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Political Correctness in Hyperdrive as Texas School Bans “Star Wars” Themed T-Shirt

Friday, December 18, 2015

Political Correctness in Hyperdrive as Texas School Bans “Star Wars” Themed T-Shirt

Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, young movie fans could enthusiastically anticipate the release of a new “Star Wars” movie without triggering a heavy-handed reprisal from school officials who perhaps identify too closely with the Empire.

Unfortunately, we live in a different era, as Rosenberg, Tex., seventh grader Colton Southern learned recently when he wore a t-shirt to school depicting a character from “Star Wars: the Force Awakens,” the highly-anticipated addition to the iconic film franchise. The t-shirt contained an image of a character wielding a blaster, an indispensable tool of the movie’s villainous storm troopers.

Although Colton reportedly had worn the same t-shirt to school several times before without incident, school administrators told him last week the shirt was prohibited under the school’s dress code, which prohibits “symbols oriented toward violence.” As Colton’s father pointed out to the local ABC affiliate, however, “the weapon shown is fictional as is the character holding it,” and his son is a model citizen without “a violent bone in his body.”

School officials were undeterred, and countered that in the make-believe universe of Star Wars, the blaster would be considered a weapon. (Hardcore Star Wars fans might retort that Imperial blasters, as “weapons” go, are actually very progressive, with a setting designed to temporarily incapacitate a target without permanent injury).

In fact, Colton’s father appeared stunned by the school’s response: “You're talking about a Star Wars t-shirt, a week before the biggest movie of the year comes out,” Colton’ father told a reporter. “He’s just an excited kid for the movie.”

Officials at the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District claimed they went easy on the boy by insisting that he only cover up the offending image, rather than simply punishing him for it.

But First Amendment expert Eugene Volokh said that’s not the argument school officials should be looking for: “Actually, even T-shirts depicting real weapons are constitutionally protected against K-12 school discipline,” he wrote in the Washington Post. The First Amendment requires “real evidence that the T-shirts are likely to substantially disrupt the educational process (something that’s highly unlikely here); categorical bans on all depictions of weapons, regardless of whether they are disruptive, would be unconstitutionally overbroad.”

Unfortunately, far too many school administrators have been seduced by the dark side of anti-gun hysteria into behaving as if any implement, gesture, image, or vocalization that merely hints at a firearm, or some fictional variant of a firearm, were tantamount to a violent outburst. Whatever mind tricks may have led to this bizarre state of affairs, it is clearly at odds with reality and mainstream culture, two factors that one would hope play a role in educating the next generation of Americans.

It’s disturbing, the force with which this “zero tolerance” orthodoxy is pressed. With one such example following another, it’s as if millions of voices suddenly cried out for sanity, and were suddenly silenced by the threat of school discipline and costly legal battles to clear their kids’ names.

The situation has gotten so out of hand that some states are now striking back with legislative solutions, which may provide a new hope for a saner, more reality-centered approach.

Let’s hope so. We’d all like to see our public officials approach student instruction with the rational, deliberate thinking they are supposed to be imparting to the children in their care. Once again they have disappointed us, but it probably won’t be for the last time.

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Texas zero-tolerance
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Guide To The Interstate Transportation Of Firearms

Gun Laws  

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Guide To The Interstate Transportation Of Firearms

CAUTION: Federal and state firearms laws are subject to frequent change. This summary is not to be considered as legal advice or a restatement of law.

Michigan: Anti-Gun Legislation Passed in the Middle of the Night Heads To Governor’s Desk

Friday, December 20, 2024

Michigan: Anti-Gun Legislation Passed in the Middle of the Night Heads To Governor’s Desk

With the sun setting on the 2023-2024 legislative session, yesterday the Michigan Senate held a marathon session lasting over 24 hours. While citizens were sleeping, anti-gun lawmakers were able to pass two pieces of legislation, ...

Here We Go Again: Anti-gun States Simultaneously Sue Law-Abiding Gunmaker

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Friday, December 13, 2024

Here We Go Again: Anti-gun States Simultaneously Sue Law-Abiding Gunmaker

Last week, the anti-gun attorneys general of Minnesota and New Jersey filed nearly simultaneous lawsuits against firearm maker Glock, essentially claiming the company was violating the laws of those states by making guns that are too easy to illegally ...

Concealed Carry Permit, Gun Sale Numbers Stay Strong in 2024

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Monday, December 16, 2024

Concealed Carry Permit, Gun Sale Numbers Stay Strong in 2024

The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) has released the latest in its series of annual reports on trends in concealed carry permits in America.

Michigan: Final Push to Limit Gun Rights as Session Clock Runs Down

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Michigan: Final Push to Limit Gun Rights as Session Clock Runs Down

With only a few days left in the session, anti-gun legislators are doing everything they can to pass additional legislation restricting the Second Amendment rights of Michigan citizens. The legislation below could be taken up ...

Gun Control Activists Cite “Loopholes” in CEO’s Murder, Ignore Facts and Law

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Monday, December 16, 2024

Gun Control Activists Cite “Loopholes” in CEO’s Murder, Ignore Facts and Law

Predictably, gun control activists are citing the cold-blooded Manhattan murder of health insurance executive Brian Thompson to call for more gun control, particularly in the hot-button areas of “ghost guns” and “3D printed firearms.” 

Maine: Prepare for Progressives to Attack Your Hunting Rights

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Maine: Prepare for Progressives to Attack Your Hunting Rights

While 2024 may be winding down now, the 2025 legislative session is about to heat up, and radical anti-gun progressive politicians are already planning new ways to strip you of your fundamental rights.  

NYC Subway More Dangerous Than the Gridiron?

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Monday, December 16, 2024

NYC Subway More Dangerous Than the Gridiron?

Violent crime in New York City has been a growing concern over the last few years.  

Canada Announces New Gun Bans, More Gun Control on the Horizon

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Monday, December 9, 2024

Canada Announces New Gun Bans, More Gun Control on the Horizon

On December 5, at a late afternoon press conference in Ottawa, Canada’s federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced that 324 additional makes and variants of rifles would be added to the 2020 list of ...

Federal District Court Strikes Down IL’s “Assault Weapon” and “Large-Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA-Supported Case

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Federal District Court Strikes Down IL’s “Assault Weapon” and “Large-Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA-Supported Case

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois struck down provisions of the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) that prohibit “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” in an NRA-supported case, Barnett v. Raoul.

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Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.