It Isn't Just The US That's Gone Mad
Via Karen DeCoster, a man in Kitchener, Ontario was arrested after his daughter drew a picture of a gun. Dianne Wood writes for the Record:
KITCHENER -- A Kitchener father is upset that police arrested him at his children's' school Wednesday, hauled him down to the station and strip-searched him, all because his four-year-old daughter drew a picture of a gun at school."I'm picking up my kids and then, next thing you know, I'm locked up," Jessie Sansone, 26, said Thursday.
"I was in shock. This is completely insane. My daughter drew a gun on a piece of paper at school."
The school principal, police and child welfare officials, however, all stand by their actions. They said they had to investigate to determine whether there was a gun in Sansone's house that children had access to.
"From a public safety point of view, any child drawing a picture of guns and saying there's guns in a home would warrant some further conversation with the parents and child," said Alison Scott, executive director of Family and Children's Services.
Waterloo Regional Police Insp. Kevin Thaler said there was a complaint from Forest Hills public school that "a firearm was in a residence and children had access to it. We had every concern, based on this information, that children were in danger."
Their concern wasn't based on the drawing alone, he said.
Neaveh, the child who made the drawing, also made comments about it that raised more flags.
DeCoster has it right about the excuses being made for rights grabs:
Anytime that it can be said that a child is in "danger," no matter how contrived or how hysterical, the state has immediate powers to move in and take control of lives. After Jesse Sansone was arrested, his wife was separated from their other three children, and the kids were taken to Family and Children's Services where they were grilled by social services bureaucrats.
Sansone allowed them to search his home, and guess what -- it was a plastic gun.
...The school principal, Steve Zack, said a staff member called child welfare officials because the law requires them to report anything involving the safety or neglect of a child.The agency chose to involve police, he said.
"Police chose to arrest Jessie here. Nobody wants something like this to happen at any time, especially not at school. But that's out of my hands."
Sansone says he got into some trouble with the law five years ago, and was convicted of assault and attempted burglary. But he's put all that behind him. He never had any firearms-related charges.
As for the strip search, Thaler said it was done "for officer safety, because it's a firearms-related incident.
"At the point in the investigation when it was determined it was not a real firearm, the individual was released unconditionally," he said.
Gun laws in Canada.
For the record, I know a number of people with guns in their homes -- none of whom have ever had occasion to use them on anyone, but who want to protect themselves and their family should somebody break in.
Via @WalterOlson, in the US, a guy with a gun is acquitted but is now homeless.
Yep. We do. We live near a not-so-good neighborhood, and we are armed, locked and loaded. Haven't had any incidences yet, but I'd rather have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.
Flynne at February 26, 2012 8:08 AM
I have no children and no spouse.
A firearm in the house has absolutely no bearing on the quality of parenting.
You see a confluence of liberals and anti-gun.
These people were stupid. If I had been in the U.S. and being held, I would have said I want my lawyer. Fuck the school and the CPS.
They would have either had to get a Fourth Amendment approved search warrant or let me go.
The first rule -- don't talk to cops.
Jim P. at February 26, 2012 8:15 AM
Nanny government complains that children are fat, snacking, watching TV, and playing video games. That same government shows parents that they will be arrested if their kids play outdoors, walk to school, ride a bicycle without sufficient armor, injure themselves in any way, or say anything to an official which might, maybe, possibly be related to some sort of abuse.
Their school experience is to sit for 7 hours each day, listening to propaganda, drawing exactly what the teacher wants, and being asked about what mommy and daddy are doing at home. The only defense for the parents is to exclude the children from any part of adult life.
The school monotony is broken by short exercise periods, similar to those in prison, void of running, shouting, and any interesting playground equipment. They don't yet require the children to walk around in a big circle.
The only way to somewhat soothe the bored, restrained, closely watched children is to sit them in front of TV and let them play video games.
Many places want children to ride in automobile booster seats until they are eight. The explanation is that this reduces injury and death in children. I say that all adults must be required to wear 4-point seat belts, protective helmets, and leg guards. This would reduce the injury and death of parents who are still highly important to providing for their children.
