Student Suspended For Liking A Picture Of A Gun

And the gun wasn’t even real

(NY Post)  A middle school student in Ohio found himself in the crosshairs after “liking” a photo of a gun on social media, complete with the caption “ready.”

Zachary Bowlin, a seventh-grader at Edgewood Middle School in Trenton, received a 10-day suspension after liking the Instagram photo of an airsoft gun late Thursday.

“I don’t think I did anything wrong,” he told KRON. “[The] next morning, they called me down and, like, patted me down and checked me for weapons. Then, they told me I was getting expelled or suspended or whatever.”

Administrators sent Bowlin home with a note indicating the reason for his suspension – liking a post on social media that indicated potential violence.

The liking of the photo of the gun that doesn’t fire actual bullets didn’t even occur during school time. School administrators made up a few excuses, but, one has to wonder how, exactly, they found out about Zachary liking the picture. Did someone complain, or are school administrators monitoring (spying on) the social media accounts of students who are not on school property and school is not in session?

From Fox 19

Below is the statement given to FOX19 NOW by Superintendent Russ Fussnecker:

“Concerning the recent social media posting of a gun with the caption “Ready”, and the liking of this post by another student, the policy at Edgewood City Schools reads as follows:

The Board has a “zero tolerance” of violent, disruptive, harassing, intimidating, bullying, or any other inappropriate behavior by its students. 

Furthermore, the policy states:  

Students are also subject to discipline as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct that occurs off school property when the misbehavior adversely affects the educational process.

As the Superintendent of the Edgewood City Schools, I assure you that any social media threat will be taken serious including those who “like” the post when it potentially endangers the health and safety of students or adversely affects the educational process.”

Liking a photo of a fake gun isn’t violent, disruptive, harassing, intimidating, or bullying. I supposed Wrongthink could be considered inappropriate behavior in Liberal World. But, come on, really, discipline for what happens off school property for liking a freaking photo?

Fortunately, the suspension was lifted when Zachary’s parents hit the roof.