Clarksville HS Student Suspended and Charged for Father's Knife in Father's Car

[Capbyrd]

Yeah, the dad should be blamed for letting the kid attend public school.

 

 

I understand you may have meant this as a joke.  But its not funny.  Not everyone can afford private schools.  Sometimes public school is the only option.  

[sigmtnman]

I understand you may have meant this as a joke.  But its not funny.  Not everyone can afford private schools.  Sometimes public school is the only option.  

 

Most humor is not funny to everyone.  Sure I don't blame the dad, but If you play with fire, you get burned.  I'd put the federal school (in most places) in the same category.

 

We starved for a number of years while my wife home-schooled our kids because we could not afford private school, so don't think I don't understand.

[Capbyrd]

Yeah home school isn't an option either when both parent have to work. 

[sigmtnman]

Yeah home school isn't an option either when both parent have to work. 

 

May sound cliche but where there's a will there's a way.

[TripleDigitRide]

The student and family had a hearing with the school board today. He must attend the alternative school for 30 days, rather than the initial punishment of 90 days. He will be able to attend prom and graduation. 

 

Criminal case is still pending, which is why the school is insisting they were forced to send him to the alternative school.

[sigmtnman]

That's absolutely moronic. 

 

But, the school system is doing what it was made to do.  Create short attention spanned, workers who are obedient citizens.

 

We've talked about it before.  The US school system is based on the Prussian education system.

[Oh Shoot]

Made me wonder how often his dad drives back and forth from the West Coast to make a living.

 

- OS

[Guest tangojuliet]

ok this jsut in he was reduced from 90 days in alt school to 30 but he might be facing weapons charges in court :/

[Garufa]

Is an original Gerber Mark I considered a "fishing knife"....http://clarksvillenow.com/local/petition-started-for-northeast-high-senior-suspended-for-weapon/   (old story to show pic)

[DaveS]

Is an original Gerber Mark I considered a "fishing knife"....http://clarksvillenow.com/local/petition-started-for-northeast-high-senior-suspended-for-weapon/   (old story to show pic)

Not sure it would be considered a fishing knife by design. I guess any knife used for "fishing" is a "fishing knife". I still think our school system is led by a bunch of morons!

 

Dave

[hso]

Did any of you folks send an email in support of this kid and in opposition of zero sense zero tolerance abuse?

[Capbyrd]

May sound cliche but where there's a will there's a way.

 

 

I guess I just have a problem when someone takes issue with how my parents chose to raise me.  

[sigmtnman]

I guess I just have a problem when someone takes issue with how my parents chose to raise me.  

 

Dude, I don't take issue with how the fellow raises his kids or how anyone else does.  It was joke and you are being overly sensitive about it.  My distaste of the federal school system has nothing to do with how folks raise their kids.  But, I don't buy the whole,   ______ is impossible to do because of ______.  That is a self defeating cop out.

 

That said, many people don't know that most private schools offer scholarships (often full rides) for folks who can't afford the tuition.

[RobertNashville]

I understand you may have meant this as a joke.  But its not funny.  Not everyone can afford private schools.  Sometimes public school is the only option.  

I do understand that it's a sacrifice but there is also home schooling.

If there is anything I've learned in my life it's that, with rare exception, people can do and will find a way to do what's truly important to them.  Yes, private school is expensive and home schooling is not inexpensive either when you get right down to it but unless this family is on the bottom of the income ladder I suspect there are plenty of things they could give up that would free up enough $$$ resources to make private or homeschooling possible for their kids.

How many of these stories do we have to hear before people wake up and realize that public schools today, even in good 'ol Tennessee are nothing but indoctrination centers to teach children how to bend the knee to government...to believe the exact opposite of true history?  We have a lot of conservatives/libertarians on this forum who scream about wanting personal liberty, freedom and small (or sometimes NO) government yet they seem just fine with the federal government dictating to TN schools what they must teach and how they must teach it using textbooks that are full of liberal BS and sometimes, outright lies...why aren't you storming the capital building demanding that TN get the federal government out of our TN classrooms and stop dictating?

