School shootings: a recurring American crisis

The U.S. has experienced hundreds of school gun incidents in recent years. A few key indicators:

• 2023–2024 school year: 344 incidents of gunfire on school grounds; 188 people shot; 57 killed. Everytown Research
• 2025 (year-to-date): Education Week tracks school shootings with injuries or deaths. Education Week Tracker
• Long-term view: The K-12 School Shooting Database documents thousands of incidents since 1970, with sharp increases in recent years. K-12 School Shooting Database

These data points underscore a painful truth: school gun incidents are part of the modern landscape—another reason communities must encourage life-saving intervention rather than punish it.

Why this expulsion gets the law—and common sense—wrong

Michigan lawmakers rolled back blanket zero-tolerance discipline in 2017. Under MCL §380.1311, a board is not required to expel a student for weapon possession if mitigating factors are present (intent, self-defense, disability, prior record, etc.). In other words, the law gives discretion for context.

Disarming a peer to prevent harm is not the same as malicious possession. Treating Sakir’s protective action as a simple code violation undermines the very discretion the law provides—and contradicts basic common sense.

Culture & narrative: reward protection, don’t reinforce stereotypes

For Black families, this hits a nerve. Too often, when a Black child shows initiative and courage, systems default to punishment. If a kid prevents bloodshed, the lesson cannot be “sit on your hands and wait.” A willing hero who steps up to keep classmates alive should be championed, not cast out.

When we punish courage, we don’t reduce violence—we silence the very instincts that keep communities safe.

What a just response should look like

1. Immediate reinstatement: Restore Sakir’s seat and offer counseling/support after a traumatic event.
2. Policy clarity: Carve out language distinguishing protective disarmament from malicious possession—aligned with Michigan’s discretion framework.
3. Education over expulsion: Use the event as a teaching moment for age-appropriate safety, de-escalation, and reporting pathways.
4. Public commendation: Recognize calm, responsible action under pressure. That’s the behavior we need more of.

Reporting & data sources

• WILX News 10 (Lansing): Student expelled after disarming classmate
• People Magazine: Michigan 7th-grader expelled after disarming classmate
• BET: Michigan boy expelled after disarming classmate
• Everytown Research: Gunfire on School Grounds (interactive map & counts)
• Education Week: School Shootings Tracker (2025)
• K–12 School Shooting Database
• Michigan Legislature: MCL §380.1311

School shootings: a recurring American crisis

The U.S. has experienced hundreds of school gun incidents in recent years. A few key indicators:

• 2023–2024 school year: 344 incidents of gunfire on school grounds; 188 people shot; 57 killed. Everytown Research
• 2025 (year-to-date): Education Week tracks school shootings with injuries or deaths. Education Week Tracker
• Long-term view: The K-12 School Shooting Database documents thousands of incidents since 1970, with sharp increases in recent years. K-12 School Shooting Database

These data points underscore a painful truth: school gun incidents are part of the modern landscape—another reason communities must encourage life-saving intervention rather than punish it.

Why this expulsion gets the law—and common sense—wrong

Michigan lawmakers rolled back blanket zero-tolerance discipline in 2017. Under MCL §380.1311, a board is not required to expel a student for weapon possession if mitigating factors are present (intent, self-defense, disability, prior record, etc.). In other words, the law gives discretion for context.

Disarming a peer to prevent harm is not the same as malicious possession. Treating Sakir’s protective action as a simple code violation undermines the very discretion the law provides—and contradicts basic common sense.

Culture & narrative: reward protection, don’t reinforce stereotypes

For Black families, this hits a nerve. Too often, when a Black child shows initiative and courage, systems default to punishment. If a kid prevents bloodshed, the lesson cannot be “sit on your hands and wait.” A willing hero who steps up to keep classmates alive should be championed, not cast out.

When we punish courage, we don’t reduce violence—we silence the very instincts that keep communities safe.

What a just response should look like

1. Immediate reinstatement: Restore Sakir’s seat and offer counseling/support after a traumatic event.
2. Policy clarity: Carve out language distinguishing protective disarmament from malicious possession—aligned with Michigan’s discretion framework.
3. Education