The criminalization of our children continues

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Bump

that's pretty much what I heard you say

[Bump]

but, I guess the whole thing about this is

she chose to do it on her own

Yes, it appears that the first story is BS because they said it was a failed science project. So, I won't take much account into anything they report in the future.

But, still doesn't mean she should be treated as a ****ing terrorist.



But now, I want to know. What was her real motive for doing this?

Was it to gain attention? or was she genuinely interested in how chemistry works and she was experimenting out of a will to gain knowledge?

Given her 'great student' and 'never been in any trouble, ever'

kinds tells me that it's an honest mistake and a small punishment is warranted. But the police? a federal crime?

Scary world to raise a child in this country now. I wouldn't have the heart to have a child, knowing that I can't afford a good education for them and they will have to go to school in fear of making a mistake and having their life ruined over it.

If it turns out, she did this with cruel intentions. I'll eat my words, I always take accountability when I'm wrong about something (a trait not many have).

[boogblaster]

jfc ....

[Fish]

Charges dropped.


Charges dropped against Florida teen over amateur science experiment

The Florida teenager who was arrested two weeks ago for causing a small explosion on the campus of her high school will not be charged with a crime. Kiera Wilmot, 16, was arrested by police in Bartow, Florida, after conducting an unauthorized science experiment which lightly damaged an eight ounce plastic water bottle.

At the time, Wilmot faced possible charges for “possessing or discharging weapons or firearms at a school sponsored event or on school property.” If she had been convicted, she could have faced up to five years in prison.

Wilmot’s arrest became a national story, as members of the press and the scientific community insisted that Wilmot was the victim of a massive overreaction from law enforcement. A crowdfunded legal defense fund netted over $8,000 to cover Wilmot’s potential legal fees, and a Change.org petition to get the charges dropped received nearly 200,000 signatures.

“Even though I don’t have the privilege of knowing Kiera, I believe we all have the responsibility to stand up with one another whenever there is injustice and felt I had to do whatever I could to make sure the unjust felony charges were dropped,” said Maggie Gilman, the creator of the petition, in a statement circulated by Change.org. “I’m very thankful to the 195,000 people who stood with Kiera and signed the petition on Change.org!”

Wilmot has already served a ten-day suspension, and is now attending another high school, according to her attorney.

[jspchief]

Nice to see common sense prevail.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by jspchief

Nice to see common sense prevail.

It doesn't seem like it was common sense though. It was public pressure. But, whatever...glad the right thing was done.

[Just Passin' By]

It's great that the charges were dropped. Unfortunately, the idiotic policy which was so much a part of the problem probably still won't be changed.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

It's great that the charges were dropped. Unfortunately, the idiotic policy which was so much a part of the problem probably still won't be changed.

Agreed. That silly and archaic "no bombs allowed at schools" policy should be updated to "some bombs allowed at schools".

When will we learn?

[LOCOChief]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Agreed. That silly and archaic "no bombs allowed at schools" policy should be updated to "some bombs allowed at schools".

When will we learn?

16-year-old Kiera Wilmot is accused of mixing housing chemicals in a small water bottle at Bartow High School, causing the cap to fly off and produce a bit of smoke. The experiment was conducted outdoors, no property was damaged, and no one was injured.


heh funny- you think that's a bomb.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Agreed. That silly and archaic "no bombs allowed at schools" policy should be updated to "some bombs allowed at schools".

When will we learn?

Yeah... who will save us from the senseless terror of unsupervised science experiments? They're lucky that puff of smoke didn't level the town...

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Agreed. That silly and archaic "no bombs allowed at schools" policy should be updated to "some bombs allowed at schools".

When will we learn?

Always good to see who can't be bothered to actually read the articles for comprehension.

[A Salt Weapon]

Good to see the charges dropped.

We brought homemade matchbombs to high school and were setting them off between classes. Got caught, got the rest confiscated and a stern talking to. My, how times have changed.

[ElGringo]

To me, at some point, schools need to realize that 0 tolerance policies don't always work the way you would hope. This is one example, I believe, that if there is no back story, no more details, there should have been no punishment.

[Fish]

The story gets even better. Science rules!

Teen Who Was Expelled From School For Science Explosion Receives Full Scholarship U.S. Space Academy

Kiera Wilmot made an honest mistake, but the police were trying to throw away her life with a felony. After the community stood up for the girl, the charges were dropped, and she was allowed to move on with her life. Well, her greatness is really starting to shine, as she was recently granted several extraordinary opportunities through scholarship offers she has received.

Check it out:

Kiera Wilmot, the 16-year-old honor student expelled from her high school after she allegedly ignited a chemical explosion on school property, received a full scholarship to the U.S. Space Academy, courtesy of a NASA veteran who, as a teenager, was accused of starting a forest fire during a science experiment.

[Shaid]

That's ridiculous. Do you know how many bottles I blew up as a kid? Slap their hand and say, "Don't do that again." Move on.