With so many people claiming that it's a miracle any child survives school to graduate, it would seem that someone stepping up and stopping a school shooting, or even a potential one, should be cause for acclaim.
If he screwed up otherwise, you'd expect leniency.
For one mother, based on what she told the school board, that's most definitely not what her son got:
A Lansing parent is doing everything she can to get her son back in school after he was expelled for doing something she believes was heroic.
“I’m frustrated. I’m at my wits' end. I don’t know what to do,” said Savitra McClurkin.
Savitra McClurkin said her son is being punished after disarming and disassembling a classmate’s gun at Dwight Rich School of the Arts. He took the gun apart and threw away the bullets, but didn’t tell an adult until later.
The boy, age 11, reportedly knew how to disassemble the gun due to his hunting background.
While McClurkin has been trying to reach the Lansing School District for some time, she says she hasn't been able to get in contact with anyone, and if what she's saying is true, this is ridiculous.
Yes, the kid should have told an adult right away. He should have provided the bullets as evidence to that adult, then the police would have what they needed to prosecute the other student.
Of course, this is just what McClurkin had to say. Surely she's going to put her kid in the best light.
Yet a statement from the school district doesn't actually dispute what she's claiming. Instead, they just fall back on "zero tolerance" rules:
In May 2025, a serious incident involving a firearm occurred at Dwight Rich Middle School. After a thorough investigation, and in accordance with Michigan law regarding dangerous weapons on school property, the Lansing School District determined that expulsion was necessary.
Expulsion is never a decision the district takes lightly. It is always considered a last resort. However, Michigan law provides very clear direction in cases involving dangerous weapons. The investigation—which included statements and video evidence—left no ambiguity and required this outcome.
The Lansing School District has both a legal and moral responsibility to ensure the safety of all students and staff. While this decision is difficult, our priority remains creating and maintaining a secure environment where learning can take place without fear. Upholding these standards is essential to protecting our school community.
This isn't the first time I've seen a kid punished after disarming an armed schoolmate. The reasoning then was the zero-tolerance law in that state.
I'm sorry, but this is taking the law beyond what might be reasonable – kids with guns in schools – and moving it in a ridiculous direction. This kid sounds like a hero, especially if the other student was threatening someone with it and the kid basically John Wicked that sucker. Even if not, he made it so the other kid couldn't hurt anyone. That's the kind of thing that should be celebrated.
And instead, he got expelled.
At worst, he should have gotten a talking to about how that could have put his life at risk, and he shouldn't do anything like that again if there's any other way, but nope. It seems Michigan law on this is just as stupid as I suspected.
Just brilliant.
