Honors Student Charged with Felony After Accidentally Leaving Shotgun in Truck

[green73]

#freecole


[video]

According to Todd Starnes of Fox News, Cole Withrow, an Eagle Scout, honors student, and active church member has had his life turned upside down.

The trouble began when Withrow discovered he had accidentally left his shotgun in his truck once he arrived at school. He had been skeet shooting with some friends the day before.

Withrow tried to immediately call his mother to come and pick up the firearm, but he was overheard by a school official.

Withrow told officials the truth about what happened. Then he was arrested and immediately and permanently expelled from school.

cont
http://gunssavelives.net/blog/honors-student-eagle-scout-charged-with-felony-and-expelled-after-accidentally-leaving-shotgun-in-truck/

[WM_in_MO]

ZERO TOLERANCE IS BULLSHIT

[ninepointfive]

Whenever I think my life is rough, i read stories like this and the science experiment by the girl, and realize it can be a lot worse....... we're in for hell if we can't all get together to stop this madness.

[Nate SY]

So basically, what this is telling me is if he had just ignored the fact that the shotgun was in his truck he most likely wouldn't have gotten in trouble. However, due to the fact that he decided to do the "right" thing, he accidently told on himself because a faculty member was eaves-dropping on his conversation with his mother. So they potentially trash his future with felony charges and embarass the hell out of him at school.

Pretty backwards when doing the right thing is what gets you in trouble.

[jmdrake]

So basically, what this is telling me is if he had just ignored the fact that the shotgun was in his truck he most likely wouldn't have gotten in trouble. However, due to the fact that he decided to do the "right" thing, he accidently told on himself because a faculty member was eaves-dropping on his conversation with his mother. So they potentially trash his future with felony charges and embarass the hell out of him at school.

Pretty backwards when doing the right thing is what gets you in trouble.

See something say something. :rolleyes: I hate how stupid our country has become.

[KingNothing]

So basically, what this is telling me is if he had just ignored the fact that the shotgun was in his truck he most likely wouldn't have gotten in trouble. However, due to the fact that he decided to do the "right" thing, he accidently told on himself because a faculty member was eaves-dropping on his conversation with his mother. So they potentially trash his future with felony charges and embarass the hell out of him at school.

Pretty backwards when doing the right thing is what gets you in trouble.

And also, if you are in a position of authority and you do this, you just get a slap on the wrist. The drastically different punishments for the student and principal here are sickening.

[tod evans]

I'll bet this incident has changed more than a few minds in that neighborhood about unnecessary laws...

[ClydeCoulter]

I'll bet this incident has changed more than a few minds in that neighborhood about unnecessary laws...

I sure hope so.

[AFPVet]

Back in the day, people left their hunting rifles and shotguns in their vehicles all the time. Times have changed... we've become a sissified society dependent upon the government for security—as well as content with the deprivation of our liberties.

[oyarde]

Yeah I had a shotgun in my vehicle all the time , hunting after.

[tod evans]

Back in the day, people left their hunting rifles and shotguns in their vehicles all the time. Times have changed... we've become a sissified society dependent upon the government for security—as well as content with the deprivation of our liberties.

There were always pick-ups with guns in the racks when I was in school...

No big deal.

[Anti Federalist]

He learned the most important lesson that government schools teach.

[tod evans]

He learned the most important lesson that government schools teach.

We can only hope others learn from his mistake.......

[2young2vote]

I think there is some subconscious urge some (many) people have to do things that put them in a position of power over others. This school official knew that alerting authorities to the situation would result in the kid getting in trouble and they did it on purpose, even though there was no real reason to. They knew that their action would have an affect on someone else, so they did it. This is really scary.

Edit: I've seen it with my roommates. The guy below us had some music on and there was the slightest amount of bass that we could hear, so one of my roommates called the campus police to complain.

[Anti Federalist]

I think there is some subconscious urge some (many) people have to do things that put them in a position of power over others. This school official knew that alerting authorities to the situation would result in the kid getting in trouble and they did it on purpose, even though there was no real reason to. They knew that their action would have an affect on someone else, so they did it. This is really scary.

