Dia’mon Dallas, a student at Florida’s First Coast Technical College, is suing the school after she was put on suspension because of a picture on Facebook of herself and her fiancé posing with guns at a gun range.
A fellow student reported the photo to the school’s assistant principal, Donna Gary-Donovan. Gary-Donovan met with Dallas to suspend her and allegedly said she had a “mean look” and accused her of using an illegal firearm and said, “things you do in the dark come into the light.”
It sounds like Dallas didn’t actually do anything to deserve a suspension. Dallas is alleging racial discrimination in her suit and says that her suspension breaks both the 1st and 14th amendments.
“Some people just don’t like guns. They feel threatened by firearms. But that’s why we have constitutional protections, to protect activities that other people might find uncomfortable or unpopular,” said state Rep. Cord Byrd (R-Jacksonville Beach), who in addition to being a lawmaker is the attorney representing Dallas.
“Everything has just gone down the drain,” she told WJAX-TV. “I really was trying hard in school. I was making A’s. I can’t get a job and I have a baby to support. I’ve been out of work long enough and I wanted to do this to be able to provide for my family. And now I can’t.”
SEE ALSO: Missouri Principal Suspended After Posting Pro-Gun Tweet in Response to David Hogg
In the photo, Dallas is pointing a handgun toward the camera while her fiance holds another handgun at his side. Dallas and her fiance were at the range with his cousin, himself a veteran, who was teaching them to shoot at the range and had legally purchased and owned both guns.
While she is almost certainly breaking the rules of handling a firearm (the camera is probably being held by a person and she’s pointing a gun that direction), Dallas is not at a school function, she is not wearing school clothing, and the post had no relation to the school. She is handling a legal gun at a gun range.
Folks should certainly be circumspect about what photos are shared publicly — or, it turns out, privately. Consider the case of the Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner who was forced to resign after sharing pictures of his safari hunt via email. But should a student be suspended for a photo of herself with a gun?
She won and got $20,000 and her attorney got $15,000.
This was private, none of the school’s business. As for the safety comments, if an individual is holding the camera, big issue. If on a none human holder, get over it, no big deal. Not all educators are liberal activists, but this assistant principal must be. I have three sons and have encountered such educators. Aggressive actions with logical thought usually solves the problem.
“fellow student” aka Snitches
Sue the school, all the administration, and hopefully send a strong message to the leftist “elete”. That those of us with true common sense, are not going to put up with this kind of discrimination anymore. Also as part of the settlement, the administration personnel can no longer be allowed to work in the US education system ever again!
In addition, file a civil suit against the principal and the Governing body people to financially ruin each and every one of them for allowing their personal agendas violate free speech.
I agree with her , I never agree with discrimination cases but I sure as hell do this one.
While she is not following proper safety rules, it is none of the schools business! I hope she wins her lawsuit as she should.
While being a stupid thing to pose, I hope she owns the school with her suit. Enough of this BS already.
The “school” clearly overacted and overreached but we wouldn’t be reading this were all hands clean. It does not matter if the firearm was aimed at a tripod mounted camera. Pointing a firearm at anything not intend to….and we are familiar will all firearm safety rules. This is a case of a small clan of firearm owners lacking common sense and should not hold themselves out as firearm owners. We’ve seen this sort of foolishness.
There is no cure for stupid.
Why would pointing it at a camera on a tripod be an issue?
If correct protocols are taken, photography with firearms can be as safe as any other photography.
Unsafe actions can occur with automobiles, aircraft, waterslides etc, and even firearms.
Many movies are filmed using real firearms as props.
Anyone ever pass in front of your car on a crosswalk while it was in gear with your foot on the brake?
Same responsibilities.
While I agree that stupid is as stupid does, I fail to see the school’s jurisdiction. And WE don’t see anything stupid going on. At the range, with a family member, who is a veteran, learning how to handle a firearm. The girl is ignorant. That can be fixed. The assistant principal is stupid. That is forever.
All one can say is ‘Nazi at work destroying peoples lives’.
Why is she accusing the school of racism?
It matters not that she is at a gun range. The writer speculates that someone is holding the camera, when for at least 40 years cameras have had timers.
Based on what is provided in this article there is absolutely nothing wrong here. The negative response (s) is (are) at best irrational and it’s those people who need to be corrected. As stated by her lawyer, this is exactly why we have our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
She has a slam dunk lawsuit.
To be fair to her, gun-grabbing types have a vested interest in a disarmed populace. Democrats especially so regarding black people — they have a deep-seated fear that people of color will arm themselves and resist their treatment — old democrat habits die hard. If black people ever realize that the democrat-sponsored holy cow known as planned parenthood is still selling black children (as parts) as documented in numerous investigative reports, they may indeed want to revolt. I can’t fault her for saying this is racist on their part — it *is* racist. Just not for the reason a person would expect.
Easy money, that college is going to have to fork over a sizeable check. Nothing illegal about the photo, they can’t prove any wrong doing or intent with the photo. If that was the sole basis for the suspension they have serious explaining.
1. I don’t know any Range that would allow that unsafe posing with firearms. I don’t see a Range I see a place next to a dirt road.
2. Her “non-school uniform” looks to be “scrubs” worn by med/dental/service workers and “Students” in those fields. I’d bet its worn in her Class.
3. Photo discreption references them together like Bonnie & Clyde. He is also holding money.
All that may make it stupid but not threatening or illegal. School may have a minor dress code issue if in fact the Scrubs are tied to the school/class.
The Big issue is you have other anti-gun idiots playing morality police and reporting what they don’t like. Then the school staff act like she poses an active real time threat to the school.
I would suggest better screening of social media friend requests and tighten up privacy settings.
Dumbasses on both sides of this one.
Can’t do stuff like this in todays environment and expect not to get a reaction and it often comes with consequences. It’s a different world we live in and the pervasive liberal ideology being engrained in every thing we say, do, or think. Obama kept his promise, he “fundamentally transformed” America while the Republicans sat on their ass and let him and the Democrat ilk get away with it.
Liberalism is a mental disorder, please help us find a cure.
@Rob – the cure will be the next civil war, unfortunately.
The two fools depicted need to grow up and learn the proper handling of guns. Taking and distributing “gangsta” photos is gross immaturity…
Very few teachers in this day & age could identify a type of firearm, let alone if it was legal or not. I love the ignorance of academia in today’s world, as it show they can’t even educate themselves.
” Education is a weapon , whose effect depends on
whom holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed . ”
– Ioseb Jughashvili ( aka Stalin )
Certainly. It’s far easier tossing comments, sounding thoughtful and direct; than to be decisive and correct.
I am more than certain , that uncle joe would be proud .
Koolaid , anyone ?