Gov't Gone Wild: An Eagle Scout Made a Felon

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

dailycaller.com/2013/05/02/eagle-scout-faces-expulsion-and-arrest-for-bringing-shotgun-to-school/

Here are the facts:

1. A young man, an Eagle Scout, was slated to graduate this year- with honors.

2. He went skeet shooting with friends the day before, and left his shotgun in the truck by mistake.

3. He drove his truck onto school grounds before realizing his mistake.

4. School rules prohibit both: a) leaving school once you're there; and b) bringing a gun onto the school property

5. He went to the school office and called his mother to come and get the gun in order to rectify his innocent mistake and comply with the school rules.

6. A school office NAZI eavesdropped on his conversation, heard he brought a gun, and called police.

7. Police came, the gun was found locked in his truck, and they chose to arrested him.

8. He cannot graduate with honors now because he is expelled for 365 days

9. He has been charged with a felony

Now, we all know what should have happened, and we all know what has happened, and we all know what should happen:  the school and the police should immediately rectify their indefensible error in judgment, the prosecutor should drop the charges, and he should be re-admitted to school with no absenses counted against him, and all of his school grades should reflect his performance up to the point where the school decided to end his stellar school career and make him a felon.

The question is: will the right thing happen?

[swamp]

I'm not sure what we should comment about.

The school was stupid.  He should be reinstated.  The charges should be dropped.  And teh kid learned an important lesson on keeping your mouth shut. 

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

So, when you make a mistake you shut up instead of manning up, admitting your mistake and trying to fix it? That's not how I'm raising my kids.

Anyway- Liberty University has fixed the government run school's obvious attempt to terrorize gun owners:

danaloeschradio.com/liberty-u-awards-scholarship-to-eagle-scout-arrested-at-school-for-gun-violation/

[billisonboard]

May 3, 2013 10:07:39 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

dailycaller.com/2013/05/02/eagle-scout-faces-expulsion-and-arrest-for-bringing-shotgun-to-school/

Here are the facts:
...

8. He cannot graduate with honors now because he is expelled for 365 days

...

“The student involved in this situation has not been expelled from school or suspended for 365 days.”

Read more: dailycaller.com/2013/05/02/eagle-scout-faces-expulsion-and-arrest-for-bringing-shotgun-to-school/#ixzz2SF7O0YQF (which is the exact same link as in the OP)

[swamp]

So, when you make a mistake you shut up instead of manning up, admitting your mistake and trying to fix it? That's not how I'm raising my kids.

When it's a mistake that can also be classified as a felony, you shut up about it.  Other minor things, man up and fix it.

This particular mistake requires shutting up about it. 

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 3, 2013 10:17:18 GMT -5 swamp said:

So, when you make a mistake you shut up instead of manning up, admitting your mistake and trying to fix it? That's not how I'm raising my kids.

When it's a mistake that can also be classified as a felony, you shut up about it.  Other minor things, man up and fix it.

This particular mistake requires shutting up about it. 

I think that in that case, the only mistake is the law.  You don't live in fear of unjust laws, you fix them.  Failure to think my way on this topic is why we are where we are today.

[Tennesseer]

Godwin right out of the gate. Outstanding!

[billisonboard]

May 3, 2013 10:18:08 GMT -5 @steve said:

ABC11 has uncovered that two school officials both brought gunsonto school property in recent years, but were never charged withfelonies like Cole.An assistant principal at Cole's school was suspended for threedays, but never criminally charged. She still works in the sameposition at the school.....

Ralph Waldo Emerson - "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.

[swamp]

May 3, 2013 10:20:11 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

May 3, 2013 10:17:18 GMT -5 swamp said:

When it's a mistake that can also be classified as a felony, you shut up about it.  Other minor things, man up and fix it.

This particular mistake requires shutting up about it. 

I think that in that case, the only mistake is the law.  You don't live in fear of unjust laws, you fix them.  Failure to think my way on this topic is why we are where we are today.

and until the law is fixed, you exercise your 5th amendment right to shut the hell up about it. 

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Cole is also an Eagle Scout- sorry, no gay Scout Masters; and a committed Christian. I'm sure it had nothing to do with it. This is (another) clear attempt by a school administration to strike terror into the hearts of students concerning guns. Swamp inadvertently proves it- the answer according to Swamp is just stay quiet. Live in fear. Don't fix the ridiculous, bow to it. Live with it.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 3, 2013 10:21:09 GMT -5 swamp said:

May 3, 2013 10:20:11 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

I think that in that case, the only mistake is the law.  You don't live in fear of unjust laws, you fix them.  Failure to think my way on this topic is why we are where we are today.

and until the law is fixed, you exercise your 5th amendment right to shut the hell up about it. 

