OC High School Student Ordered To Remove NRA T-Shirt Because It Promotes Gun Violence
ANAHEIM HILLS (CBSLA.com) — A student at a high school in Anaheim Hills said administrators ordered her to change out of a T-shirt that promoted the National Rifle Association.
Sophomore Haley Bullwinkle said when she wore her NRA shirt to Canyon High School last month, she landed in the principal's office for violating the school's dress code that forbids offensive, violent or divisive clothing.
"They were treating me like I was a criminal," she said. "I was not allowed to wear that at school because it promoted gun violence."
The shirt, which was a gift from Bullwinkle's father when he became a card-carrying member of the NRA, features a buck, an American flag and a hunter's silhouette. It also has the words "National Rifle Association of America: Protecting America's Traditions Since 1871" written in the center.
Bullwinkle's father said he emailed the school's principal to find out why his daughter had to change her shirt.
Principal Kimberly Fricker responded in an email, which said, in part, "The shirt had a gun on it, which is not allowed by school police. It's protocol to have students change when they're in violation of the dress code."
The girl's father, who has retained an attorney, now wants to know how the school defines violence. He said the drill team is allowed to twirl fake rifles and the mascot is a Comanche.
"I think that if you consider the hunter, the image of the hunter to be offensive, certainly there are groups that would consider the Comanche Indian chief to be offensive," he said.
CBS2's Stacey Butler was unable to reach Fricker for comment.