Edit: I've seen it with my roommates. The guy below us had some music on and there was the slightest amount of bass that we could hear, so one of my roommates called the campus police to complain.

Fed, entertained and exercise petty power over their fellow man.

[TheGrinch]

I think there is some subconscious urge some (many) people have to do things that put them in a position of power over others. This school official knew that alerting authorities to the situation would result in the kid getting in trouble and they did it on purpose, even though there was no real reason to. They knew that their action would have an affect on someone else, so they did it. This is really scary.

Edit: I've seen it with my roommates. The guy below us had some music on and there was the slightest amount of bass that we could hear, so one of my roommates called the campus police to complain.

Gotta be some of my least favorite people on earth, the ones who will call the cops on you because they don't have the guts to come and talk you to like a civil human being.

[jtap]

I agree this is BS however, were it me it seems that missing class would obviously be the lesser punishment (avoid the law at all costs) and once he realized that his first move should be to drive the car off the property and out of the school zone. That said, this is so stupid and totally ridiculous, how can any sane, logical person, feel good about having and raising kids in these times? What a mess!

[satchelmcqueen]

fucking hell. me and my friends used to take guns to school all the time and show our teachers. but this was back in the 80s. and NO, no one got hurt.

[satchelmcqueen]

I just sent the superintendant of that school the following

""Hello,

I just read and watched the story about Cole Withrow and how the school dealt with him about his gun. First I do understand that guns in a students possession on school property is a bad idea. However, I think this is one exception that needs to be dealt with, with a little common sense. He forgot his gun was in his truck and tried to fix the situation. I understand he is a very good student, so this should have played into having common sense in dealing with this issue.

Calling the cops on this man and having him now have to deal with the system is a big mistake. He will now probably never be accepted into any college or hold any meaningful job as this will be on his record. When I was in school in the 80s and 90s, me and my friends had guns in our trucks and even showed them to the teachers after class was over and the teachers did the same thing. We would all talk about guns and hunting. We also had a gun safety course done in cooperation with the school.

Yes, times have changed since then, but a lot of the changing has been through unnecessary government force and scare tactics in anything related to guns. Cole will now have to suffer the rest of his life for this and may even give up at one point and become another drop out in society. The system the government upholds is very harsh sometimes, especially when the innocent get caught up in draconian laws.


Id like to suggest that if a punishment gets handed down to Cole, that the school board work with local law enforcement and the courts and demand that he gets the same 3 day suspension that the assistant principal got 2 years ago. He also didnt knowingly and willingly do this. Do the right thing for the sake of his future.



Thank You,
XXXXXXXXXXX
Rome Georgia"""


here is the link to the contacts if anyone wants to do the same.
http://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/education/components/form/default.php?sectiondetailid=97382

[Christian Liberty]

First I do understand that guns in a students possession on school property is a bad idea

I'm starting to question if I even agree with this...

Ever notice how all the crimes happen in "Gun free" zones?

[TheNewYorker]

Friend of mines son had the same thing happen to him. He went into school after hunting. He forgot about a shotgun shell in his pocket and it fell out in lunch. Someone found it and the school went into lockdown. He realized it was his and brought it to the principals attention that it was an accident, but they called the police on him. Charged him with a felony of some sort and expelled until after he goes to court. It was a small town and small school, everyone knew each other and most of the male students were Hunters. Principal was even close to the family but explained there was nothing he could do, zero tolerance is zero tolerance. Its now been almost 2 years since he's been in school and he's STILL waiting for his court date. He probably will never graduate high school now even though he was a bright straight a student.

this country fucking sucks.

[Origanalist]

So basically, what this is telling me is if he had just ignored the fact that the shotgun was in his truck he most likely wouldn't have gotten in trouble. However, due to the fact that he decided to do the "right" thing, he accidently told on himself because a faculty member was eaves-dropping on his conversation with his mother. So they potentially trash his future with felony charges and embarass the hell out of him at school.