[hso]

For those who aren't certain of what TN law saws wrt to schools - https://web.lexisnexis.com/research/retrieve?_m=c63c4fdf8213a1b3bd2f39f04cbc1f82&docnum=7&_fmtstr=FULL&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVzk-zSkAW&_md5=c8765301b7145602d652fe666618550b

 

39-17-1309.  Carrying weapons on school property. 

  (a) As used in this section, "weapon of like kind" includes razors and razor blades, except those used solely for personal shaving, and any sharp pointed or edged instrument, except unaltered nail files and clips and tools used solely for preparation of food, instruction and maintenance.

( b )  (1) It is an offense for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, with the intent to go armed, any firearm, explosive, explosive weapon, bowie knife, hawk bill knife, ice pick, dagger, slingshot, leaded cane, switchblade knife, blackjack, knuckles or any other weapon of like kind, not used solely for instructional or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes, in any public or private school building or bus, on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field or any other property owned, used or operated by any board of education, school, college or university board of trustees, regents or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution.

   (2) A violation of this subsection ( b ) is a Class E felony.

(c)  (1) It is an offense for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any firearm, not used solely for instructional or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes, in any public or private school building or bus, on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field or any other property owned, used or operated by any board of education, school, college or university board of trustees, regents or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution. It is not an offense under this subsection (c) for a nonstudent adult to possess a firearm, if the firearm is contained within a private vehicle operated by the adult and is not handled by the adult, or by any other person acting with the expressed or implied consent of the adult, while the vehicle is on school property.

   (2) A violation of this subsection (c) is a Class B misdemeanor.

(d)  (1) Each chief administrator of a public or private school shall display in prominent locations about the school a sign, at least six inches (6'') high and fourteen inches (14'') wide, stating:

      FELONY. STATE LAW PRESCRIBES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF SIX (6) YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE NOT TO EXCEED THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($3,000) FOR CARRYING WEAPONS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.

   (2) As used in this subsection (d), "prominent locations about a school" includes, but is not limited to, sports arenas, gymnasiums, stadiums and cafeterias.

(e) The provisions of subsections ( b ) and (c) do not apply to the following persons:

   (1) Persons employed in the army, air force, navy, coast guard or marine service of the United States or any member of the Tennessee national guard when in discharge of their official duties and acting under orders requiring them to carry arms or weapons;

   (2) Civil officers of the United States in the discharge of their official duties;

   (3) Officers and soldiers of the militia and the national guard when called into actual service;

   (4) Officers of the state, or of any county, city or town, charged with the enforcement of the laws of the state, when in the discharge of their official duties;

   (5) Any pupils who are members of the reserve officers training corps or pupils enrolled in a course of instruction or members of a club or team, and who are required to carry arms or weapons in the discharge of their official class or team duties;

   (6) Any private police employed by the administration or board of trustees of any public or private institution of higher education in the discharge of their duties; and

   (7) Any registered security guard/officer who meets the requirements of title 62, chapter 35, and who is discharging the officer's official duties.

HISTORY: Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1990, ch. 1029, § 8; 1991, ch. 510, §§ 1-3; 1996, ch. 1009, § 24.

Edited February 27, 2014 by hso

[300winmag]

I'm assuming that possessing an ordinary knife, like a case or swiss army knife, as a tool is not against this knives at school law?  But if you carried a bowie knife, with the 'intent to go armed', then that is against the law? 

 

That is the way I read the law but I do not know if that is right.

Edited March 3, 2014 by 300winmag

[DaveS]

Do not carry a swiss army knife to school!!!

 

Dave

[300winmag]

My understanding is that you have to be carrying a switchblade or bowie WITH intent to go armed at a school for it to be illegal.  Just having an ordinary pocket knife at a school, such as a swiss army knife, for use as a tool does not seem to be illegal by reading the law.  If that were the case, a good chunk of male college students would be breaking the law for having pocket knives as tools or people who have the window glass breakers that cut seat belts in cars.

