Talking to a cop is a crime...

[draco664]

Ok, the title is a bit facetious, but that's essentially what is happening to this kid.

Kid wore a pro-NRA t-shirt, and was arrested (and jailed!!) for 'violating the dress code policy'. Odd, since the policy doesn't forbid wearing clothes that depict guns, merely those that depict violence.

But he wasn't charged with terrorism or making threats or anything like that.

Nope, charged with obstructing a police officer.

We obtained official court documents from both sides of this case. On one hand, the arresting officer from the Logan City Police Department, James Adkins, claims that when Jared refused to stop talking, that hindered his ability to do his job, hence, the obstruction charge. On the other side, Ben White points out that nowhere in the arresting officer's petition, does it mention Jared ever making any threats or acting in a violent manner.

So there you have it. Not shutting up about how you're standing up for your rights is now a criminal offense worthy of 1 year in jail.

[Panacea]

Actually, if you don't let the cop get a word in edgewise, you are obstructing his ability to do his job.

The cop gave him a direct order. He should have complied. If the cop was wrong, you can always file a complaint later. The policy is ambiguous and he probably did have the right to wear the shirt.

Pushing it was a mistake, and he paid for it. Dumb.

[Greenday]

So he broke the dress code policy (It's open to interpretation enough that a picture of a gun and the phrase "Protect your rights" could easily count as a violent message). Shouting down an officer is definitely obstruction of justice. It's not letting him do his job.

This kid doesn't have a leg to stand on.

[Gravekeeper]

He was not jailed. He spent all of 30 minutes at the station waiting for his parents to pick him up. At no time was he jailed. -.-

Judging from the interviews with him and his parents, they primed him for this exact confrontation. Teacher asked him to take off the shirt or reverse it. To quote his lawyer: He decided that he would "engage the teacher in debate" because he felt current "policies were threatening second amendment rights in the country". In the interviews on TV he claims they're "just trying to strip away his right to free speech". You don't come up with shit like that by yourself when you're 14. That's coming from your parents. ;p

You also don't have a right to free speech in school. He needs to leave his parent's personal crusade out of his school.

The confrontation took place over the lunch period and the concern sounds like was that he basically got into a shouting match with a teacher which riled up other students around them. Then the police officer arrived and he wouldn't shut up until the officer arrested him.

Now, on the other hand, a 1 year sentence to juvie definitely feels heavy handed at this point. I wouldn't agree with a sentence like that unless he was really going above and beyond obstructing the officer.

[Panacea]

Actually, students DO have free speech rights in school. However, there are some limitations, just as there are on adults. The speech can't interfere with classroom activities. By giving a speech on the 2nd amendment (unless that was the topic of the class, doubtful) he was disrupting class.

[Gravekeeper]

Actually, students DO have free speech rights in school. However, there are some limitations, just as there are on adults. The speech can't interfere with classroom activities. By giving a speech on the 2nd amendment (unless that was the topic of the class, doubtful) he was disrupting class.

That's what I meant, really. In school free speech only goes as far as you're not disrupting said school. You can't start an argument with a teacher and then claim free speech when faced with the consequences. Especially given that this is obviously a political crusade handed down by his parents.

Whereas for the teacher it was probably just "Shirt with gun on it that could be misinterpreted". The teacher wasn't there to debate amendments, just enforce the dress code. Whether or not the teacher was applying the dress code correctly is kind of irrelevant. This was not the time and place to debate school policy anymore than it was the time and place to debate free speech or gun rights.

When you look at it that way, its not hard to see why he got arrested. Teacher asks him to take off shirt, he makes a scene and turns it into an argument. Rather than taking it off then going to the principle for a judgement call on the dress code. Cop shows up and tells him to cool it, he makes a scene and turns into an argument. Rather than complying and filing a complaint afterwards with the relevant authorities.

In both instances, its a lack of respect for authority combined with a persecution complex political crusade. Neither the teacher nor the cop was there to debate free speech or gun rights. They were just doing their jobs. Whereas it sounds like he lept at the chance to tussle over his "rights" when it was completely irrelevant and neither person he was arguing with was even debating those rights.

[Rageaholic]

Eh I have mixed feelings on this. Was he yelling and causing a ruckus or was it just some Dbag cop or teacher who didn't want their authority questioned? I get the feeling it was the former, but there may have been such on both sides.

[Kheldarson]

What's funny to me is he probably bought it from my store. They were fairly prominently placed for a while.

I just think its a bit too politically controversial a shirt for school... even in WV. And the statements following the incident just back that thought.

[Gravekeeper]

Eh I have mixed feelings on this. Was he yelling and causing a ruckus or was it just some Dbag cop or teacher who didn't want their authority questioned? I get the feeling it was the former, but there may have been such on both sides.

It doesn't really matter much to be honest. Even if the teacher was being a strict douchebag by enforcing the dress code, you don't "decide to engage him in debate" over a perceived threat to second amendment rights and your right to free speech. You say "Alright, fine" and you go talk to the principle.

You certainly don't continue the argument until it prompts a police officer to show up. Then continue the argument with the police officer. Then afterwards go on TV and say it was all because they were trying to take away your right to free speech and take your guns.

Instead of just a question of whether or not your t-shirt was dubious.