A BB Gun and a Minor Facial Injury

mumps

keystone wrote: »

Yes you are right. However, surprisingly enough, my daughter doesn't remember that and it's not on the History Curriculum so she hasn't formed nor been steered to form an opinion about it.

Indeed so but I wonder to whom it's more significant? Certainly not the kids I would venture to suggest. Notice how the tone of the thread changed yesterday after I this subject came into the discussion?

Cheers

No she won't remember 9/11 but she will have been exposed to what has come after it; Iraq, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda etc etc It has become something kids are aware of and as someone else said terrorist is a word kids use as an insult alot.

It might not be significant to the kids saying it but it might be significant to the child on the receiving end. My kids are Roman Catholic, born in England but they have had this, when they were younger they couldn't understand why other kids would assume anyone who isn't white is a Muslim, and lots of kids connect Muslim with terrorist.

muckybutt

Just kind of skimmed through the thread, so apologies if this has been mentioned.

Carrying a BB gun in a public place could be deemed an offence under sec 19 of the firearms act.

Sec 19 classes certain bb guns as imitation firearms depending what the ft/lbs classification of the gun actually is, it could also be classed as a prohibited weapon under sec 5(1) depending upon the propulsion method of the gun for firing the bb's

Funky_Bold_Ribena

keystone wrote: »

Thats a very interesting observation. I'm genuinely interested to know how you formed the conclusion that she has been.

She was menacing the lad and he retaliated. You have no idea whether it was the 1st or the 101st time. Stealing someone's things time and again, is not just having a larf - it's devious and manipulative behavior meant to undermine someone.

keystone wrote: »

and equally how did you come to that conclusion?

She thought [as most bullies do] that being part of a bigger gang meant that she would be protected against this one lad who she was menacing. She thought that it would be her word [backed up by friends] against his. She didn't think he would pull any type of gun on her did she? I wonder how long he has been bullied in order to actually have to take steps to protect himself against the likes of your daughter?

keystone wrote: »

Good point. She may have said it on Monday night - I may not have been listening properly. I reported yesterday my recollection. I did not take notes. To be honest my main concern at that stage was to determine the extent of her injuries and get them treated - I am sure you can understand that. You may have noticed that yesterday I posted that I had not discussed it further with her last night and I haven't tonight. I'm too close to it you see. What I reported earlier this afternoon is what the school have told me and I am happy for them to continue to conduct the investigation. However, I think I also made it clear yesterday that I do not expect her to be blameless and the extent of that when it comes out will determine any eventual sanctions.

Cheers

Yeah, I'm sure you would have remembered 'I said' versus 'someone said'...so she has given you the impression that 'someone said' rather than 'I said'...so she is manipulating you as well as the lad.

Go girl power...:T:T:T

keystone

mumps wrote: »

No she won't remember 9/11 but she will have been exposed to what has come after it; Iraq, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda etc etc It has become something kids are aware of and as someone else said terrorist is a word kids use as an insult alot.

It might not be significant to the kids saying it but it might be significant to the child on the receiving end. My kids are Roman Catholic, born in England but they have had this, when they were younger they couldn't understand why other kids would assume anyone who isn't white is a Muslim, and lots of kids connect Muslim with terrorist.

Thank you and I agree with you. I think what we are moving towards is proportionality which is, to my mind the correct way to deal with BOTH sides of this incident.

Cheers

peachyprice

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

She was menacing the lad and he retaliated. You have no idea whether it was the 1st or the 101st time. Stealing someone's things time and again, is not just having a larf - it's devious and manipulative behavior meant to undermine someone.


She thought [as most bullies do] that being part of a bigger gang meant that she would be protected against this one lad who she was menacing. She thought that it would be her word [backed up by friends] against his. She didn't think he would pull any type of gun on her did she? I wonder how long he has been bullied in order to actually have to take steps to protect himself against the likes of your daughter?

Are you a successful fiction writer for the Daily Mail? You certainly have an uncanny knack for taking small snippets of fact and embellishing them to make a sensational story, in the same ilk as their 'journalists'.

keystone

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

She was menacing the lad and he retaliated. You have no idea whether it was the 1st or the 101st time. Stealing someone's things time and again, is not just having a larf - it's devious and manipulative behavior meant to undermine someone.



