Bush student disciplined for BB gun at school

Missouri law dictates no leniency for those who bring guns to school.
A student at Bush Elementary was disciplined this week by school and law enforcement officials for bringing a BB gun on campus.
Jacque Cowherd, Fulton School District superintendent, said the district has no tolerance for anything resembling a gun on campus.
"A gun is a gun," he said. "It doesn't make any difference if it's a BB gun or a toy gun. It can be used to harm others."
The student was discovered to have a BB gun after school Tuesday. The incident was reported to school officials early Wednesday morning, Cowherd said.
"According to a report from a parent, the allegation is that there were people being shot at last night on their way home," he said. "As soon as the school administration heard of it, they isolated the student Wednesday morning and searched the backpack and found it."
Cowherd said the administration at the school worked quickly and efficiently to detain the student and the weapon.
"Bush administration was right on it," he said. "I was called early this morning concerning the matter, and it was dealt with very quickly. They handled it well."
The student was taken into police custody, and an investigation ensued. Police determined the student had not shot at other students, said Maj. Roger Rice with the Fulton Police Department.
"Supposedly, the student had a BB gun yesterday at school," he said. "He took it out on the way home, but he didn't shoot it. His purpose for bringing it was not to hurt anybody. With kids, you don't know the motives, they just bring things to school."
Rice said any time there is a weapon on campus, school officials are always quick to inform law enforcement officials of the incident.
Statewide, public schools are required to have a zero-tolerance gun policy. The Missouri Safe Schools Act states any student found in possession of a weapon or an object designed to look like a weapon on school property faces at least one calendar year suspension or expulsion and will be referred to legal authorities.
"Parents need to make sure their children understand even a BB gun can be considered a weapon," Rice said. "Never under any circumstance do you take any type of gun to school. Some toy guns actually look identical to the real thing."
Parents should also keep closer tabs on the contents of their child's backpack, Rice said.
"It might not be a bad thing for parents to go through their kids backpacks once in a while," he added.