Under "zero tolerance strict enforcement of current laws" this kid should have been arrested and charged with a conspiracy of minor to illegally possess a firearm, conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit terroristic threats.

Quick-thinking student being hailed as a hero

                      By Stephen A. Crockett Jr.
                      SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS


                      SAN JOSE -- While riding a scooter in his South San Jose neighborhood last month, Alberto Valenzuela, 10,
                      noticed a shiny object lying in the grass. After a closer look, he realized it was a gun.

                      Concerned for the safety of children playing nearby, he stood guard. With both arms outstretched like a crossing
                      guard, Alberto kept the children away from the weapon until he was able to catch the attention of a police officer on
                      the corner.

                      Later he learned that the gun had been thrown out a car window by a hit-and-run suspect. It was loaded.

                      "My dad taught me never to touch guns. So when I saw it, I said in my mind that I am not going to touch this,"
                      Alberto said Thursday after receiving a Citizens' Award for Outstanding Service from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's
                      Department at a ceremony at Christopher Elementary School.

                      The shy fourth-grader did not say a word as he received a plaque from Capt. Jerry Hall during an assembly for
                      students who made the honor roll or had perfect attendance. As he was being praised by Hall for his quick thinking
                      and decision making, Alberto couldn't keep his hands out of his pockets or his eyes off the tops of his new Helley
                      shoes.

                      The sheriff's office presents five or six such citizen awards every year, and Hall said Alberto is one of the youngest
                      to receive the commendation.

                      Principal Andy Garcia, who stood beaming as Alberto was handed the plaque, would like to think that a new school
                      program called PeaceBuilder, launched last year, helped prompt Alberto's thoughtfulness and quick thinking.

                      The program works to help students reduce violence at school and at home, and teaches them to behave in more
                      peaceful ways.

                      Christopher Elementary is the only school in the Oak Grove School District that participates in the program. "We
                      are an encouraging school," said Garcia. "Instead of putting down students, we put down put-downs."

(continued)

                      Some of Alberto's buddies heeded that philosophy. Instead of teasing him as he nervously waited to go on stage,
                      they encouraged him with pats on the back.

                      Later, Bobby Trejo, also 10, commented, "It is cool hanging out with someone famous." Bobby was referring not just
                      to Alberto's time onstage, but the presence of the Mercury News, Channel 5 and Telemundo.

                      In the media spotlight, Alberto acknowledged that what he did was "cool." But he spent more time talking about his
                      mastery of his cool new shoes, which have a detachable wheel in the heels. When he runs and then leans back on
                      his heels, he said, he can skate almost two sidewalk squares.

                      Lynn Gordon, resource specialist at the school, said she was delighted by the impact Alberto's action is having on
                      his classmates. Talking about the standing ovation during the ceremony, she said, "It didn't come from the
                      academic awards. It came when one of their own had done something right and heroic that helped the community."

                      After the ceremony and interviews were over, Alberto's teacher Heather Newton asked him, "Ready to go back to
                      class, hero?"

                      Alberto took off running.

Notice the school taking credit for his actions while he said that his dad taught him not to touch and get a police officer.  Dad did good, and I bet Dad owns guns.  This kid was taught correctly AT HOME, not at school.  More parents should teach their kids this type of thing.

Like Larry G said, the kid probably grew up around guns, which is why I'm hoping though the article doesn't mention it, that the police at least shook him down and made sure his papers were in order. Officers should reprimanded and  held somewhat accountable at least if a suspected gun-owner is seen within a few feet of a gun and they don't at stop him and ask to zee hiss paperss.

Where can I get some of those shoes?

Exactly what I was thinking..

I taught my kids to find guns that Crack Heads and Crack Ho's throw out their car windows.  The are to stand guard over the weapons and call me so that we may promptly dispose of said weapons.

Yeah.

I learned that at  [url]McUZI.com[/url].

They had a story on the local news here about police officers in the schools teaching gun safety, and having parental involvement, being effective in signifiganlty reducing gun related accident with kids.

Alberto did good.
His Dad did good.
The school did good.

There's something a little creepy about this school.

So basically the young man did the Eddie Eagle thing (didn't HCI say Eddie Eagle was a Joe Camel for guns?).  That's good, and safer than anything else if you're not an experienced shooter.  Eddie Eagle doesn't get taught in many urban PRK schools, though.

It's hard to put my finger on it, but it seemed like all the school people were talking in terms of what a threat that evil gun was.  The unspoken suggestion was that a disaster was imminent, and as Imbro suggested, that a mass shooting was narrowly avoided.

Larry G was right - this somehow got converted into a school event, along with a plug for some sociologist's "PeaceBuilder" program.  

Notice that the gun was not found on or near school grounds, or else they would have made a BIG deal out of that.

I gotta wonder if the "PeaceBuilder" program includes questionnaires asking if your home has any firearms in it.

Still, it was not as much a freak-out as it could have been.

There was a story a few weeks ago about an older boy who found a gun on the way to school and was suspended because he picked it up, and therefore was in possession of a firearm while on the way to school.  This was his reward for reporting it and telling the truth when he was asked a few questions.

[red]PRK

Originally posted by NO-AR



Alberto and his dad did good.  The school didn't do squat.  Their program did not even mention guns.  This is what Alberto said:



He said absolutely nothing about the school.  This is liberal socialists trying to take credit for something that was taught at home.

This is what the principal said:



HELL YES, he would like to think that, but he is WRONG!  Give the school ZERO credit!

Alberto Valenzuela probably runs a greater risk of being killed by his shoes than with a gun.

If that had been me at that age I would have unloaded the gun, made sure nobody saw me pick it up, stuck it in my pocket or somehow conceal it and would have made a mad dash home to see if my mom would let me keep it.I know that I would have much rather had a new gun than a pair of shoes with wheels on them.

Though thats definately not what Im going to teach my kids. I think the kid did a good job and his parents should be very proud.

Michael

Pardon my cynicism (Thank you Imbrog|io), but this is yet another incident where the groupthink liberals (media and school) try to co-opt something good result with a gun.

Ponyboy, unfortunately too few 10 year-olds have the training and presence of mind that you did at that age, but hell yes you had your priorities straight.

Now at least I know to watch out for not just the skateboarders and in-line skaters, but also some 10 year old zooming down the hill on his heels.

Really, the NRA ought to give the young man a free training course, like safety & marksmanship, and picking up any travel expenses.



[red][size=4]PRK