Pretty backwards when doing the right thing is what gets you in trouble.

No good deed shall go unpunished.

[Origanalist]

There were always pick-ups with guns in the racks when I was in school...

No big deal.

Yep, nobody even thought about it.

[Origanalist]

I'm starting to question if I even agree with this...

Ever notice how all the crimes happen in "Gun free" zones?

That's a sign of a healthy mind. Questioning that statement shows your brain is functioning as it should.

[WhistlinDave]

here is the link to the contacts if anyone wants to do the same.
http://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/education/components/form/default.php?sectiondetailid=97382

Awesome idea! I just sent her one as well:


"Dear Superintendant Dublin,

I just read a news story about Cole Withrow and how his life is being ruined now for a mistake. He forgot that he'd left his gun in his truck, and the only reason he was even caught was because he tried to do the right thing by calling his mom to come get the gun.

This isn't some criminal. This is a good kid with good grades, for Pete's sake! It's absolutely shameful that some common sense couldn't be used in this situation.

Now this kid, who had a bright future ahead of him, instead, will be set on a very different path. He will be a convicted felon, and will be haunted by everything that goes with this tragic mislabeling. All just for trying to do the right thing when he realized he'd forgotten the gun was there.

I think that if Cole is punished at all, the school board should work with the DA and the courts to DROP ALL CRIMINAL CHARGES and insist Cole gets the same 3 day suspension the Assistant Principal received a couple years ago.

Please do the right thing here. This kid doesn't deserve to have his entire life ruined over this honest mistake. Especially when he was trying to do the right thing and correct his error.

The entire country is watching, and there has GOT to be some common sense approach to solve this situation. Please let me know ASAP what action you're going to take to correct this horrible injustice. If an e-mail response is too inconvenient, I will be calling your office to follow up. Thank you.


Sincerely, "

[osan]

Yeah I had a shotgun in my vehicle all the time , hunting after.

I'd been driving around with my long distance rifle in the car for about 2 weeks. I just kept forgetting to put it back in the house. Thank heaven I'm in WV. Had it been some shit hole like NY or NJ I'd have been shot on the spot by some twitchy cop.

We really do need to fix this nonsense.

[osan]

I think there is some subconscious urge some (many) people have to do things that put them in a position of power over others. This school official knew that alerting authorities to the situation would result in the kid getting in trouble and they did it on purpose, even though there was no real reason to. They knew that their action would have an affect on someone else, so they did it. This is really scary.

Edit: I've seen it with my roommates. The guy below us had some music on and there was the slightest amount of bass that we could hear, so one of my roommates called the campus police to complain.


Sadly, I cannot disagree with this. Had I been on scene, I would have instructed that kid to GTFO NOW. Who gives a shit if he gets marked late or suspended. I would have ordered him to get his ass home and would have made up some bullshit to the office as to why he had to go home, like he was having a stroke or got cancer or something... discovered he was gay and had to tell mom the good news. Doesn't matter, so long as the scum could not put their mitts on him. Now look at him.

The vermin that ratted him out should be introduced to an iron bar.

[satchelmcqueen]

yep, the only reason i feel this way now, is because a lot of kids are on these anti depressant pills and other pills as opposed to when i was in school. if not for that id say bring back the gun racks in everyones truck.
I'm starting to question if I even agree with this...

Ever notice how all the crimes happen in "Gun free" zones?

[satchelmcqueen]

i just had to send them an email. i just got out of a court case where i was lied about. the judge threw it out but it took a year and so much agony waiting for it to be over even though i didnt do anything. i kinda know how this kid feels.

[Anti Federalist]

Sadly, I cannot disagree with this. Had I been on scene, I would have instructed that kid to GTFO NOW. Who gives a shit if he gets marked late or suspended. I would have ordered him to get his ass home and would have made up some bullshit to the office as to why he had to go home, like he was having a stroke or got cancer or something... discovered he was gay and had to tell mom the good news. Doesn't matter, so long as the scum could not put their mitts on him. Now look at him.

The vermin that ratted him out should be introduced to an iron bar.

