Zero Tolerance Policies

satv365 · #21 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 06:19 PM

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Washington D.C. – The Libertarian Party is asking the Cobb County School District to reexamine its zero tolerance policy for weapons after school officials pursue felony charges against a second student for accidentally having a knife on school property. "What we're looking at here is a zero tolerance policy being used to prosecute students for felonies when exceptions clearly need to be made," says Shane Cory, executive director of the national Libertarian Party. "The circumstances of both cases indicate these young men had no ill-intent with the knives they were caught having in their vehicles, yet the zero tolerance policy of the Cobb County School District will see that these students are charged with felonies. Their lives and academic careers will undoubtedly suffer greatly because the school officials refuse to use common sense with regards to weapon possession. This is wrong, and Cobb County needs to fix it."

"Once again, the Cobb County School District exhibits its collective absence of reasoning in choosing to waste time, money and a young man’s reputation so it can look tough on crime by making an example of a young man whose crime appears to be obeying that old Boy Scout motto: 'Be prepared,'" says Georgia Libertarian Party Executive Director David Chastain. "The lesson here is to first 'be prepared' for the long arm of the law to reach into every facet of your life. This is not your grandfather’s America."

Libertarian National Committee member and former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr issued a press release slamming school officials for what he called "an unthinking, stupid, and vindictive exercise of government power."

"The student posed no threat to anyone, and he was not using the knife in any threatening manner," Barr noted. "In fact, he was not using the knife at all - it was simply in his car. Trying to ruin a student's career before it even begins, by treating such an innocuous activity as having a Swiss Army pocketknife in a car, is nothing short of an unthinking, stupid, and vindictive exercise of government power.”

Barr, a former U.S. Attorney, is calling for District Attorney Pat Head and Solicitor Barry Morgan to drop charges against 12th grade student, Wilford Ray Chandler, Jr., who is the student charged with a felony for having a three-inch Swiss Army knife in his car.

"The point of the matter is this: Zero tolerance policies do nothing to prevent school violence," Cory continues. "Unfortunately, good students like Wilford Chandler, Jr. are the innocent victims of a failed and useless policy."

The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee, or by emailing them at media@lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Here it is dumbasses. Read the damned article, and stay on topic if you actually have a reason why he should be charged as a felon for this, than actually put your opinions here and quit meandering off into tangents about columbine, and rifle teams, terrorists, 911, and whatever else you bring up to argue a broken point.

Realist1 · #22 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 06:29 PM

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Originally Posted by satv365

Not realy. Especially since he had no intent to use it on someone. Forgot he had it in his car, and he is being charged with a felony.

I find it kind of fascist that you would promote these laws. He didnt have a gun in his locker, didnt carry the knife into school. Matter of fact, he had the knife on personal property, his own car.

Now this kid will have his life ruined because Governmnet needs to make an example out of a good kid who accidently had a 3 inch pocket knife in his car.

Its absurd to think this is fair or even called for. God forbid we let things go when they dont even matter, but this school and the district are pursuing felony charges. These will ruin his life, his academic career all because you and other statists think it's ok for a blatant disregard for the 8th amendment.

Oh yes, this is cruel and unusual punishment.

In Furman v. Georgia (1972), Justice Brennan wrote, "There are, then, four principles by which we may determine whether a particular punishment is 'cruel and unusual'."

* The "essential predicate" is "that a punishment must not by its severity be degrading to human dignity," especially torture.
* "A severe punishment that is obviously inflicted in wholly arbitrary fashion."
* "A severe punishment that is clearly and totally rejected throughout society."
* "A severe punishment that is patently unnecessary."

This is exactly what I said in obvious jest,

Sure...I suppose you can't see the danger to the entire School with a boy having a 3" Swiss Pocket Knife locked in his car.

Next you'll try an tell us that it's perfectly "normal" for boys to have spit-wad and rubber-band fights...This is a very dangerous path to follow.

Yet I rate being called a Facist?

Take care.

satv365 · #23 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 09:17 PM

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Originally Posted by Realist1

This is exactly what I said in obvious jest,

Sure...I suppose you can't see the danger to the entire School with a boy having a 3" Swiss Pocket Knife locked in his car.

Next you'll try an tell us that it's perfectly "normal" for boys to have spit-wad and rubber-band fights...This is a very dangerous path to follow.

Yet I rate being called a Facist?

Take care.

Not talking to you, talking to ChrisXP's tirades on terrorism and columbine. Been a long day, sorry If I havent been clear.

