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Education

‘It’s Ridiculous’: Three 6-Year-Olds Suspended for Making ‘Gun’ Signs With Hands During Recess

Jan. 16, 2013 11:14am Erica Ritz

2 6 Year Old Maryland Students Suspended for Making Gun Signs With Hands

A WJZ-TV reporter imitates the students’ offending hand sign. (Photo: WJZ-TV)

Everyone wants to send their kids to a safe school where they can learn the skills to become a functioning adult. But are we almost starting to create “bubble” children, giving them so many rules at each turn that they will have no idea how to make independent decisions later in life?

A Talbot County school in Maryland has just suspended two six-year-old students for making “gun” signs with their hands while playing what used to be a fairly common game, cops and robbers, during recess. And less than two weeks ago, 6-year-old Rodney Lynch was suspended for the same offense.

Young Rodney explained what he did during a WJZ-TV interview: “Just pointing your fingers like this, and then she did the pow sound, and I just went like that, and then I got sent to the office, again.”

One parent, Julia Merchant, said the situation is “ridiculous.”

Rodney Lynch explains what he did to get suspended. (Photo: WJZ-TV)

WJZ-TV has more on the case:

The school reversed its decision after Rodney’s parents appealed.

“They’re saying he threatened a student, threatened to shoot a student. He was playing,” said Rodney’s father, Rodney Lynch Sr.

“I do not believe maliciousness was involved here,” said child psychologist Dr. Joe Kaine.

Kaine says most 6-year-olds’ minds aren’t developed enough to understand why their idea of fun play might make adults upset.

“I can certainly appreciate that at school, that’s not a type of play that they are going to endorse and I certainly support that, but that’s where we educate the time and place for doing things,” Kaine said.

As of this article’s publication, the suspension sentences of the other two boys have not been overturned.

But parental support seems to be on the side of the students, regardless of recent violence at American schools.

Janet Geotzky concluded, according to WJZ-TV: “Suspending them is a bit harsh and I don’t think that’s gonna do any good for the parent, child or school.”

What do you think?

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Comments (94)

coyote1hell
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:05pm
Unions are behind this…Commie..bastards..that want to take away your rights….that’s all….

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- guns-an-bibles
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:37pm
  Maryland… That figures. Another state with not much common since. Give me a break, Maryland! You’re not thinking of your children. You are thinking only how politically correct it is to once again demonize guns! Get over it already! You have your gun-free zones, at least let them have their imaginations. When the bad guy comes to stab as many children as he can before the evil cop shows up to splatter his brains all over the playground (with their evil guns) at least they can pretend to get rid of the real evil in their own way!
  
  Report this comment
- pavepaws
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:43pm
  Obviously future sociopaths.
  
  Report this comment
- zorro
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:15pm
  What’s ridiculous is that parents are still sending their kids to public school. They get what they deserve for not caring about the education of their children.
  
  Report this comment
- The Giver
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:46pm
  Imagination-free zones. Time to leave the country yet?
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:15pm
  This was me at 6, no exaggeration.
  
  ‘Course me and my besties would use real sticks as swords when pretending to be warriors.
  
  Come on, they’re kids doing kid things.
  
  Report this comment
- coldnorth
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 5:31pm
  Maryland….the Free State. What a bunch of hogwash. Glad I left. Never going back.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 11:41am
  When I was about 5 or six, I got a little cowgirl outfit, including holster and play gun and red hat. My brother and I played cowboys and indians, but I always wanted to be the indian, and didn’t have an indian costume. I’m part “native American.” My brother moved on to playing swords (real wooden swords) with his friends, and I moved on to pretend make up (at that time it was plastic and you pretended to “make up” – now they give 6 year olds REAL makeup.)
  
  Report this comment
AverageWhiteMale
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:03pm
I would bet BIG money that none of these kids were minorities.

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- listeninginVT
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:28pm
  no bet
  
  Report this comment
- Reddlegg99
  Posted on March 3, 2013 at 11:04am
  I bet neither are you.
  