Literally, LOL'ed at that.

[qh4dotcom]

Except for being arrested, I don't see why anyone should feel sorry for this guy being expelled from school or make a big deal out of this.

Who cares if he'll get expelled from a stupid socialist school or he won't be able to attend a stupid socialist college...the way I see it...one person less likely to become indoctrinated...one person who might join the liberty movement once he realizes how badly the system screwed him.

A libertarian university should welcome him with open arms.

[Anti Federalist]

Except for being arrested, I don't see why anyone should feel sorry for this guy being expelled from school or make a big deal out of this.

Who cares if he'll get expelled from a stupid socialist school or he won't be able to attend a stupid socialist college...the way I see it...one person less likely to become indoctrinated...one person who might join the liberty movement once he realizes how badly the system screwed him.

A libertarian university should welcome him with open arms.

When you're in The Matrix with a felony arrest rap, you're fucked, pretty much forever.

And Liberty U. has already offered him a scholarship.

[heavenlyboy34]

Friend of mines son had the same thing happen to him. He went into school after hunting. He forgot about a shotgun shell in his pocket and it fell out in lunch. Someone found it and the school went into lockdown. He realized it was his and brought it to the principals attention that it was an accident, but they called the police on him. Charged him with a felony of some sort and expelled until after he goes to court. It was a small town and small school, everyone knew each other and most of the male students were Hunters. Principal was even close to the family but explained there was nothing he could do, zero tolerance is zero tolerance. Its now been almost 2 years since he's been in school and he's STILL waiting for his court date. He probably will never graduate high school now even though he was a bright straight a student.

this country fucking sucks.
I am SO glad I'm not in school at this point in history. I got suspended once for smoking on campus-now I'd probably be sent to one of the rape cages. :mad:

[Anti Federalist]

Friend of mines son had the same thing happen to him. He went into school after hunting. He forgot about a shotgun shell in his pocket and it fell out in lunch. Someone found it and the school went into lockdown. He realized it was his and brought it to the principals attention that it was an accident, but they called the police on him. Charged him with a felony of some sort and expelled until after he goes to court. It was a small town and small school, everyone knew each other and most of the male students were Hunters. Principal was even close to the family but explained there was nothing he could do, zero tolerance is zero tolerance. Its now been almost 2 years since he's been in school and he's STILL waiting for his court date. He probably will never graduate high school now even though he was a bright straight a student.

this country fucking sucks.

See Something Say Something.

[mtr1979]

I think there is some subconscious urge some (many) people have to do things that put them in a position of power over others. This school official knew that alerting authorities to the situation would result in the kid getting in trouble and they did it on purpose, even though there was no real reason to. They knew that their action would have an affect on someone else, so they did it. This is really scary.

Edit: I've seen it with my roommates. The guy below us had some music on and there was the slightest amount of bass that we could hear, so one of my roommates called the campus police to complain.

Maybe karma will catch up to these people one day? From what I have seen in my life it usually doesn't, they advance to positions of power.

[Christian Liberty]

Except for being arrested, I don't see why anyone should feel sorry for this guy being expelled from school or make a big deal out of this.

Who cares if he'll get expelled from a stupid socialist school or he won't be able to attend a stupid socialist college...the way I see it...one person less likely to become indoctrinated...one person who might join the liberty movement once he realizes how badly the system screwed him.

A libertarian university should welcome him with open arms.


When you're in The Matrix with a felony arrest rap, you're fucked, pretty much forever.

And Liberty U. has already offered him a scholarship.

I don't know how liberty is now, but Jerry Falwell started that school. A lot of my Christian friends like it but I wouldn't be shocked if it was just an indoctrinator for the state like the rest of them. Falwell was the one that literally said Romans 13 justified the Iraq War...


That's a sign of a healthy mind. Questioning that statement shows your brain is functioning as it should.


yep, the only reason i feel this way now, is because a lot of kids are on these anti depressant pills and other pills as opposed to when i was in school. if not for that id say bring back the gun racks in everyones truck.

