AURORA, Colorado - February 9, 2009 - A local school district has suspended a member of the Young Marines youth leadership group after students saw drill props in her vehicle.

Marie Morrow, a 17-year-old senior at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, is serving a 10-day suspension. Her punishment could be extended at an expulsion hearing later this month.

Morrow is a student leader in the Douglas County Young Marines, a group dedicated to teaching leadership and life skills.

Cherry Creek Schools suspended Morrow after other students reported seeing guns inside her SUV, which was parked outside school while she was in class.

The school also called police, who seized the three drill team guns made of wood, plastic and duct tape. Police told Morrow to claim them in time for her after-school drill practice off-campus.

Mindless school administrators, however, were less understanding. The guns were declared "authentic representations of genuine weapons," triggering a mandatory expulsion statute in state law.

"I have never been in trouble at all," said Morrow, who is planning to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy. "I hadn't imagined in a million years that anything like this would have happened."

Chris Proctor, commanding officer of the Douglas County Young Marines, was rebuffed in his attempt to explain the props to school leaders.

"There's no mistaking that these are not real rifles," said Proctor. "I think somewhere along the line, logic has to take over and they have to be able to make exceptions to the rules. Marie is one of the best kids that you could ever imagine."

"I could see where the school could be freaked out about it," said Morrow. "But I think there should be some leeway with the law based on situations and realize this is just an honest mistake."

Officials could only come up with stupid statements when questioned about the incident. "The law doesn't make any distinction between a genuine weapon and a facsimile," said unthinking Cherry Creek Schools spokeswoman Tustin Amole.

When is enough, enough? It’s time for you to let your voice be heard! Call and tell these mindless bureaucrats what you think of their inability to see beyond their rules and regulations. Ask if they think that this situation is of benefit to the students, especially Marie Morrow. When we spoke with Ms. Amole she was very nasty, pretentious, and self-aggrandizing. Call now and take her down a few pegs.

Cherry Creek School District
Superintendent Mary Chesley
Spokeswoman Tustin Amole
303-773-1184