  Report this comment
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:55am
I am glad that I was a kid in the 1950′s. We played Army, Cowboys & Indians, Davey Crokett and Daniel Boone. We spent our summer literally running, crawling, hiding in bushes, throwing ourselves under cover playing these games. Of course, in those days, many of the parents were WWII and/or Korean War vets.

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- stopprintn
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:03pm
  We were tought to kill communists, and now they are everywhere. Whats an old fart to do?
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:06pm
  Same here, late ’50s through the early ’60s. Even on the school playgrounds.
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:18pm
  @DISMAYED VETERAN
  
  Same with us growing up in the 60′s and early 70′s…we had jean jackets with army patches on them and read army themed comic books.
  
  I would add, that it seems that they are putting children in boxes, much like the communist countries did at a very early age (think Olympic athletes).
  
  Be very careful of ‘mental health’ recommendations – very scary stuff.
  
  Report this comment
- Female
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:34pm
  When I first became a parent of 2 young stepsons, I outlawed playing with guns. After 1st having a daughter, I was blessed with a son. He was under 2 loving and craddling a baby doll, when he turned it around and made it into a “weapon” or bat, against his sister, to protect his property rights, a red fire truck. A year went by while, I noticed an increased desire on the part of my son to protect property and even sometimes his sister at the park. I pondered about this seemingly natural tendency toward violent protectiveness; being that his environment was so sterilized by me! I prayed:
  
  Answer: If I raised my sons to be afraid of protective violence, then the only ones utilizing violence are the aggressors. Better to train them properly for protection and provision.
  
  My stepsons were very happy that afternoon, to come home to a table full of water pistols, nerf guns, army toys and super heroe figures! Years later my boys (7 total) and daughters (5 total) receive training in bb, pellet, paintball and some are now adults, who go to the range with their spouses or have joined the military to protect and defend our nation.
  
  Called Congressman Stockman (TX) and Congressman Walter Jones (NC) requested a website for a petition initiating Impeachment of President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. I called it “The Last Straw Impeachment” for under numerous occassions breaking the Articles of the US Constitution and implementing unlawful executive orders.
  
  Report this comment
- jungle J
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:07pm
  during the same time minorities were taught to hate non minorities and identify them by their color.
  
  Report this comment
- RabidPatriot
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:09pm
  Times have changed. My high school had a gun range at the school. I was on the shooting team and we competed with all of the other surrounding high schools. Most of them had ranges on campus too. I fired hundreds of rounds a day, at school. My varsity jacket was covered with crossed rifle pins and medals with guns and targets on them. Can you imagine, we had no gun violence ever. Must be the people.
  
  Report this comment
- yooperjo
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 2:00pm
  My sister and I (I am female) used cap pistols to play cowboys and Indians in the 50′s. Neither of us became a mass murderer. What a surprise. We are coddling our kids beyond belief. Let them play, let them fail at things. Let them give hugs to one another. They will be much healthier for it.
  
  Report this comment
Woody4USA
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:53am
Didn’t this just happen to a Deaf kid when he used sign to spell his name? The teacher said one of the letters looked too much like a gun and told him to leave that letter out next time.

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stopprintn
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:51am
How many violations is it to play cowboys and indians these days ?

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- Female
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:05pm
  Racism and UN crimes against humanity for sure!
  
  Report this comment
- dcgirl
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:26pm
  When my husband was little he played cowboys and indians with real indians!
  
  Report this comment
spfoam1
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:45am
The administrators there need to be replaced before they do any more damage.

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- naughtycal
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:07pm
  Sounds like American needs to take their children out of these government indoctrinationl center in mass numbers.
  
  Report this comment
C141BEngineer
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:37am
This is where gun control starts. Teach the children that guns are bad, and they will want no part of them. Pretty soon there will be no military because the youth will want no part of having a weapon.

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- kryptonite
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:53am
  The commie puke needs a military, but his will swear allegiance to the State, not the Constitution.
  
