Mass. students holding replica guns suspended after Facebook post

Two high school students in Middleborough, Massachusetts, have been suspended from Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School in Taunton after posting a picture on Facebook. It shows the two holding Airsoft guns and dressed for the school’s homecoming dance which was held last Friday.

Airsoft guns are replicas, which can fire plastic pellets, and are intended to be non-lethal.

Tito Velez, 16, said it was his idea, "We wanted something unique and different instead of using flowers like everyone else. We were like, 'let’s use something we like to do on the weekend as a prop.'"

School officials said students were talking about the photo in school on Monday and it caused a “disruption,” which according to the superintendent is why they were suspended.

"It has nothing to do with free speech. Their behavior caused a significant disruption in the school," said Superintendent Richard Gross.

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