LOGAN, W.Va., April 21 (UPI) — A 14-year-old West Virginia student was suspended from school, arrested and faces charges for wearing a T-shirt to school supporting the NRA, his family said.
Jared Marcum, an eighth-grader at Logan Middle School in Logan, W. Va., said school officials asked him to remove his shirt, and when he didn’t, suspended him from school.
“What they’re doing is trying to take away my rights, my freedom of speech and my Second Amendment,” Jared told WOWK-TV, Charleston, W. Va., Friday.
Jared’s father, Allen Lardieri, said the school has failed to answer any questions about his son’s case.
“I’m still confused, thoroughly confused,” he said. “They school didn’t even make a statement to the news agencies, much less myself.”
“They gave me no paperwork, all they said to my mother was not to bring me back to school the next day,” Jared added.
One question some sources had is why children aren’t allowed to wear clothing depicting firearms when there is a statue of a soldier carrying a gun and a grenade in the school parking lot, WOWK reported.
“You can take the firearms out of the equation, what this about is fundamental rights,” Lardieri said.
Benjamin White, Jared’s lawyer, said he’ll work on having the charges — obstruction and disturbing the education process — dropped, then file any federal or civil suits.
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).
43 thoughts on “Student suspended for wearing NRA T-shirt”
Teacher and principle done this is in West Virginia, I got me some kin folk lives there. Them two picked the wrong state to pull this shit, it will not suprise me if there dead real soon.
Good job kid! We need more people like you to stand up for what’s left of our freedoms. Too many people willing to sit down and say, “I won’t do that because someone might be offended,” or “I don’t like that, so it should be changed.” If you don’t like it, don’t look.
@Mr. Bojangles-once again we agree.
When we stop standing up to oppression is when we lose all our freedoms.
Good job kid.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/22/west-virginia-teen-arrested-over-nra-shirt-returns-to-class/?test=latestnews
“Jared’s father Allen Lardieri says he’s angry he had to rush from work to pick his son up from jail over something he says was blown way out of proportion.”
Wow not only suspended but arrested as well. For what?
“13 News was contacted by Benjamin White, the attorney handling Jared’s case. White says first, they’ll be working on getting the charges, obstruction and disturbing the education process, dropped.”
Obstruction and disturbing the educational process . . watch him boys he’s a fearly dangerous man.
“The Logan County School District’s dress code policy prohibits clothing that displays profanity, violence, discriminatory messages and more but nowhere in the document does it say anything about gun images.”
Must have been really bad. Suspend and arrested. It had to be a really frightening image. Should have burned the shirt right away.
“The eighth grader taken out of school on April 18 for refusing to change his shirt has returned to school today, in the same shirt.”
Hmmm wasn’t that bad at all.
“The Logan County School District’s dress code policy prohibits clothing that displays profanity, violence, discriminatory messages and more but nowhere in the document does it say anything about gun images.”
If this is true, this is EXACTLY why I agree with my buddy Matt that they should sue their ass. Make an example out of them for their dumbass Liberal Knee-Jerk reaction. I hope it costs them BIG TIME.
Too bad other kids will be affected by the big settlement tho. But, C’est la vie.
I agree with you, Katie. For millions of reasons. Economics, education, moral, and decency. I don’t think a uniform is the answer, but more narrow guidelines should be enforced. Long pants without holes or decorations and shirts with fronts and backs and sleeves without decorations ought to be pretty easy to figure out1
I meant morale.
That is the basic dress code at my grand niece and nephew’s high school They have no problem following it and it saves a lot of headaches for the school and money for the parents because they don’t have to buy expensive brand name stuff with advertising logos on it. Their skirts and pants have to be a certain length and PULLED UP. LOL They look nice and presentable and learn how to accessorize with sweaters, scarves, necklaces, etc. They do not look like slobs. When I went to high school, we couldn’t wear slacks and there was no such thing as panty hose. My college also had a no slacks dress code, other than Sunday evenings.
We must be mighty close in age! I used to buy the Hanes taupe reinforced toe at 49 cents a pair at our local JC Penney’s!
We couldn’t wear slacks either, but we rolled our skirts up the minute we left the house!
It’s funny now, and I don’t think they need to go back there, but I’ve never had a problem with some guidelines!
Taupe???? How gauche. Everyone at our school bought suntan! LOL
Oh, man, how could I forget that?? Of course it was suntan! It was taupe pantyhose – that marvelous invention! haha!