  Report this comment
Xiccarph
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:37am
The public school system is it’s own worst enemy. Designed to fail, yet touts constant success. Sort of what BHO always sounds like.

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- Fubared
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:46am
  Maryland is a communist state. They only want the thugs that were pushed out of DC having weapons, and politicians and thug sport stars. Nobody else.
  
  Report this comment
philoise65
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:35am
If the kiddies would have “shot” their middle finger they would be tried as adults for a hate crime. Liberals and Democrats definitely have an avascular brain housing group.

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- biohazard23
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:27pm
  You’re implying that they have functioning gray matter in the cranial vault to begin with. That’s being quite generous, isn’t it?
  
  Report this comment
thegreatcarnac
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:34am
The left’s stupidity knows no bounds nor shame. Kids have played like their fingers/hands were pistols since the invention of hand-held guns. Suspending 6 year olds for playing is not only stupid,… it is almost criminal. We all did this at one time or another in play and we did not become murderers. The public schools are not only going too far they are doing it on purpose. They plan on raising a class of helpless people who run at any picture of a weapon or conflict. As small an action that it is, it is to brainwash people into giving up the second amendment.

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Gonzo
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:34am
“Everyone wants to send their kids to a safe school where they can learn the skills to become a functioning adult.”
That might be the whole problem in a nutshell.

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- dublinthewagons
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:17pm
  The president does this in every speech. Impeach him.
  Fast & furious tried for war crimes against humanity
  
  Report this comment
Just_Us2
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:34am
The principal needs to be dragged out on to the playground, stripped and beaten with clubs. As they lay there bleeding, all the kids need to make a finger gun and shoot them. Then ask the principal what they felt most threatened by. Maybe more public beatings would bring about some common sense.

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- AverageWhiteMale
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:01pm
  Are you insane, teaching our kids violence….blah blah blah
  
  Actually I’m right there with you, we should actually have a clown posse cleaning up some of this, look on youtube Chevelle, the fad
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi3KJQwuP4I
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:12pm
  How about they just fire him and all involved and remove their lisence to teach or adminstrate in any educational facility. They politics and ideology are too embedded to ever trust them with education in any form.
  
  Report this comment
MrArbitrage
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:32am
Examining Obama & Serial Killers
http://youtu.be/TgBo_G9YyIA

“ENCHANTING! it’s this years Gone with the Wind” – TableOfWisdom.com

“Examining Obama & Serial Killers is Pulp Fiction meets Schindler’s List”
- cbPatriot.com

“If you liked Casablanca & Citizen Kane – you’re going to LOVE Examining Obama & Serial Killers” – ThurstonHowell.Net
(Updated in HD).

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eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:30am
Obviously, we need a FINGER BAN. Perhaps obama and his liberals can push legislation to force hospitals to amputate children’s’ fingers at birth? We have to do something to stop all of this violent finger pointing!

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mildot rider
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:30am
Great! Pull these kids out of school and teach them at home. Teach them that evil exists in the Regime. Teach them to fight the Marxist filth that has infiltrated our country.

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moreteaplease
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:30am
“Kaine says most 6-year-olds’ minds aren’t developed enough to understand why their idea of fun play might make adults upset.”
—————————————
Seriously? That’s because the 6 year old mind is more advanced than the adult minds that are upset by this.

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- Reddlegg99
  Posted on March 3, 2013 at 11:23am
  Typical knee jerk reaction. The blame game, “it’s a communist plot” doesn’t help. Kids are killing kids in school and we parent demand something, anything to help. How many of you instead of posting your opinions take action by giving your time by volunteering at schools or joining PTA’s. You don’t have to have kids enrolled, you can simply be a concerned district member. Very few I suspect. Its so much easier to quarterback from the couch. Are school district going to far, probably so help them by getting off the couch and getting involved . As a kid I played army, cops and robbers. Made rubber band guns, I served in the Army. Before my kids played with atoy gun they learned safety with a real gun.
  
  Report this comment
Bloody Sam
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:29am
Words fail me.

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- The Giver
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:59pm
  So sad to be witnessing such nonsense.
  
