Patrick Timoney is 9 years old. Wednesday was his first day back at
school, PS 52 on Staten Island, after the principal saw him Tuesday
during lunch playing with some Lego figures and a toy gun, a very little
toy gun. The parents were called to school. Patrick was crying.
“We didn’t know we had a problem until the principal called at around
noon to let me know that Patrick had brought something to school. His
Legos and apparently a tiny toy gun,” mother Laura Timoney said.
“We just had them out because me and my friends like to bring Legos
to school and show each other. Then the principal found them and she
saw the toy gun, which is a few inches long,” Patrick said.
In an email, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said:
“The principal reported that the student brought in a 2-inch toy gun,
which is not permitted in the school. She called the parents and held a
conference with the parent and the student. The issue has been
resolved. The child will not be bringing the toy gun into school.”
Patrick’s father knows about guns. He is a retired police officer
with 20 years on the job.
“Again, these rules are in place for a reason and we support that 100
percent,” Pat Timoney said. “It’s a two-inch gun, all right? I mean
you have to squint to even see if it looks like a weapon. She went a
little overboard with this.”
The Timoneys hope that now that they have made a point, that things
can get back to normal for their boy at PS 52.
The parents are also upset that the principal made their son write a
statement, without them being present.