Kids Took Homecoming Pics with Toy Guns, Pandemonium Ensued

Taunton, Massachusetts, high school students Tito
Velez and Jaime Pereira were all dressed up for their homecoming
dance when they decided to take a few pictures. Velez is an airsoft
rifle enthusiast, according to his Facebook page, so the couple
posed with fake weapons for a picture. They posted it on Facebook
with the caption “Homecoming 2014.”

Predictably, the school interpreted the photo as a threat to
shoot up the dance. Administrators suspended the students for 10
days. 

“They are juniors in high school, they know it’s provocative and
they should know better,” said Superintendent Richard Gross in an

interview with WHDH. “Things like that scare students.”

The teens maintain that they weren’t trying to scare anyone. The
photo was taken in one of their own homes. No airsoft guns were
brought onto school property.

“It was just a photo,” said Velez. “It’s not in the yearbook.
There’s nothing against photos on a personal profile.”

The couple is still awaiting formal disciplinary charges, which
could actually be much worse than a mere 10-day suspension.

Rational response to a credible threat, or absurd crackdown on a
perfectly legitimate, innocent hobby? I suppose it’s a matter of
perspective. Either way, these kids don’t deserve to have their
futures ruined over a misunderstanding.