Gun Shaped Pizza Slice Gets Kid in Trouble
Apparently kids can’t be kids, at least if anything in the rough shape of a gun is involved. Hot Air reported this week, “School disciplines 10-year-old for gun-shaped pizza slice.” The story noted:
“I didn’t know the lunch was loaded.” That is the story of a 10-year-old from a Nashville suburb who was disciplined by his school’s administration for brandishing a pizza slice that some say resembled a handgun.
The child, Nicholas Taylor, was at lunch with classmates in mid-December at David Youree Elementary School in Smyrna. He was eating a slice of pizza when a “kid across the table from him” remarked that the unfinished slice “looked like a gun.” Nicholas’s mother told ABC affiliate WKRN-TV. “So he picked it up and started shooting it in the air,” she added.
It seems that Taylor was sentenced to the “silent table” for the rest of the semester as punishment. It was added that students reported he was making “threatening hand gestures,” and “shooting other kids at the table.”
Seriously, this is the level of hysteria that we’ve reached!
What Media Mostly Fails to Report – Few Gun Incidents in Tennessee Parks
It is pretty much a fact that you can’t really prove a negative. It is also said that no news is good news. This could in fact explain why there has been little said from the media about firearms being allowed in state parks in Tennessee. A year ago there was great uproar that it would turn these peaceful sanctuaries into war zones if guns were suddenly allowed.
But interesting the Associated Press via KnoxNews.com has noted, “Only two gun-related incidents have been reported in states parks.” Neither of these resulted in violence said officials. Could it be that guns and parks can coexist? Where is the Mayors Against Illegal Guns study on this one?
Who Guards the Guards: Gallaway Police Guns Gone Away
MyFox News in Memphis reported that several police issued shotguns have gone away in Gallaway, Tenn. The news site noted that the City of Gallaway if offering a $500 reward for information on the guns. The crime seems particularly brazen: Read more
Tennessee Man Sues Park Ranger For Being Detained For Possessing a Firearm
Last year the State of Tennessee made it legal for gun owners with permits to carry guns in state parks, but despite this fact this past December Leonard Embody was detained, and held for three hours for carrying a gun. According to a news feature on Tennessean.com, Embody had a permit and the disturbing fact is that he claims a park ranger pointed a shotgun to him.
Obviously we’re only getting one side of the story, but it is worth noting that Steven Ward – the park manager in question – didn’t respond to calls from the journalist writing the story. What is as disturbing is that Embody was also held for more than three hours.
While it is mentioned that Embody may have been “testing authorities,” the fact is that he didn’t break the law. Kudos to Embody for suing!
Who Guards the Guards: Another Police Car Broken Into… Guns Stolen
In Washington County, Tennessee, a sheriff’s office unmarked car was broken into, and two firearms were stolen according to TriCities.com:
“Taken from the sheriff’s vehicle were two guns, a Remington model 870 .12 gauge shotgun and a Bush Master AR-15.”
We must ask again, why did the officer leave these firearms in his car? And what is worse is the fact, which according to the news article, the officer left these unprotected for several days:
“The burglaries took place some time between Dec. 23 and Dec. 29.”
This just seems irresponsible to us.
Buyback Promises “One Less Gun”
Well, ’tis the season it seems. Not just for holiday shopping, but also gun buyback programs. On December 19 the “One Less Gun” buyback program will be held at three locations in Jackson, Tennessee. As we repeatedly ask, does this really get guns off the street? The problem is that the media never asks this question. Instead we get the usual reporting that doesn’t ask the hard questions. Case in point, The Jackson Sun offers this introduction:
“A new program will allow people to trade in guns for gift cards in an effort to combat illegal handgun violence in Jackson.”
Wouldn’t sweeps of crime ridden areas do a better job of combating illegal handguns? We’ll ask one more time, why would a criminal hand in an illegal gun, especially for a $100 gift card? The paper quotes Lisa Silver, executive director of the Lambuth Area Neighborhood Association, who offered this tidbit:
“Just in light of all the recent events, we felt like we had to do something to spread the word that this kind of activity is not acceptable. Our police force works so hard, but the responsibility also falls onto this community.”
So how does getting the community to sell their guns help reduce crime? There is a bright side to the story, the article notes that “each weapon will be checked to see if it’s lost or stolen, and if so, will be returned to its owner.” Let’s hope some guns go home instead of just being destroyed.