If its any consolation, I do tend to agree with the statement (Students shouldn't have guns on campus.) Granted, I oppose public schools and if a private school wants to have a stupid "Gun free zone" they have that right as private property owners. I'm all for teachers being armed. The idea of students being armed doesn't give me as much pause in a college, where at least the people who are there want to be there, but I'd honestly be uncomfortable if most kids in my high school were armed. Not because of anything to do with guns, but because I frankly don't trust them. Not everyone gets into fights (I haven't) but I've seen enough of them and yeah, I don't think it would be pretty. Then again, plenty of people (Illegally) bring knives into my school and I've never seen them used, so maybe even now I'm too much of a statist. But yeah, I admit to still not being terribly comfortable with high school students carrying weapons in school. Even still, I'm going to question myself. I forget who said "Question everything" but its good advice. I've already questioned my faith, and God came through for me, but there's PLENTY to question in the government system, I can probably spend my entire life doing it, although I definitely think political activism and education is more useful.

I tend to agree with you but I never questioned that until now. There isn't a whole lot I've never questioned (Or at least, I don't think there is) but that was one of those things. Given the opportunity, I had to question it.

[Christian Liberty]

Oh, and even though government schools shouldn't exist, being thrown out of a school you're being forced to pay for still sucks. I don't particularly like my school, but getting thrown out right now 2 months before graduation would still suck. And while state-indoctrinated college will likely suck too, I have to get through it so I can teach History or Poli-Sci from a libertarian perspective. Sometimes you have to do things that suck (i'm actually excited for college, but then, I don't usually fall for statist propaganda anymore. Thank you Ron Paul for that.) in order to eventually help other people see the light.

[Anti Federalist]

If its any consolation, I do tend to agree with the statement (Students shouldn't have guns on campus.) Granted, I oppose public schools and if a private school wants to have a stupid "Gun free zone" they have that right as private property owners. I'm all for teachers being armed. The idea of students being armed doesn't give me as much pause in a college, where at least the people who are there want to be there, but I'd honestly be uncomfortable if most kids in my high school were armed. Not because of anything to do with guns, but because I frankly don't trust them. Not everyone gets into fights (I haven't) but I've seen enough of them and yeah, I don't think it would be pretty. Then again, plenty of people (Illegally) bring knives into my school and I've never seen them used, so maybe even now I'm too much of a statist. But yeah, I admit to still not being terribly comfortable with high school students carrying weapons in school. Even still, I'm going to question myself. I forget who said "Question everything" but its good advice. I've already questioned my faith, and God came through for me, but there's PLENTY to question in the government system, I can probably spend my entire life doing it, although I definitely think political activism and education is more useful.

I tend to agree with you but I never questioned that until now. There isn't a whole lot I've never questioned (Or at least, I don't think there is) but that was one of those things. Given the opportunity, I had to question it.

Always remember that freedom only works when most people, either due to personal morality or enlightened self interest, do the right thing.

[Christian Liberty]

Always remember that freedom only works when most people, either due to personal morality or enlightened self interest, do the right thing.

You know, this is almost like what I want to call the "libertarian paradox" that I've been thinking through and haven't adequetely been able to answer. This is also one of the biggest things that firmly puts me in the "Minarchist" camp and not the anarcho-capitalist camp.

Libertarianism not only requires individual vigilence, but also a belief that most people will be to some degree responsible, and willing to maintain the liberty. Yet, most of these people vote for statism. Hence a paradox. How can we trust most people to act in accordance with the NAP when they literally vote against it every chance they get?

All that said, my libertarianism is a little bit more moderate in that I think the NAP is only directly applicable to adults. While I certainly don't think a minor having a gun is necessarily a bad thing, I wouldn't consider restrictions on this to be as serious a freedom violation as the same law against an adult. Even still, I don't like public schools, so the solution to this is really to privatize those, not to have government make a law saying that kids can carry guns in public schools.

[osan]

Except for being arrested, I don't see why anyone should feel sorry for this guy being expelled from school or make a big deal out of this.

