Over the past two weeks or so, we've seen several cases of overreaction to gun images on the part of school officials, including the case of the West By God Virginia 8th grader facing possible jail time for wearing an NRA T-shirt bearing a picture of an "assault" style weapon to school. Today we find that the school and local law enforcement, probably warned that forbidding such things at school was illegal under current Supreme Court doctrines, and possible a huge law suit from the parents, supported by angry first and second amendment enthusiasts, has buckled and dismissed all charges:
The West Virginia eighth-grader arrested after refusing a teacher's demand he remove a National Rifle Association T-shirt he wore to school won't face criminal charges after all:Yep, that was a stupid charge to begin with.
Jared Marcum, 14, was charged with obstruction following the April 18 incident after police who were called to Logan Middle School school said he refused to stop talking. The case generated national headlines, as Marcum's family and attorney, Ben White, claimed the demand that he remove the NRA shirt violated his right to freedom of speech. On Thursday, Logan County Circuit Judge Eric O'Briant signed an order dismissing the charge.
"It should have come sooner but it's done and we don't have to have that concern anymore about him having a criminal record."
- Allen Lardieri, Jared Marcum's father
Marcum's mother, Tanya Lardieri, told WOWK that she was overcome with emotion after signing a dismissal order relating to the charge. The boy’s father, Allen Lardieri, said the couple is just glad Eric’s legal troubles are behind him
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