[peejman]

My understanding is that you have to be carrying a switchblade or bowie WITH intent to go armed at a school for it to be illegal. Just having an ordinary pocket knife at a school, such as a swiss army knife, for use as a tool does not seem to be illegal by reading the law. If that were the case, a good chunk of male college students would be breaking the law for having pocket knives as tools or people who have the window glass breakers that cut seat belts in cars.

This wasn't a college, it was a high school. Knives of any sort are banned. If you have any knife at a school, you have intent to go armed (which has never really been defined).

[Oh Shoot]

I'm assuming that possessing an ordinary knife, like a case or swiss army knife, as a tool is not against this knives at school law? But if you carried a bowie knife, with the 'intent to go armed', then that is against the law?

That is the way I read the law but I do not know if that is right.

My understanding is that you have to be carrying a switchblade or bowie WITH intent to go armed at a school for it to be illegal.  Just having an ordinary pocket knife at a school, such as a swiss army knife, for use as a tool does not seem to be illegal by reading the law.  If that were the case, a good chunk of male college students would be breaking the law for having pocket knives as tools or people who have the window glass breakers that cut seat belts in cars.

 

All knives not specifically exempted are illegal in schools. Read the "like kind" definition, "any sharp pointed or edged instrument".
 
Strictly enforced through grammar school, somewhat less so in high school, practically nil on college level.
 
Just like a loaded firearm, safe to say that all knife carry in schools is "going armed", sans one of the exceptions or defenses.  Just depends on the appetite for enforcement.

 

But of course just like the parking lot bill for firearm carry, just because you don't get charged doesn't mean you don't get suspended/expelled or fired from the school.
 
- OS

Edited March 4, 2014 by Oh Shoot

[DaveTN]

On Thursday, Duren-Sanner, a senior at Northeast High School drove his father's car to school. During a random lockdown, his car was chosen to be searched.

Could he have just said no? Do they not need PC in Clarksville?

 

[DaveS]

Could he have just said no? Do they not need PC in Clarksville?

Not on school property. It was a random lockdown search requested by the school and conducted by LEO  and school Officials. You remember the days Dave...dogs sniffing cars and lockers. I do have to ask if a dog can smell a knife? Did this kid know the knife was there and said something to a friend which caused him to be picked? If he was randomly picked he has rotten luck!

 

Dave

[DaveTN]

Not on school property. It was a random lockdown search requested by the school and conducted by LEO  and school Officials. You remember the days Dave...dogs sniffing cars and lockers. I do have to ask if a dog can smell a knife? Did this kid know the knife was there and said something to a friend which caused him to be picked? If he was randomly picked he has rotten luck!
 
Dave

I remember the days of school locker “inspections”. But we didn’t have vehicle inspections without PC.

[RobertNashville]

Folks this has nothing to do with "the law" and everything to do with the good communist "school policy" of "zero tolerance"...that's why even eating a cookie into the vague shape of a pistol is enough to get suspended....that is what our schools, which we all pay for, have come to today.

Edited March 4, 2014 by RobertNashville

[300winmag]

This is a bad law that needs to be changed then.  No one should not have to worry about a weapons charge over carrying a case knife or swiss army knife at a school, especially adults.  Can the legislature not change this law as the legislature is changing the switchblade law?  Has anyone asked state reps and state senators to get this joke changed? 

 

This article though backs up to me that just possessing a knife is not 'intent to go armed'.  To me, it would be like having a baseball bat in the vehicle with a glove to obviously play baseball is not intent to go armed, but having a baseball bat with the purpose of self defense is intent to go armed.

 

Even though the rules may be different for colleges VS high schools, the state knife laws for schools are obviously the same.

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/aug/24/lawmakers-question-gun-and-knife-rules-for-ut/

Edited March 4, 2014 by 300winmag