Don't let your children draw pictures of guns...

SIGdude · Feb 22, 2011

The part that gets me about this is when I was 11 damn near 20 years ago, every one of my friends and I used to draw stuff like this all the time. I remember writing works of fiction, albeit poorly, about my friends and I being assassins and taking out all manner of people, teachers included. I even submitted some of these for writing assignments and got fantastic grades on them. My mother was never contacted for the content, let alone the police for a cuff and stuff. And I promise these stories were much more graphic than this kid's inane drawings.

The point is, we do live in a completely different world now. Of course, a number of precautions we have are warranted; Twenty years ago it was unheard of for someone to barge into a school and open fire on students and educators. Columbine changed it, absolutely. But was this necessary? Absolutely not. I could have gotten a gun just as easily 20 years ago as this kid could today; just because you can doesn't mean that you will. And saying he is deeply troubled or even accusing him of ADD is preposterous.

wrightme · Feb 22, 2011

SIGdude said:
The part that gets me about this is when I was 11 damn near 20 years ago, every one of my friends and I used to draw stuff like this all the time. I remember writing works of fiction, albeit poorly, about my friends and I being assassins and taking out all manner of people, teachers included. I even submitted some of these for writing assignments and got fantastic grades on them. My mother was never contacted for the content, let alone the police for a cuff and stuff. And I promise these stories were much more graphic than this kid's inane drawings.

The point is, we do live in a completely different world now. Of course, a number of precautions we have are warranted; Twenty years ago it was unheard of for someone to barge into a school and open fire on students and educators. Columbine changed it, absolutely. But was this necessary? Absolutely not. I could have gotten a gun just as easily 20 years ago as this kid could today; just because you can doesn't mean that you will. And saying he is deeply troubled or even accusing him of ADD is preposterous.

Huh?

From the article:

is being treated for ADD

People aren't accusing him of ADD. Apparently, he was already diagnosed with it, and has been seeing a professional about it.

SIGdude · Feb 22, 2011

Admittedly, I did not read the article.

Admittedly, there is nothing anyone can say to me that will make me think ADD is a real disorder instead of just an excuse for over-medication of today's children. I'm not old enough to start saying "back in my day", but when I was 11, it didn't exist, and when you were 11 it didn't exist.

I'll blame it on Generation X's crummy parenting and overall lack of discipline, despite being a member. Of the generation, not of the parents.

Also, if what you bolded is the only thing you find wrong with my post, then everyone in this thread is on much more similar ground than previously thought. Stop nit-picking each other and get back to the topic at hand.

anmut · Feb 22, 2011

wrightme said:
I am not sure an arrest was needed either. But, it was appropriate.

Uttering a threat should not be taken lightly.

He drew it, then went to throw it out. Teacher stopped him and considered it a threat. School did not but then the POLICE did. WTF.

So what's next? What if he said "I'd like to kill the teacher?" Arrest him? What if that was heard out of context as in "That guy on TV said 'I'd like to kill the teacher.'" Then what's next? Can't say the word 'kill' in school? I'll tell you what, keep letting these bastards do this to our kids and they'll all be institutionalized before they are 15.

It's plain to me that the police went above and beyond to start this kid off on a bad track at age 11. If the child had problems before with authority, this situation did nothing to help him.

dbhsig · Feb 22, 2011

Glock34 said:
He is 11. you know a little kid, remember when you were 11 ??? were you mature enough to know what you were doing ??? did you have emotional issues as this child does ????

Herein lies the issue with me - the kid is 11. And, if you read the article it states: "The school was aware that the boy was in treatment, determined he was not a threat, notified his parents and sent him back to class." So, the school system did not deem this child a threat to society. Who siced the cops on him after the fact? This is not as cut and dried as it appears. And, from reading the comments related to the article, it doesn't appear to be doing the police public relations any favors.

dbhsig · Feb 22, 2011

Grapeshot said:
A bit off topic perhaps, but there is a gem of wisdom at the end of the article:

"And if they had known that their son’s cooperation would be used as evidence against him, they would have hired a lawyer at the beginning and exercised his right to remain silent."

I, too, found that very interesting.

anmut · Feb 22, 2011

wrightme said:
Hyperbole.

Unfortunately, I must stand on the specific that death threats are serious business. Once again, this isn't about simply drawing pictures of guns. This is about a threat to life.

This was the premise presented by the OP.

It is a false premise, given the facts.

I beg to differ. Do you think he'd been arrested if it was a picture of a cat with "kill the teacher" as the headline? Doubtful. But there was a poorly drawn, SCARY EVIL GUN. I'm actually surprised that the police didn't label the drawing as a "picture of an automatic gun with extended magazine."

VW_Factor · Feb 22, 2011

wrightme said:
I have.

