Optimus Prime saw a tweet from Thumpy's 3-D House of Airsoft and told me, nay ordered me, to check it out. And I'll have to say that Thumpy's scoop is much interesting to read and shows paranoia happening in the U.S. school system given the rash of gun violence that have taken place in schools and a toll mainly on innocent American students.

In Clash Daily, Doug Giles writes and podcasts about his guest whilst hosting on The John Matera Show on WABC. His guest was Joseph Phillips from The Cosby Show who told him the story of his son's camera, who is an honor student at his school, who had his camera seized by an overzealous teacher because it shows an airsoft gun.

(Above photo: Invisible Disabilities Association Founder with Joseph Philips)

As much as we understand that schools need to be vigilant and look for signs in their students and staff of problems that may lead to violent incidents in school, such as revenge against bullies or mental issues, being alarmist about seeing a gun in a camera, and in this case an airsoft gun, should give the teacher a pause before seizing the camera. Since the son of Joseph Phillips is an active airsoft player, the teacher should have asked what airsoft is all about. Many children his age are playing airsoft in airsoft fields all over the United States, and it's a matter of looking up the internet what this is all about and you'll find students decked in gear and airsoft guns posing for the camera. Even I myself have a photos of my custom airsoft guns in my phone ready to show off when asked. Pretty much sure that the kid also has photos of himself in airsoft gear and shooting it out as many in the airsoft community are camera huggers as we fantasize to be in a tactical scenes.

Heck! Schools are now holding exercises with the local police on responding to gun violence with airsoft guns as training weapons.

Is Joseph Phillips right to be livid about the incident? He is. He has a son who is doing well in school and is also a normal child who just happens to take a liking to airsoft and he is not an exception with a lot of children playing airsoft too. He also plays a very safe sport which uses replica firearms that shoot plastic BBs and also teaches safety, sportsmanship, and most importantly, honor. If the teacher and school will stand their ground and be adamant that they're right, then I guess, Mr. Phillips will let the courts decide.

Read the full story and also the letter to school at Clash Daily.