To prove a felony, they will have to prove intent.  It's obvious from all accounts that his intent was expressly NOT to commit the felony.  Good luck with that in court.  The problem isn't that he actually committed a felony, the real problem is that he was improperly charged.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Withrow was just two weeks away from graduating with honors, but now he may not be able to graduate high school this year at all. He will have to wait 365 days in order to finish his last two weeks of high school. His life will be on pause – for trying to do the right thing.
Here is the phone number for the school: [phone]

Here is the phone number for the NC Governor’s office: [phone]

Follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #freecole

[billisonboard]

Withrow was just two weeks away from graduating with honors, but now he may not be able to graduate high school this year at all. He will have to wait 365 days in order to finish his last two weeks of high school. His life will be on pause – for trying to do the right thing.

Here is the phone number for the school: [phone]

Here is the phone number for the NC Governor’s office: [phone]

Follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #freecole

www.sodahead.com/united-states/honors-student-eagle-scout-charged-with-felony-and-expelled-after-accidentally-leaving-shotgun-in/question-3668269/?link=ibaf&q=&esrc=s

[swamp]

May 3, 2013 10:25:19 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

May 3, 2013 10:21:09 GMT -5 swamp said:

and until the law is fixed, you exercise your 5th amendment right to shut the hell up about it. 

To prove a felony, they will have to prove intent.  It's obvious from all accounts that his intent was expressly NOT to commit the felony.  Good luck with that in court.  The problem isn't that he actually committed a felony, the real problem is that he was improperly charged.

And now he has to hire an attorney and fight it out in court.   And even if the felony is dropped, as it should be, he still has an arrest on his record that will NEVER GO AWAY.   Had he just left the gun in a locked trunk and not told anyone about it, he wouldn't have been charged. 

I agree, teh law is stupid, but he didn't need to admit he violated it.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 3, 2013 10:34:19 GMT -5 swamp said:

May 3, 2013 10:25:19 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

To prove a felony, they will have to prove intent.  It's obvious from all accounts that his intent was expressly NOT to commit the felony.  Good luck with that in court.  The problem isn't that he actually committed a felony, the real problem is that he was improperly charged.

And now he has to hire an attorney and fight it out in court.   And even if the felony is dropped, as it should be, he still has an arrest on his record that will NEVER GO AWAY.   Had he just left the gun in a locked trunk and not told anyone about it, he wouldn't have been charged. 

I agree, teh law is stupid, but he didn't need to admit he violated it.

100 to 1 says the charges are dropped- and soon.

[swamp]

Any prosecutor with a brain in their head would drop it, but unfortunately, some are dumb. 

And, even if the charges are dropped, that arrest is still there, which is why I would tell him to shut up about it.

[billisonboard]

May 3, 2013 10:48:47 GMT -5 swamp said:

Any prosecutor with a brain in their head would drop it, but unfortunately, some are dumb. 

And, even if the charges are dropped, that arrest is still there, ...

And what would be the negative consequence of that arrest being on his record?

[swamp]

May 3, 2013 10:53:30 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

May 3, 2013 10:48:47 GMT -5 swamp said:

Any prosecutor with a brain in their head would drop it, but unfortunately, some are dumb. 

And, even if the charges are dropped, that arrest is still there, ...

And what would be the negative consequence of that arrest being on his record?

If a background check is done, it shows you have been arrested for a felony and you have to explain the disposition.  If you're searching for a job, it's pretty embarassing to have to have to explain to a potential employer what happened.  Also, there is bias out there and some people believe if you got arrested, you must have done something wrong.

There are certain security clearances, I believe, that this will disqualify you for. 

If you are applying for a professional license, you have to explain teh situation and get the documents proving the dismissal.

Basically, you will spend your entire life explaining this situation. 

[billisonboard]

May 3, 2013 10:56:32 GMT -5 swamp said:

...

Basically, you will spend your entire life explaining this situation. 

He will forever be the "the kid who got screwed with the zero tolerance policy bust". If he can't turn that to his advantage, that is his problem.

[swamp]

May 3, 2013 11:05:30 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

May 3, 2013 10:56:32 GMT -5 swamp said:

...

Basically, you will spend your entire life explaining this situation. 

He will forever be the "the kid who got screwed with the zero tolerance policy bust". If he can't turn that to his advantage, that is his problem.

Jim Bob's Nuclear Power Plant won't care about that when he's applying for a job 15 years from now.

Frankly, I'd rather just go about my life than be a poster child for anything. 

