AFTERMATH: Former Davis High School senior Adam Liston
is still dealing with the consequences of driving to school
with a gun in his truck. Greg Rihl/Enterprise photo
Davis Enterprise February 29, 2004
Under The Gun
Posted on 03/10/2004 7:49:57 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The "Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994" requires a one-year expulsion of any student who brings a firearm to any elementary or secondary school that receives federal funding. The Act allows "the chief administering officer of such local educational agency to modify such expulsion requirement for a student on a case-by-case basis."
Many public schools have taken the liberty to expand this policy to include toy guns, food items being used as toy guns, and children pointing their fingers like guns. Most would agree that this is ludricious, with the exception of many schoolteachers and policymakers whose melodramatic paranoia of anything gun-like is beyond any semblance of reason.
This reefer-madness mentality about firearms is a major contributing factor to the total lack of education about the Second Amendment in our nation's schools. Plus, it creates a mysterious, forbidden mystique about firearms that generates a natural curiosity among young people. A curiosity that puts some at risk as they may not have had any education about firearms or firearm safety and are certainly not going to get such an education at school.
This hyper-sensitivity to all-things-gun may have just cost a California high school senior his future. The high school senior, Adam Liston, is a responsible, hard working, patriotic, honor student. Always one to follow the rules and never one to get in trouble, Adam was a model student, but he was also a gun owner. A gun owner who committed a crime.
Adam's crime was that of forgetfulness. As is typical of a teenager he forgot. They forget all kinds of things, don't they? But, this one just might ruin his chances at a life that he has barely begun.
The high-schooler purchased a shotgun, legally, for his 18th birthday. Being an avid sportsman, he enjoyed shooting before and after school and during lunch breaks, off campus. But, the young man forgot to remove his unloaded shotgun before returning to school one day. A fellow student, having seen Mr. Liston's shotgun in the gun-rack on the back of his pickup on a previous day, reported Adam to the principal's office.
The principal called Adam into his office and asked for permission to search the truck. Mr. Liston agreed. That's all fine and well. We understand that the principal was merely trying to ensure that Davis High School was in compliance with the "Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994."
What we don't understand is why four police units were also on the scene. After all, Adam Liston was not hostile or disturbed. He was a model citizen and honor student. He cooperated with the principal. No threats or anti-social behavior had been demonstrated by him. And yet, the police were there in full force.
Upon retrieving the unloaded shotgun, Adam Liston, high school honor student, was charged with two felonies. If convicted, he can never own a firearm again and he will always have trouble finding a job. This incident of simple forgetfulness will follow him for the rest of his life thanks to his educators at Davis High School. He was also expelled, of course.
Our nation's educators have taken their gun-phobia to an extreme that has become dangerous to our children. Unable to keep their emotions in check, school officials are now ruining the lives of otherwise good kids.
What will society do as Adam's fate hangs in the balance? Will regular folks step in and demand an end to this rampant discrimination against gun owners? Or will we continue to kowtow to the whining, sniveling, rats who demand that we submit and deny ourselves our rights in order to preserve the status quo?
Davis High School - (530) 757-5400
Davis Joint Unified School District - (530) 757-5300 ext. 142
Yolo County Unified School District - (530) 668-3703
Davis Police Department, Investigations Unit - (530) 747-5430
Davis Enterprise February 29, 2004
Under The Gun
I appreciate that you feel that way. Just wait until an act of "forgetfulness" regarding something that the liberals forbid ruins your life or the life of your child. Myself and the others here will be cold and indifferent toward your situation.
The Mayor of San Francisco is not only breaking the law but is spitting in it's face. What's your take on that?
That wouldn't include you, would it?
In what way does the law suck?
This kid broke the law...thats just cold hard reality.
Your attitude shows a contempt for the Second Amendment, IMO.
Thanks, but I already had this idiot figured out.
PS. They don't give up, do they?
Not exactly zero tolerance. Maybe 10% tolerance or whatever.
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