My dad was on the rifle team in high school, carried a rifle to school and stored it in his locker during the day. Now you can get expelled for making a gun shape with your finger and thumb. I don't have any helpful conclusions to offer, I just find the situation puzzling.

In rural communities, people were still bringing their hunting rifles to school (leaving them in their truck on the rack in the back window) up until and for some time after Columbine.

I even remember kids accidentally bringing their rifle maybe as late as 2001 or 2002. They were just asked to go home and drop it of, if anyone noticed.

I would wager that at those same schools today, a gun drawing or finger gesture of a gun would not get you expelled.

The symptom is obvious: ivory tower professionals professing knowledge.