[thyme4change]

Too bad he wasn't a responsible gun owner who always puts his weapons back into their safe, which is locked to prevent accidents.  

[Deleted]

 When did becoming a member of the Scouts entitle people to be exempt from laws that apply to everyone else... ?
 

[Deleted]

May 3, 2013 10:47:11 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

May 3, 2013 10:34:19 GMT -5 swamp said:

And now he has to hire an attorney and fight it out in court.   And even if the felony is dropped, as it should be, he still has an arrest on his record that will NEVER GO AWAY.   Had he just left the gun in a locked trunk and not told anyone about it, he wouldn't have been charged. 

I agree, teh law is stupid, but he didn't need to admit he violated it.

100 to 1 says the charges are dropped- and soon.

  ...if enough "Special Interest" can be rallied.

 If a live Trayvon Martin had been caught with a gun Paul might be singing an entirely different tune.

[swamp]

I just checked NY law, and what he did in NY is a misdemeanor. 

How funny, liberal bright blue NY has lesser penalties than gun toting NC for bringing a firearm to school property. 

[Deleted]

Donna Martin Graduates!

[billisonboard]

May 3, 2013 11:06:58 GMT -5 swamp said:

...

Frankly, I'd rather just go about my life than be a poster child for anything. 

But that ship done sailed for Mr. Withrow.

[djAdvocate]

May 3, 2013 10:07:39 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

dailycaller.com/2013/05/02/eagle-scout-faces-expulsion-and-arrest-for-bringing-shotgun-to-school/

Here are the facts:

1. A young man, an Eagle Scout, was slated to graduate this year- with honors.

2. He went skeet shooting with friends the day before, and left his shotgun in the truck by mistake.

3. He drove his truck onto school grounds before realizing his mistake.

4. School rules prohibit both: a) leaving school once you're there; and b) bringing a gun onto the school property

5. He went to the school office and called his mother to come and get the gun in order to rectify his innocent mistake and comply with the school rules.

6. A school office NAZI eavesdropped on his conversation, heard he brought a gun, and called police.

7. Police came, the gun was found locked in his truck, and they chose to arrested him.

8. He cannot graduate with honors now because he is expelled for 365 days

9. He has been charged with a felony

Now, we all know what should have happened, and we all know what has happened, and we all know what should happen:  the school and the police should immediately rectify their indefensible error in judgment, the prosecutor should drop the charges, and he should be re-admitted to school with no absenses counted against him, and all of his school grades should reflect his performance up to the point where the school decided to end his stellar school career and make him a felon.

The question is: will the right thing happen?

he is being allowed to graduate, and he has been awarded a scholarship:

www.wral.com/attention-after-gun-charge-garners-scholarship-offers-for-teen/12404125/

[Deleted]

I always taught my son to man up and tell the truth.  Then a situation happened here and my son did just that.  The cops then used his statement when they brought in other people to get them to confess their wrong doing.  Know what being honest got my son?  It got his ass jumped and landed him in the ER.  Know what I teach my son now?  STFU and call a lawyer even if they just want to question you and you are not under arrest (my son was not under arrest, he could have left at any moment, but he told the truth about what he knew like he was taught).

So, yeah, the kid in the story should have just hidden the gun in his truck, STFU and went about his day.

As for being an Eagle Scout, I don't see how that has anything to do with anything.  The last Eagle Scout I met ended up being the school drug dealer all while claiming to be such a wholesome Eagle Scout.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 3, 2013 10:56:32 GMT -5 swamp said:

May 3, 2013 10:53:30 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

And what would be the negative consequence of that arrest being on his record?

If a background check is done, it shows you have been arrested for a felony and you have to explain the disposition.  If you're searching for a job, it's pretty embarassing to have to have to explain to a potential employer what happened.  Also, there is bias out there and some people believe if you got arrested, you must have done something wrong.

There are certain security clearances, I believe, that this will disqualify you for. 

If you are applying for a professional license, you have to explain teh situation and get the documents proving the dismissal.

Basically, you will spend your entire life explaining this situation. 

More likely, you will never get a chance to explain it.  You just won't get the job.  The kid won't be able to get a claims adjuster's license as a felon- period.  They're going to have to do the right thing and DROP the charges- OR, they're going to have to charge that teacher.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 3, 2013 12:35:35 GMT -5 @patiencetried said:

May 3, 2013 10:47:11 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

100 to 1 says the charges are dropped- and soon.

  ...if enough "Special Interest" can be rallied.

 If a live Trayvon Martin had been caught with a gun Paul might be singing an entirely different tune.

If Trayvon Martin was an Eagle Scout and an honors student - you're damn right I'd be singing a different tune. Content of their character and all that...