Student charged with crime for wearing NRA t-shirt

[npaull]

Stupid people do stupid things. I would hold off on freaking out too much until a judge has a chance to review the case. If the kid is imprisoned, then we can all rise up. If the charge is thrown out, we can breathe a sigh of relief that our justice system often works.

[KenPCPilot]

I just read a current article about the charges against the student.  The charges have nothing to do with the t-shirt, the charge is for obstructing the police officer.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/17/jared-marcum-charge-nra-shirt_n_3456142.html

"Last week, Marcum appeared in court and was officially handed the charge of obstructing an officer, reports CBS affiliate WOWK-TV.  According to the Logan County Police Department, Marcum would not stop talking during the incident at the school, which prevented the attending officer from doing his job."

When standing up for your rights, be polite to the police when they show up.

Better read again, you missed the important part, it wasn't even in the police report about excessive talking, that's just been made up to try and cover for the phony charge. This school needs sued....

However, Marcum's attorney, Ben White, told WOWK that the officer's arrest report did not mention the boy's allegedly excessive talking.

Better read again, you missted the important part.  Principal called police due to an issue over a NRA t-shirt.  As a parent and pround American I am thinking if this kind of crap is going on it may be time to think of private or home schooling.   Let the bleeding heart sheep stay on the cliff.  This reminds me of the man arrested in Texas for carrying a weapon on his son's eagle scout walk.  The officer told him people called to complain about him carrying a weapon in "a rude manner".   

Either way, he isn't being charged for wearing the t-shirt.  The OP title was "Student charged with crime for wearing NRA t-shirt."  It may be a case of trumped up charges or lousy arrest report writing, but the slogan on his t-shirt won't be relevant to his trial.  There will be no 2nd amendment issues at the trial and no freedom of speech (or t-shirt wearing) issues.  He either obstructed the officer or he didn't.  I don't think anyone has claimed that the officer told him to take off the shirt.

[Curly]

The teacher should be brought up on charges for wasting the officer's time.  I mean really..........calling the police because a kid was wearing a T-shirt that offended someone? 

[CedarPants]

When standing up for your rights, be polite to the police when they show up.

I agree with this statement.

I would however question what law this child broke that warranted calling in the authorities to investigate.  There must be circumstances that we aren't aware of that led to the police being called - if not, I would say this child's rights were violated before the police even showed up 

[lucky33]

 

I wouldnt be surprised to learn that a battery of NRA lawyers will be arriving in Logan, WV shortly.   

[arees]

Better read again, you missted the important part.  Principal called police due to an issue over a NRA t-shirt.  As a parent and pround American I am thinking if this kind of crap is going on it may be time to think of private or home schooling.   Let the bleeding heart sheep stay on the cliff.  This reminds me of the man arrested in Texas for carrying a weapon on his son's eagle scout walk.  The officer told him people called to complain about him carrying a weapon in "a rude manner".   

I read it just fine.  Perhaps you should read what I have written.  The charge against him is not "wearing an NRA t-shirt." It is obstructing an officer.  Without a doubt, he could have politely objected to the teacher and the principal and even the police officer if necessary without getting arrested.  Being in the right about wearing the t-shirt does not give him free reign on his behavior for the rest of the dispute.

None of us know how the student behaved to the police officer.  There are all kinds of things you can do that will convert an encounter with a police officer into you getting arrested.  It is not that hard to turn an argument with a police officer into an obstruction charge.  What he did is likely to come out in court if the charges aren't dropped.  There should be plenty of witnesses.

I disagree with the teacher and the principal and believe the student should be allowed to wear NRA t-shirts.  He still doesn't get to obstruct police officers.

I am also a parent, a proud American and have started home schooling my son as of this year.  I want my son to know how to respectfully disagree with authority and to win his arguments on their merits.  I also want him to know that sheep come in all colors, including wrapped in the flag.

[floatinghat]

When standing up for your rights, be polite to the police when they show up.

I agree with this statement.

I would however question what law this child broke that warranted calling in the authorities to investigate.  There must be circumstances that we aren't aware of that led to the police being called - if not, I would say this child's rights were violated before the police even showed up 

+1
 

[ohopluke]

How does ANYTHING, short of assault, at school get the police involved!? That's great administration in that school!

[Hermannr]

My son was sent home from school for wearing a offensive shirt twice this year. The first time he was sent home for wearing his Pee Wee football jersey on a Friday. When I got to the school I was shocked at her reasoning. It creates fear in students who don't play football. Second time he was wearing a Duck Comander Tee Shirt no guns just a couple of dead ducks hanging. My son is a straight A student with perfect attendance. I had a few choice words for her and she found out what offensive was!!!

Ever heard of US law 42 USC 1983?  You could have some fun picking that teacher/principal's pocket.

[Elkaholic daWg]

 Gun Owners of America

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Police Drop the Charges Against Jared Marcum!
These and other victories remind us, once again,
there's much to be grateful for this Independence Day

"I can't thank Larry Pratt and Gun Owners enough for standing with Jared and his family during these difficult days.  You were there when we needed you.  GOA and GOF's legal and financial support was critical to Jared's defense, to blocking the gag order which the government asked for, and finally obtaining a dismissal of all charges against Jared.  Thank you for all you do and thanks for the GOA T-shirts!" -- Ben White, attorney for Jared Marcum

Gun Owners of America wants to thank all of you who contributed to the Jared Marcum legal defense fund.

All charges have now been dropped against the West Virginia teenager, and Jared will not have a criminal record.

In April, the 14-year-old was ordered by a band teacher to change his T-shirt because the instructor did not like the shirt's pro-gun message.  The shirt stated "protect your right" and pictured a rifle with a scope.

Jared was suspended from school, and later was arrested for "obstructing" an officer.  He faced a $500 fine and one year in jail.

The police then issued a gag order against the family and his attorney, preventing them from talking about the case.  And as if that wasn't Orwellian enough, a reporter who tried to contest the gag order found herself being ejected from the courthouse.  The reason? 

If you guessed "obstruction," then you move to the head of the class!

All of this heavy-handedness on part of the police led Kurt Hofmann of the Examiner to say, "The Logan, West Virginia PD apparently has the most easily 'obstructed' police officers since the Keystone Cops."

In the midst of all this, GOA helped ignite a national outrage after alerting activists two weeks ago to what was happening in the Mountain State.

Plus, Gun Owners Foundation quickly set up a legal defense fund to assist the attorney who was taking Jared's case pro bono.

Thankfully, the case is now over, as the police dropped all charges against Jared Marcum on Thursday.

With this victory behind them, the Marcum family is now considering legal action against the school district.  GOA will be watching these efforts closely and will keep you updated.

In similar news, GOA is working
 

[Skillet]

All of this heavy-handedness on part of the police led Kurt Hofmann of the Examiner to say, "The Logan, West Virginia PD apparently has the most easily 'obstructed' police officers since the Keystone Cops."

 

Great outcome for the young man and his family.  Very glad the cops were put in check on this one.