Tennessee’s zero tolerance law questioned after lawsuit filed by Williamson County parents

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Just over year after Tennessee passed a zero tolerance law against schools threats, it’s facing its second known legal challenge.

The parents of a Williamson County student filed a lawsuit after their son was expelled for allegedly making a Hitler reference and mentioning North Korea.

“He was humiliated before his peers, deprived of access to his classes and had his academic standing forever tarnished over the defendants’ misapplication of Tennessee code,” The lawsuit said.

The law classifies threats of mass violence as any act that could lead to serious bodily injury along with direct or indirect communication.

It does not clearly define the words “threat” or “threaten,” according to the lawsuit.

Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, sponsored the legislation.

“I think the intent of the law is to send the message that, among bringing drugs and guns to school, it has zero tolerance,” he said. “If you made a threat of mass violence that will be treated very seriously.

The law grants school districts the right to assess the level of any threat before implementing disciplinary actions.

Its authority is being questioned by the parents since they claim no evidence was given to support the allegations nor was anyone hurt.

As the case soon makes its way through the court system, Cepicky says the law is here to stay.

“I think the way that the law is written is very sound, i think it will hold up in court, we will send the message that do not make these kinds of threats,” he said.

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