Recent Sixth Circuit decisions and new Tennessee laws clarify when schools may search or detain students after reported gun threats. This article explains how courts now define student “seizures,” what standards apply to school searches, and the additional safeguards required under Tennessee law—offering practical guidance for parents and educators navigating high-stakes discipline decisions.

C1.G and several friends were at a thrift store on Friday 13th, 2019. They placed wigs and hats on, one of which resembled a foreign WWII military hat. C.G. posted the picture to Snapchat stating “Me and the boy’s bout to exterminate the Jews”. While C.G. removed the post an hour later and posted an apology the next day, a parent had taken a screenshot and reported it to the school.

The Landmark Tinker case has guided whether a school can punish a student for speech, but that soon may change. Over the past decade, the use of social media has exploded and students are often choosing social media as their mode of expression. When posts are reported, school officials struggle to enforce rules while not limiting the 1st Amendment rights of students.