ChrisXP · #24 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 02:47 AM

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Originally Posted by satv365

Completely off topic.

Nope. It demostrates a hole in your "theory".

If you can defend the "freedom" to carry whatever weapon anywhere, you must also defend the rights of terrorists to carry any weapon anywhere, too.

You can't remove the terrorist out of the equation, to do so will make the premise exactly the opposite of what you're trying to argue -- conditions on the freedom to bear arms.

I don't want terrorists having equal rights. I want them to have special rights, so special that category will become extinct.

ChrisXP · #25 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satv365

Here it is dumbasses. Read the damned article, and stay on topic if you actually have a reason why he should be charged as a felon for this, than actually put your opinions here and quit meandering off into tangents about columbine, and rifle teams, terrorists, 911, and whatever else you bring up to argue a broken point.

What's dumb is politicians should never argue theory, as they're too caught up in emotion to think straight. You also show why weapons should be locked and unloaded -- as you're too quick in anger, and would probably be half-cocked over stubbing your little toe, then take that anger out inappropriately.

It is YOU guys that are the terrorists best friends. Heck, I'd even bet to get your agenda passed, you'd even supply your buds the arms and ammo to show how much you care about equal rights for ALL gun owners.

Can't have conditions on freedom, if you're about freedom.

Either you take the whole, or be reduced to it's parts.

satv365 · #26 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 05:33 AM

Once again this isnt about a GUN, nor even a weapon. A fork makes as good a weapon as a 3 inch pocket knife.

And this isnt about weapons, its about a 3 inch pocket knife, a tool. They are planning on ruining this kid's life over a 3 inch pocket knife in his car. That is wrong. If he had a gun, something should be done, if he had a switchblade in his pocket, something should have been done, but not a 3 inch pocket knife.

Your argument is broken, it has nothing to do with terrorists on airplanes, its about a kid who left a pocket knife in his car.

To see anything more than that, is tip toeing around the point to argue a broken and flawed theory, of overly harsh punishments for very minor infraction.

Joe_King · #27 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 06:14 AM

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Originally Posted by satv365

Your wandering off topic to argue a broken argument.

You are correct about being off topic!

... did you (or anyone else) lodge a written protest to the state of Georgia?

I even left a link so people could do it easily.

Joe_King · #28 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 06:29 AM

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Originally Posted by ChrisXP

Nope. It demostrates a hole in your "theory".

If you can defend the "freedom" to carry whatever weapon anywhere, you must also defend the rights of terrorists to carry any weapon anywhere, too.

You can't remove the terrorist out of the equation, to do so will make the premise exactly the opposite of what you're trying to argue -- conditions on the freedom to bear arms.

I don't want terrorists having equal rights. I want them to have special rights, so special that category will become extinct.

Quote:

If you can defend the "freedom" to carry whatever weapon anywhere, you must also defend the rights of terrorists to carry any weapon anywhere, too.

First off - ANYTHING can be used as a weapon
let's ban baseball bats, jump ropes, shovels, and steak knives too.

Where do you draw the line between a tool and a weapon?

the kid had a SMALL pocket knife.

Back when I was younger a small knife assisted me in stopping a car fire when I had to cut a hot lead that was shorting out.
It was also good when a hose blew and the old one had to be cut off to replace it.

Quote:

You can't remove the terrorist out of the equation, to do so will make the premise exactly the opposite of what you're trying to argue -- conditions on the freedom to bear arms.

I disagree! by controlling the when and where of weapons it leaves large areas where ONLY criminal and terrorist minds can run free - unless you prefer a more intense and costly Police State where every hall in every school has at least 1 armed officer.

satv365 · #29 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 06:31 AM

I would if I was from Georgie, im from Illinois though, so I doubt Sonny Perdue would listen to me. I do encourage Georgians to do this though. If it goes federal
my congressman and senators will hear from me.

Im having trouble finding updates on this case, though. I found many newspaper articles about it, but no current updates. If anyone can find one, post it here.

Joe_King · #30 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 06:36 AM

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Originally Posted by satv365

I would if I was from Georgie, im from Illinois though, so I doubt Sonny Perdue would listen to me. I do encourage Georgians to do this though. If it goes federal
my congressman and senators will hear from me.

Im having trouble finding updates on this case, though. I found many newspaper articles about it, but no current updates. If anyone can find one, post it here.

well - I am not from there either

however; they (the State of Georgia) need to know that it's not just the kids family and friends questioning the charges. It's all of America!