are following out of favor with the general public, however. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle wish to eliminate them. [8] NEWS CENTER did find tweets that appear to be from the student who was suspended addressing the issue: [9]
