A Maryland mother said she feels violated after police searched her home because a teacher filed a complaint about her 11-year-old son's BB gun display. The boy, who is a fifth-grader at Seneca Elementary School, loves the outdoors and has been learning how to shoot BB guns, Airsoft guns, and a bow and arrow.
He keeps the weapons in his room, hanging on the wall. During a recent virtual classroom on Google Meet, the boy's teacher saw the guns and took a screenshot. The school's safety officer saw the screenshot and called the police.
When a police cruiser showed up, Courtney Lancaster was surprised to see officers at her door.
"I had no idea what to think. I've never been in any legal trouble whatsoever. I've never had any negative encounter with law enforcement," she told WBFF. "I had no idea. I really didn't know what to think."
Lancaster let the officer in and allowed him to search her home, but was not happy when the officer went into her son's bedroom.
"I felt violated as a parent, for my child, who's standing there with police officers in his room, just to see the fear on his face," she said.
Lancaster never thought the issue would have been about her son's BB guns.
"I thought this is outrageous. This is despicable," she said. "I had no idea what in the world could this be over? BB guns never even once entered my mind. How many 11-year-old boys have BB guns?"
The officer left about 20 minutes later and determined that the family was not violating any laws.
Lancaster is demanding answers from the school district and asked to see the screenshot. The school refused to turn it over, claiming it was not part of his student record.
"It's absolutely scary to think about," she said. "Who are on these calls? Who do we have viewing your children and subsequently taking these screenshots that can be sent anywhere or used for any purpose?"
The school's principal told Lancaster that having a gun on display in a virtual classroom is the same as bringing one into a real classroom. She wants the school district to provide clarity about the policy and let parents know if they need to be worried about what is in the background while their children are learning.
"So, what are the parameters? Where are the lines drawn? If my son is sitting at the kitchen island next to a butcher block, does that constitute a weapon? It's not allowed at school, right? So, would my home then be searched because he's sitting next to a butcher block," Courtney said. "I feel like parents need to be made aware of what the implications are, what the expectations are."
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