I don’t think kids should be wearing shirts with logos at all. Many public schools do not allow any type of logo on clothing. Plain tops and pants. Period. Great idea.
Although I agree with Katie here to an extent. I’d like to address stupid’s comments…
What’s really wrong with this country is we have become a too politically correct state. We are too worried about someone else’s “feelings”. Although I am, believe it or not a very caring kind of guy, I do not care if a swastika T-shirt offends someone. I do not however condone the mary jane shirt as that is currently illegal and our children don’t need to promote an illegal substance on their shirt in school, let me just say that.
HOWEVER, the swastika is NOT illegal. Neither is the NRA logo. Sure they both may make others have “feelings” they don’t like. I say grow up and suck it up. The swastika stands for racism and evil and I don’t like it either. But this is a FREE country and my “feelings” don’t get hurt when someone wears that sort of thing. It makes me sad but I’m not here to tell them they can’t wear that sort of symbol.
Now, the same would go for a picture of Obama’s face on a T-shirt. That is JUST as offensive to me. It stands for extreme leftism, division of this great country, lies and deception, socialism, the worst time in our great nation, and the list goes on and on. But if someone wants to wear that garbage, that’s their right and I’m not going to tell them they can’t just because of my “feelings”. If you want to look like an idiot in either case…go for it. Don’t like it….look the other f-n direction. I’m so sick of our society catering to what hurts everyone’s damn feelings. This isn’t the playground, it’s the real world. Grow up. The teacher isn’t here to wipe your tears about little Johnny’s NRA T-shirt, Stupid’s Obama T-shirt, or Sam’s Swastika T-shirt. Give me a break!
We need to hike up our skirts and stop being such a Nancy about what we find offensive. What’s really offensive is we are too politically correct to force those that wish to come to our country and gain citizenship to 1st learn the ENGLISH LANGUAGE. To salute OUR FLAG. After all, this is OUR COUNTRY JACK and we fly the RED, WHITE, AND BLUE here. People like stupid and bodacious is why there is stupidity. But you know what….It’s their right to be stupid and it’s my right to call it out.
GOD LOVE AMERICA.
Some might find this offensive. I find it AWESOME…
I’m glad I’m not Russian – -but the general principle
is now more fitting for America than ever.
Putin’s speech on Feb. 04, 2013
This should be spread to ALL politicians…but none of our elected officials have the BALLS to even consider making a statement like that of Vladimir Putin.
On February 4th, 2013, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, addressed the Duma, (Russian Parliament), and gave a speech about the tensions with minorities in Russia:
“In Russia live Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, then we advise them to go to those places where that’s the state law. Russia does not need minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell ‘discrimination’. We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of most minorities. When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest first, observing that the minorities are not Russians”.
The politicians in the Duma gave Putin a standing ovation for five minutes.
AMEN Mr. Putin…AMEN.
Sorry, Dave. This is a hoax. There is no evidence he ever gave this speech.
Well, he should have! Lol. Thanks for the correction.
Excuse me? Is there some reason you found it necessary to insult and attack me, LVS? I thought you had learned your lesson.
Your simple minded diatribe only proved my point. Your “feelings” should not come into play – at all. That’s the point. Schools want to prevent anybody’s “feelings” from being stirred up and causing disruption in their school.
Maybe I’ll try and put it a little simpler for you.
Everyone is entitled to their own feelings. However, when you are attending a school, working at a job or visiting someone’s home you are subject to the rules that are in place at those locations.
Just like you couldn’t wear a thong to work, you cannot wear a shirt with a potentially incendiary message on it to school.
Do you get it? Or is the reason for stupidity a little closer than you think?
I agree with you on this, Sicka. Logos, sayings, pictures, do not belong in public schools or in the workplace. I hate tattoos, too. I want them covered and I don’t want to see them when I go into other businesses, or anywhere else, for that matter. Same with piercings other than one per ear. Take them out on the job. I cringe when I look at them.
@sickastupd-My Voice is not me although I liked what he said. I am also not MSGordy or any of the others you think I am although I like their post as well. There just seems to be a lot of people who do not agree with you. I am LVS and only LVS. The question I asked was would they suspend the child for wearing a picture of Obama or Biden. That is a yes or no answer. You really need to get over being so paranoid.
I’m sure you DO like what “they” say! Be nice now, or you’ll get this IP address banned too! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
What in the hell are you talking about now? It wasn’t me they threatened to shut off it was you. I only have one I.P. Address and Matt has it because I gave it to him along time ago. There is no accounting for some people’s kids.
