A Wisconsin teenager is suing his high school’s principal in a case that centers on imprinted T-shirts that promote firearms and arguments around First and Second Amendment rights.

Source: Matthew Schoenecker

A lawsuit filed in federal court in Wisconsin argues that John Koopman, principal of Markesan High School, violated Matthew Schoenecker’s First Amendment rights to freedom of expression by prohibiting the freshman student from wearing T-shirts with printed depictions of firearms at school.

Two shirts that Schoenecker – a sport target shooting enthusiast and ardent Second Amendment supporter -- has worn to Markesan High are the fuel for the controversy. One shirt reads “Celebrate Diversity” on the front and features graphics of a variety of firearms. The other reads “Love,” with the letters stylized as firearms and other weapons. The “L” is a handgun, the “O” a grenade, the “V” two knives, and the “E” a rifle.

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In the suit filed Tuesday, Schoenecker’s lawyer John R. Monroe argues that the representations of firearms/weapons are non-threatening and non-violent. “There's nothing in there saying he's promoting violence whatsoever, which is what the principal said was the issue, that he was promoting violence at school," Matthew's mother, Pam Schoenecker, told WISN.

Restricting depictions of all firearms on clothing, even when such graphics are displayed non-violently without threat, is overly broad and unconstitutional, Monroe asserts. Furthermore, Koopman’s discretionary authority to decide subjectively on a case-by-case basis what clothing is “inappropriate” is unconstitutionally vague and violates Schoenecker’s rights to due process, the lawsuit argues.

According to court documents, Schoenecker has never made violent comments or engaged in threatening actions at Markesan High School. The suit further states that Schoenecker has been chastised by teachers for wearing the shirts and sent to Koopman for discipline.

On March 20, Koopman met with Schoenecker and his parents, informing them that the student could not wear shirts showing firearms. Then, on April 6, Schoenecker wore the “LOVE” shirt. Teachers required the student to wear a sweater over the shirt, but when he refused one teacher’s request, he was sent to Koopman. After Schoenecker refused to cover up the shirt or turn it inside out, Koopman had him placed in the “Cubicle,” a small office space segregated from other students where no instruction occurs, court papers state.

A hearing date for the case has not been scheduled. Wisconsin Carry, a nonprofit pro Second Amendment group, is reportedly funding the federal suit against Koopman.

From a promo industry perspective, the case is another headline-grabbing example of the prominent role imprinted T-shirts play in society. So much more than just practical articles of clothing, they’re vehicles for expression that exert far-reaching power, doing everything from helping to bring people together during tragedy to promoting passionately held views on the nation’s biggest hot-button issues.

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