Texas school district threatens to suspend students who take part in gun control walkouts

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Passionate pleas for tougher gun laws in Florida Several thousand people rallied outside the Florida Capitol building giving passionate pleas to legislators to pass tougher gun laws and pledging to vote out officials supported by the NRA. (Feb. 21)

Students across the country are joining the survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in demanding that lawmakers take action to prevent mass shootings, but one Texas school district is warning students that participating in protests will result in suspension.

Curtis Rhodes, the superintendent for the Needville Independent School District, said he was aware "there is a 'movement' attempting to stage walkouts/disruptions of the school" and he threatened that students who participate in "any type of protest or awareness" will be suspended for three days.

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"Life is all about choices and every choice has a consequence whether it be positive or negative. We will discipline no matter if it is one, fifty, or five hundred students involved," Rhodes said in a statement.

"A school is a place to learn and grow educationally, emotionally and morally. A disruption of the school will not be tolerated," Rhodes added. "Respect yourself, your fellow students and the Needville Independent School District and please understand that we are here for an education and not a political protest."

The position of the Needville school district, about 40 miles southwest of Houston, contrasts with other schools that have encouraged studwalkouton.

For example, Jacquelin Collins, superintendent of Florida's Cape Coral charter school system said, "I support it 100%” after 200 students at Oasis High School walked out demanding greater security.

“I’m glad they had the gumption to get up and speak, and I’m very proud of them," Collins said.

There are three national protests planned in the coming months to demand gun control legislation. The organizers of the Women's March on Washington have called for a nationwide school walkout on March 14 and a march in Washington is planned for March 24.

Another nationwide walk out is planned for April 20, the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.

More: Gun control demonstrations planned around the U.S. after Florida school shooting