Care to explain why you ignore my explanation?

You have explained nothing above my post sir (nor have I read anything else that makes sense after). You have only pointed out your silly feelings about how a kid drawing a picture is a threat to someone.

Good day.

wrightme · Feb 22, 2011

SIGdude said:
Admittedly, I did not read the article.

Admittedly, there is nothing anyone can say to me that will make me think ADD is a real disorder instead of just an excuse for over-medication of today's children. I'm not old enough to start saying "back in my day", but when I was 11, it didn't exist, and when you were 11 it didn't exist.

For me, it was the 70's. I have one cousin about 10 years younger than me who was diagnosed. It isn't a new thing.

SIGdude said:
I'll blame it on Generation X's crummy parenting and overall lack of discipline, despite being a member. Of the generation, not of the parents.

Also, if what you bolded is the only thing you find wrong with my post, then everyone in this thread is on much more similar ground than previously thought. Stop nit-picking each other and get back to the topic at hand.

When you misrepresent the reality, it deserves to be pointed out.

wrightme · Feb 22, 2011

anmut said:
I beg to differ. Do you think he'd been arrested if it was a picture of a cat with "kill the teacher" as the headline? Doubtful. But there was a poorly drawn, SCARY EVIL GUN. I'm actually surprised that the police didn't label the drawing as a "picture of an automatic gun with extended magazine."

This isn't about some "cat with gun," or other stuff. We can spend all day playing the "what if" game, to no avail.

THIS event must be judged upon the facts. As others have pointed out, the reality does seem to have some missing elements. It isn't effective for us to make up more to argue about.

wrightme · Feb 22, 2011

VW_Factor said:
You have explained nothing above my post sir (nor have I read anything else that makes sense after). You have only pointed out your silly feelings about how a kid drawing a picture is a threat to someone.

Good day.

No, it isn't about the picture. It is about the specific words that were used. Absent those words, it IS just a picture. Have YOU read the article to see that there was more than just a picture drawn?

SIGdude · Feb 22, 2011

oh FFS,

this guy has to be right so *** **** bad, just let him. Kill this thread. Maybe he'll just go back to wherever he came from and I won't have to put up with him anymore.

......--Moderator Edited--
For language unacceptable on OCDO.

SavageOne · Feb 22, 2011

wrightme said:
I am not sure an arrest was needed either. But, it was appropriate.

Uttering a threat should not be taken lightly.

From reading the article I cannot see where he uttered any threat. He followed a therapist's directions to draw a picture instead of disrupting class, once it had the assumed desired effect(he felt calmer), he went to dispose of the drawing.
He did not communicate any threat either vocally or by giving the drawing to anyone. The teacher took the drawing before he could throw it away and inferred a threat. The school system didn't even feel a threat had been made, so why did the police feel it necessary to arrest the boy?

VW_Factor · Feb 22, 2011

wrightme said:
No, it isn't about the picture. It is about the specific words that were used. Absent those words, it IS just a picture. Have YOU read the article to see that there was more than just a picture drawn?

I did indeed read the article.

Good day sir.

wrightme · Feb 22, 2011

VW_Factor said:
I did indeed read the article.

Good day sir.

So then you should understand that words were written by the boy. Words that stated "teacher must die" I believe was the exact quote.

Absent those words, the picture was simply stick figure people holding things.

wrightme · Feb 22, 2011

SIGdude said:
oh FFS,

this guy has to be right so *** **** bad, just let him. Kill this thread. Maybe he'll just go back to wherever he came from and I won't have to put up with him anymore.

????

No one is forcing you to read these posts.

CenTex · Feb 23, 2011

wrightme said:
That article does not match the intent of the thread title......

Arrest for a threat such as that is appropriate. Sorry.

Do you actually believe your signature?
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin

wrightme · Feb 23, 2011

CenTex said:
Do you actually believe your signature?
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin

Yes, I do. I also agree with a tenet of this website that we abide by the laws.

I have made my position abundantly clear, in spite of several efforts to misrepresent my position.

SavageOne · Feb 23, 2011

wrightme said:
No, it isn't about the picture. It is about the specific words that were used. Absent those words, it IS just a picture. Have YOU read the article to see that there was more than just a picture drawn?

Are not the words part of the picture? Is the picture not a therapeutic technique he used at the direction of his therapist? I would have to say once again, the boy made no threat, the teacher inferred one.

END_THE_FED · Feb 23, 2011

wrightme said:
I am not sure an arrest was needed either. But, it was appropriate.

Uttering a threat should not be taken lightly.

If the student had given the drawing to the teacher or to another person then I might agree, but the student drew it for his own use and was about to throw it away.

If the words were written in a diary/journal would you feel the same way?

Don't let your children draw pictures of guns...

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