Who cares if he'll get expelled from a stupid socialist school or he won't be able to attend a stupid socialist college...the way I see it...one person less likely to become indoctrinated...one person who might join the liberty movement once he realizes how badly the system screwed him.

A libertarian university should welcome him with open arms.

You presume too much. I for one certainly do not give a tinker's damn about the school bit. It's the felony conviction bit.

In any event, it is not for you to decide what is to be celebrated or bemoaned. That kid may have been happy there. I went to such schools for three years and was not indoctrinated, and you can dispense with the comments about stone-age schools or the Civil War era, thankyouverymuch. No every student emerges a brain-dead, domesticated automaton.

Sadly,this young person has already been arraigned, almost certainly entered a plea and has sealed his fate.

[osan]

If its any consolation, I do tend to agree with the statement (Students shouldn't have guns on campus.)

Why? Students used to take guns to school all the time. This was done literally by the millions. I cannot recall so much as a single incident of anyone shooting anyone being shot in school for any reason. Granted, those were different times and children were not raised to be perpetual infants, but how is it we bend principle to circumstance rather than the other way around? The so-called "liberal" operating procedure is so transparently inconsistent. Where kids are having sex at every younger ages they throw up their weak hands and quip, "there's nothing we can do about it - better they do it safely, BLAH BLAH BLAH...". Yet where guns are concerned their wills are like iron. Nauseating idiots.


The idea of students being armed doesn't give me as much pause in a college, where at least the people who are there want to be there, but I'd honestly be uncomfortable if most kids in my high school were armed.

My first year teaching, during Christmas break the Board installed metal detectors at JFK in the Bronx. It was at that time the largest high school in the nation with 7500 students - larger than many towns. When the kiddies returned, all entrances were chained shut save the mains and every student passed through. That first day they got over 700 pistols, some 3000 knives, and a bunch of other things deemed "weapons" from these hard core ghetto kids, most of whom probably didn't know which end the damned bullets came out. Yet, none of them were shooting anyone in school. Not one. THOSE are the people I would trust least and even they have the sense not to resort to stupidity of such low rank.


Then again, plenty of people (Illegally) bring knives into my school and I've never seen them used, so maybe even now I'm too much of a statist.

No, you're simply falling for the endless torrent of propagandist lies with which you are daily bombarded. Be aware and be smarter. That's what brains are for and at least you are using yours for more than just a hat rack, which is more than can be said for many other people, so consider yourself ahead of the game. Just keep going and don't stop now. :)

How about not trusting the people who produce and push the drugs that appear to be an almost universally common element in mass shootings? Is it not interesting that nobody from the MSM to my knowledge is calling for these hugely dangerous psychotropic chemicals to be banned? I can only wonder why that might be as I watch the Astra Zeneca ad splashing across the screen on CNN ad space. Such a mystery for the ages. Can anyone help me out here?

[tod evans]

I can only wonder why that might be as I watch the Astra Zeneca ad splashing across the screen on CNN ad space. Such a mystery for the ages. Can anyone help me out here?

:rolleyes:

[unknown]

North Carolina?

Shocked to see that it wasnt NJ or NY.

[RCA]

I'll bet this incident has changed more than a few minds in that neighborhood about unnecessary laws...

It's a necessary evil. These types of unfortunate events are REQUIRED to happen for this country to eventually reach critical mass. Without these types of events nothing would ever change. Each time something like this happens, I tell myself "now x number of more people have been awakened". Just look at the series of unfortunate events that led up to the American Revolution. It didn't just happen overnight.

[jmdrake]

Bump! We need to keep up the pressure on this.

[affa]

He learned the most important lesson that government schools teach.

damn it, anti, 'you must spread some reputation around..." every damn time. when the hell is this site going to let me give you rep again?

[jmdrake]

North Carolina?

Shocked to see that it wasnt NJ or NY.

That's just it. This culture of "gun hate" is being pushed out to the rural areas as well. Good to see this young man's community standing up for him though. If the school board doesn't back down, they just might find themselves replaced.