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Dad appeals suspension of boy, 7, who nibbled pastry into shape of a gun

The appeal says that the second-grader’s offense March 1 was a “Level 3 violation” and that the school said the boy was seeking “peer attention” and “power control.” But Ficker argues in the appeal it was the “worst possible interpretation. . . . He was simply playing, as all kids his age do.”

Welch said in an interview that he remains hopeful about getting his son’s record cleared. “I don’t think he’ll be making any more food weapons,” Welch said.

Last week, a Maryland lawmaker introduced a bill that would forbid suspensions of young children for imaginary guns, pictures of guns or objects that resemble a gun but serve another purpose.