Nice try! I even remember what you said! No cigar for you!
Are you on Medication? No offense to LVS but don’t give him credit for my comments. Just because you have Multiple Personality Disorder doesn’t LVS does.
Now, on to the meat of your retort. Yes O must be wiser than thy, I realize what is called a DRESS CODE. My question to you since you is so smart and all, is there a specific dress code at that school that specifically says anything about the NRA logo or implying it. If you are going to say weapons, that’s a stretch. Last I checked, the NRA Logo isn’t a weapon nor is it a picture of a weapon.
Implications…still a stretch.
Also, might I remind you that you can infact wear a thong to work. If your profession is in the Adult Entertainment world….you can. But you would already know that before making a comment that you can’t wear a thong to work right? Or, you are doing what a Liberal does and retorts on opinion not fact.
And exactly WHAT is your potentially incendiary message in an NRA T-shirt?
By your logic, should this teen not be able to wear a CABELA’S T-shirt?
How about a T-shirt of the IDNR logo?
Could be one of those horrible potentially incendiary messages with their affiliation.
Pretty sure GUNS are a big part of both of their revenue. BUT you being a Liberal and all will justify you opinion any way you desperately can.
Keep up the good work Champ.
Whatever you say, LVS.
@ LVS…
Typical Liberal…dodge the questions they don’t want to answer and lie about the ones they do.
At least that other “guy” isn’t falling out of the clown car to join in all the lights and sounds.
You wonder why I insult you??? CAUSE YOU’RE AN IDIOT.
Have Matt check the IP addresses Einstein….let me know what you find out there slick. LMFAO.
@ Katie, I again agree with you in part. I don’t mind tattoos so much but personally I don’t have any that you can see with my NRA T-shirt on. Piercing are a whole different story…we are one and the same on that one. BUT still, it goes back to the instutition’s dress code. It doesn’t matter what you or I think. It doesn’t matter what LVS, or stupid thinks. What matters are the rules put in place at that institution and whether or not they were directly violated. Not violated by opinion, feeling, impression, implication or dreamed up in Liberal land UNLESS codes SPECIFICALLY SPECIFIES AS SUCH.
That is my point. Did the kid violate school code or not…SPECIFICALLY or via expressed criteria in which would without a doubt encompass the NRA LOGO?
Can anyone answer this? NO! WHY? Because the school won’t even tell the father or present the code violation. WHY….because that’s EXACTLY how you LIBERAL it.
You didn’t ask any questions, LVS. You just screamed and frothed at the mouth with your usual uneducated point of view.
I also would sue the school…Jim
For what?
I have no problem with the swastika on T shirts, it kind of goes along with the happy face, like have a good day. It’s how uninformed people interpret the symbol that’s the problem….
EXACTLY! It’s the same with the NRA shirt! Or the marijuana shirt! It’s not the object on the shirt – it’s the FEELINGS it conjures up! And THAT’S why the kid was sent home!
Kids get sent home everyday for wearing shirts with swastikas, marijuana plants, bad language and lots of other stuff on them. Is a gun a special kind of item? Why is his shirt any better than the swastika shirt? The marijuana shirt?
School administrators have to attempt to maintain a level of civility and calmness in their buildings filled with teenage hormones, and that shirt was sure to create problems. Just like the other two.
Why the nasty comments? I’d be interested to see what you all think of a kid getting kicked out for having a swastika on his shirt.
Them communists that say no NTA T shirt is awful stupid, they pick West Virginia to make there stand. I bet there dead in a couple weeks. And good riddence.
Chipping away at our rights, a little at a time. Soon we’ll all be wearing the classic concentration camp stripes..
Just have to wonder if they would have suspended the kid for wearing a Osama Obama/Slow Joe Biden shirt?
I doubt very much if wearing a shirt with the President and Vic-President of the United States on the front could be considered inflammatory. In fact, the two are not comparable at all.
That wasn’t the question.
I don’t understand your point. Why would he be suspended for having a picture of the president on his shirt? It’s a far cry from a hot button topic like guns, as I’m sure you know.
So why would you ask that?
Refused to obey a school official. Got what he deserved.
In the 7th grade, I refused to “obey a school official”. One who, like these, tried to violate my Constitutional Rights. Back then they “school officials” decided it was okay to force everyone to recite the Lord Prey at the beginning of the school day. Jared, stand up for your Rights.
I would sue their ass. 1st Amendment violation. Lawyer up!