Children are vastly more important now than 50 years ago. At that time, children were encouraged to learn and work to support themselves. Now, each child is more precious. Each must be trained to support all parents and grandparents in the style to which they have voted themselves benefits from their wise and caring government.
Andrew_M_Garland at February 26, 2012 12:13 PM
There really is nothing to say, I just stand there shaking my head in in disbelief. In my lifetime, freedom and liberty have been flushed down the toilet. It sometimes seems the only rights we have left is to be counter-culture or on welfare. Both at once, more often than not.
There are loads of these stories every day, and the common folks know it, and yet no one stands up and says, enough is enough already.
Old Guy at February 26, 2012 12:40 PM
"The only way to somewhat soothe the bored, restrained, closely watched children is to .... let them play video games."
Hey man, don't slag on video games. It's probably the best source for learning how to solve problems kids will get.
Not to mention most video games have this great "you must take your stand against the system" ethos.
Elle at February 26, 2012 12:54 PM
To Elle,
I'm not against TV or video games, but they aren't a subsitute for the life and freedom that is now denied to children.
Of course video games support taking a stand. Young and older children dream of escaping 16 years of confinement and "education" imposed by adults who are now mostly confined and directed by government.
Andrew_M_Garland at February 26, 2012 4:04 PM
I had a .40 semi until the twins were about 2, then I sold it. About 2 years ago, we decided being unarmed was not smart, so we have a gun again. Unloaded, locked up. Not a lot of good for an intruder, but good to have nonetheless. Our kids have watched mommy and daddy and Gpa target shoot. They see their uncle with his hip holster and uniform weekly at least. They have shot BB guns. They will shoot real guns as they get older. I rank being able to shoot somewhat competently right up with being able to cook and do laundry, as far as things people should know before 18. Fortunately, we live in Texas (if somewhat close to un-Texas Austin) so guns won't get me jailed here.
I don't hunt (because I don't need to for food and don't find superfluous killing entertaining as I love animals) but the last year or two I've been thinking I should learn the rudiments, just in case. At least where on the animal to hit, and how to feild-dress and butcher without poisoning the meat. I suppose there are people who give lessons on that, right? The more self-sufficient I can be, the less the government can do to me. A point being driven home more and more the last few years.
momof4 at February 26, 2012 5:19 PM
"I'm not against TV or video games"
I totally didn't mean to imply that. I was attempting (and I guess failing at) a tongue-in-cheek-ish response.
And FWIW the average gamer is close to 30, and apparently still dreaming of escape.
Elle at February 26, 2012 9:29 PM
I agree the police overreacted but I'm reading that he was in trouble 5 years ago for assault and attempted murder.
Kendra at February 26, 2012 9:38 PM
Kendra, I somewhat agree. That this father was CONVICTED of assault and burglary within the last 5 years (why is he not still in jail?) most likely plays into this story.
If this happened to anyone who has never broken the law them it would be a horror story; but, I suspect that there is a big piece of the truth missing here.
Charles at February 27, 2012 7:40 AM
The amount of charges that can be exaggerated before, during, and after the plea agreement is no indicator of his true crimes.
A low sentencing example.
Meanwhile here is a ridiculous attempt by the state government against a man protecting himself and others in his home: Appeals court overturns murder verdict in Cuyahoga County 'Castle Doctrine' case
There has been more than one case that a guy involved in a bar fight has been convicted of aggravated assault.
Until I see the court transcript -- I won't pass judgement.
There are places in the U.S. that an "exiled" son and his buddy going to the house to retrieve the sons "property" is guilty of burglary. I'm not defending him, but at the same time don't take any lame stream media at face value.
Jim P. at February 27, 2012 9:10 PM
I wonder what would have happened if the young lady had had an application to attend a serious firearms school, such as Thunder Ranch or Lethal Force Institute?
Radwaste at February 28, 2012 2:57 AM
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