School Lockdown Blamed on Rubber Band Gun

U.P.I. | 04-16-2004

[unixfox]

School lockdown blamed on toy gun

MIAMI, April 16 (UPI) -- A lockdown at a Miami middle school Thursday has been blamed on a student with a toy rubber band gun who was spotted walking into the building.

The 15-year-old boy was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds and disruptions of school functions, the Miami Herald reported Friday.

Neighbors had called police after they had seen the boy wave the toy around, and stuff it under his coat.

"From a distance, it can be confused with a rifle or sawed-off shotgun," said Mayco Villafana, a school district spokesman.

Worried parents gathered around the school, and their concerns weren't alleviated until a search of the school was completed after about two hours.

The boy's name was withheld because of his name. He was arrested after another neighbor called in with a description. He confessed after a lengthy interview.

[unixfox]

Just DAMN!!

[unixfox]

The boy's name was withheld because of his name.

Wonder why that is? Is he of a MINORITY status?

[Hank Rearden]

"From a distance, it can be confused with a rifle or sawed-off shotgun," said Mayco Villafana, a school district spokesman.

Government moron.

[demlosers]

When rubber bands are banned, only criminals will have rubber bands. I always wanted to say that. :-)

[AppyPappy]

I'm having a Blazing Saddles flashback moment.

[unixfox]

From a distance....I mean how far away was he anyway? Just another gubmint school district spokeman idiot.

[End Times Sentinel]

When rubber bands are banned, only criminals will have rubber bands. I always wanted to say that. :-)

 

Yeah, well, maybe I did too.  Didja ever think about that, or did you just inconsiderately scoop me?

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

When rubber bands are banned, only criminals will have rubber bands. I always wanted to say that. :-)

[Blood of Tyrants]

They did the right thing. He could have put someone's eye out! </sarcasm in case you were wondering>

[headsonpikes]

Let's face it - this kid is lucky to be alive!

[unixfox]

I remember as a kid we used to buy a toy called a Rubando Pistola. It shot rubber bands from a wooden toy gun. Funny I don't ever remember anybody getting hurt or shutting down an entire school from it. Geez...

Our school systems are now certifiably insane!!

[Ignatz]

Just another "Zero Intelligence" program at work.

[demlosers]

LOL! Hey, I like your choice of font.

[Tax-chick]

From a distance, it can be confused with a rifle or sawed-off shotgun.

Oh PUH-LEEZ! Only if you're legally blind or stone-cold stupid! My son has a nice "realistic" rubber-band gun. It could be mistaken for a STICK, at a distance! (The blasted rubber bands end up in the vacuum!)

When is everyone with a bit of common sense going to get their kids out of these schools? It's not hard to home school ... a few months with "Alpha-Phonics," then sign the kids up for Free Republic and let them learn something!

[Levante]

"The 15-year-old boy was charged with possession of a WEAPON on school grounds... Neighbors had called police after they had seen the boy wave the TOY around...

WELL? Which is it? A weapon or a toy? How could they charge him with having a weapon if it was a toy? Do you have to register with the police to buy this weapon/toy?

Socialist morons.

[Tax-chick]

A weapon or a toy?

Depend on the intent of the user, I guess. My son uses it to annoy his sisters, "Tom SHOT me!" But our little girls are 6 and 4, not high school students.

Socialist morons.

Beyond a doubt.

[IYAS9YAS]

Cripes, I got busted in the early 80s with a throwing star. Lost it and got a swat (not S.W.A.T). Glad it was then and not now. Gads how people have lost their sanity.

[af_vet_rr]

When rubber bands are banned, only criminals will have rubber bands. I always wanted to say that. :-)

Just think, if we had a modern day Beaver walk into the school with a slingshot in his backpocket, he could be labeled a terrorist, searched, etc. I don't know whether that's funny or a sad commentary on the state of this nation.

[IYAS9YAS]

We had a teach who had a roto-version of this. It fired about 20 rubber bands. Really cool. If we were good, he'd let us play with the thing. Paper targets. We could only shoot at each other when he wasn't looking. If he caught us, the recipient of the shot got a freebie at us.

[dead]

Government moron.

In the "small world" department, Government Moron Mayco Villafana, claimed to have been "pushed and shoved" during the infamous “Brooks Brothers Riot” of Republican activists that helped stop Miami Gorons from conducting yet another illegal vote-tampering recount.

Luckily for him, none of the crazed Republican rioters was carrying a rubber band gun.

[nopardons]

Not really. When I read the title of this thread,I thought that they were talking about a "zip gun",which were handmade guns which used rubber bands to shot off real bullets,that gang members used in the late '40s-'50s.