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Gun-toting schoolkids – the readers speak

No pistols drawn, just conclusions

US boy caged for drawing gun in class
Canadian boy runs riot with chicken finger

Our recent coverage on US and Canadian clampdowns on foul-mouthed and deranged gun-toting schoolkids provoked Erik Frechette to write from Oldsmar, US. You will recall that this is where an 11-year-old was led cuffed from school for drawing a gun on a piece of paper:

I actually live in Oldsmar, FL USA and understand the operation of a computer...something that is probably amazing to you and your readers after reading the article "US boy caged for drawing gun in class". Coincidentally, I am also an artist who started exploring the visual arts during my time in grade school. Believe me when I say that I drew much more frightening things than guns. :;) To see something like this happening in my hometown is both embarrassing and disgraceful. Such is the level of hysterics the US culture has brought about in our schools. I can only imagine the rest of the world looking at our insane society and shaking its collective head...or worse! LOL

In conclusion, we are all indeed sliding off the edge into a free fall of utter lunacy. For your sake, let's hope we don't take anyone with us.

Keep up the good work and Dog bless America!

Not everyone, however, believes that the school authorities have gone completely off the rails. Daniele Procida writes:

Frankly, I'd be delighted to see school authorities take a much stronger line against play violence in schools (I wouldn't advocate suspensions for drawing pictures of guns or playing with chicken bones. But given the history of guns and schools (in Britain and the US) over recent years, it's not anyone should shrug off. It gives me the creeps to see my children's nursery-school companions turn up in the playground bearing toy assault rifles and so on - now *that* is madness.

On the other hand, I couldn't give a flying fuck about swearing (though I've been embarrassed once or twice when something I've said has been repeated in front the wrong grandparent.)

Daniele, what kind of example is that to set your kids? Finally, Spencer T. Kittelson asks the big question:

Are we screwed up in this country (USA) about what's important or not?

Yes you are. Sorry 'bout that.

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