She thought [as most bullies do] that being part of a bigger gang meant that she would be protected against this one lad who she was menacing. She thought that it would be her word [backed up by friends] against his. She didn't think he would pull any type of gun on her did she? I wonder how long he has been bullied in order to actually have to take steps to protect himself against the likes of your daughter?



Yeah, I'm sure you would have remembered 'I said' versus 'someone said'...so she has given you the impression that 'someone said' rather than 'I said'...so she is manipulating you as well as the lad.

Go girl power...:T:T:T

Just as I was thinking that the "burn the witch brigade" had gone significantly quiet along comes another. I've spent the last 15 minutes or so trying to write a measured response to this but regretably have come to the conclusion that I would be wasting my time.

So thank you for confirming that the insidious campaign to overturn the long accepted concept of "innocent until proven guilty" is alive and well in this country.

You seem to have decided based on scant evidence other than your own prejudices that the situation is thus and that based on this the boy is quite entitled to point a gun at someone and use it! !!!!!!?

Do you realise how apologist your post is? This is rendolent of the attitude that allowed Hitler to get away with it for so long.

Sorry - but there is something seriously wrong with your thought processes IMO. I'm sorry to say that you come across as a not very nice person tbh.

Cheers

keystone

I will say though that FBR's post has made me more convinced that my decision to treat this matter in a measured way rather than a knee jerk reaction is the correct one.

So perhaps some thanks are due to him/her for that.

Cheers

mumps

keystone wrote: »

I will say though that FBR's post has made me more convinced that my decision to treat this matter in a measured way rather than a knee jerk reaction is the correct one.

So perhaps some thanks are due to him/her for that.

Cheers

I think you are right, I hope it all goes well for both of them. If the adults are all prepared to work together I am sure it will work out well and I am glad the school are working with you on this.

keystone

FBR

I find myself wondering if you are in any position of authority which thought makes me shiver tbh. As an extension of that I have a horrible feeling in my gut that you might just be a teacher.

In which case I have to say that your demonstrated approach to this matter makes you 100% part of the problem and certainly not part of the solution.

Cheers

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

You know, children and adults who are bullied can take what outsiders would feel are completely disproportionate steps to try and regain some power. This can be exacerbated if the person has some form of difficulty in relating to others, such as ASD, or mental illness.

On the surface, whilst it may appear to be simple good natured banter, to that boy, it may have been the culmination of a very long period of having his things taken from him, being put on the spot by a large group, that kind of thing. Perhaps he had the pellet gun for shooting at targets, but perhaps he had it because he thought the next time he was hassled by the gang, he could scare the ringleader and get left alone - after all, go for the ringleader is a common piece of advice when someone is being picked on, 'stand up for yourself and they'll leave you alone'.

Then there are the reports of school shootings, where loners, people who have been bullied, misfits and mentally ill kids have got their revenge on the entire place. That concept could appeal to somebody unwell/under great duress.


Personally, from what I remember of high school, getting beaten up, stabbed and generally battered didn't bother me in the least. What made my first three years there a misery was the constant barrage of criticisms, mockery, name calling, having my stuff nicked or chucked over fences, catcalling and what I can only describe as psychological warfare. If somebody had shot one of the girls trying to convince me to commit suicide (as in 'you're disgusting and ugly, you should kill yourself and then we won't come after you anymore, it's the only way to stop us'), I really wouldn't have given a damn. Even if they'd used a double barrelled shotgun to do it. That's how distorted reality and norms can get when you're actually there, rather than being the adult removed from it.

Nobody outside that small group knows what really happens between them. It is fortunate that he picked a pellet gun rather than a knife or a real gun (they are available if you know who to ask). Whether his acts were a response to intolerable levels of bullying or whether he is over sensitive doesnt matter.


The important thing is that your daughter is reminded how lucky she is that she isn't in the middle pages of the local rag as the kid who lost an eye or who was killed when taking somebody's scooter. She and her friends, no matter how much they may protest that they were only joking or just playing, have to be told that in no circumstances are they to speak, make sounds, hand signals or in any way communicate with or about that boy at anytime. If not because it's the right thing to do, because he's obviously looking for extreme ways of dealing with those he perceives as hunting in packs.