  Report this comment
raabhimself
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:29am
Time to tell your kids that everytime the teacher points at them, the chalkboard, or anything else to take it as the teacher is threatening them… that’s my solution. You should hear some of the things teachers say about your kids to each other. Most of them HATE children… your babysitter (although, a lot of teachers are glorified babysitters (I had a teacher tell me in school that she wasn’t my babysitter and the I was there to learn… the same materials every year for 6 years in order for them to get a good standing on the proficiency tests)) does too. End the war on children.

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qpwillie
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:29am
For heaven’s sake!!!!!! Get that boy a cap pistol and a roll of caps and tell him not to shoot it too close to somebody’s face!!!

I’m so sick of this absolute craziness!!!!

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- tradcatholicgirl
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:16pm
  These teachers and administrators have been taught not to think for themselves. They are PC robots
  
  Do they know anything about HOW kids play?
  
  Not one day goes by that my kids don’t have some kind of imaginative play with guns, swords, lightsabers, forts, etc. Many times they have have picked up branches and sticks off the ground and made THOSE into playthings. Its called imagination. And the Department of Ed wants to kill it in your kids.
  
  My advice to this family. Home school your kids.
  
  And severely limit the time they spend in front of the boob tube and with hand-held and other game systems!!
  
  Home school, and do NOT use the cyber education programs that school districts offer as home school choice. They are designed to dumb your kid down. Look for home school programs not contractually aligned with any school district. If you are a faith-filled family, get a Christian or Catholic based program. These programs come with lesson plans, tests, answer keys and lots of support.
  
  Don’t listen to people who tell you your kids won’t be socialized.
  Don’t listen to people who say that your kids will never learn higher math and science because you can’t teach it. That is a lie.
  
  Home schooled kids usually get offered scholarships, they excel in college honors programs. And their parents are NOT calculus and physics teachers. Resources abound for kids to learn what they need.
  
  Get your kids out of the system.
  
  Report this comment
- AGreyGhost
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 7:13pm
  On Public Schools – “Let the common school be expanded to it’s capabilities. Be worked with the efficiency of which it is susceptible, and nine-tenths of the crimes in the penal code would become obsolete…men would walk more safely by day: every pillow would be more inviolate by night: property, life and character held by stronger tenure: all rational hopes respecting the future brightened.” Horace Mann, Father of the Public School System
  
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Liberalismsamentaldisorder
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:26am
I wonder where the children see this? Libs will tell you it’s all us evil gun owners.
Of course 75% of TV shows and movies feature guns and liberal actors using them…let’s demonize the 6 year olds, yep, that fit’s the liberal view of the world.
Liberal=Hypocrite.

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- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:58am
  I, for one, think that violence in movies should be limited to spit ball fights with all actors wearing safety glasses and body armor.
  
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GoodStuff
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:24am
Get your kids out of government schools!!

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- zorro
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:20pm
  Amen. I’m amazed at how many people are outraged. What did they expect from a public school?
  
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denkat56
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:23am
It’s already starting. No common sense, no rationale thinking, just complete stupidity unchecked, and running amok. Liberals at their finest.

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term limits for congress
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:22am
The kids were suspended because their hands were not registered… and they didn’t have a conceal carry permit for their hands. We need more hand control laws.

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- zorro
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:22pm
  You see? This is what ****** me off about the Blaze! They left that part out! Now I understand why the kids got suspended. They deserved it!
  
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Cavallo
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:20am
Take your kids out of public school. Suspending 6 year olds for being 6 year olds is the asinine idiocy you expose your children to.

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sizzlinsexybeckster
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:18am
Talk about controlling. This is ridiculous. Kids should not even attend school until they are 7 years old. By then they will be more apt to defend themselves from the “adults” who work at the school since the parents don’t rally together FOR THE CHILDREN to rid of the school’s bullcrap.

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- C141BEngineer
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:40am
  Most parents can’t wait to get their children enrolled. Public school equals free daycare, free lunch, free after school daycare and some places a free supper.
  
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