AMHERST, Mass. - Two eighth-graders who spent months working on a science project to prove how dangerous BB guns can be were disqualified from the state middle school science fair. The reason for the dismissal: BB guns are too dangerous.

Nathan C. Woodard and Nathaniel A. Gorlin-Crenshaw spent seven months researching and testing their hypothesis that BB guns can be deadly and should not be used by children.

The students spent about $200 on ballistics gelatin, which has the same density and consistency as human flesh, to use during their tests.

‘We had a good point to prove’
Nancy G. Degon, vice president of Massachusetts State Science Fair Inc. and co-chair of the middle-school fair, said fair rules prohibit hazardous substances and devices.

“The scientific review committee does not consider science projects involving firearms to be safe for middle school students,” Degon said.

The boys were invited to present their findings to some judges and receive a certificate of accomplishment, but they rejected the offer because they were not allowed to compete.

“I was really disappointed,” Woodard said. “We had a good point to prove.”

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Its too bad the kids did all that work and spent their parents money for the project but firearms, even BB-guns, have no place in school activities. The liability is just too high. I is a shame though.

I think they should have been allowed to compete under stricter supervision and special safety guidelines that the comittee could have drafted up for them. Why offer to allow them to present and demonstrate for a certificate but not allow the same presentation for the competition? Wouldnt the safety issues remain the same? Seems like an illogical, half baked, and backwards rationale from the comittee.

Who doesn't know they can be dangerous? That's just kinda wierd... of course they can be! duh. I don't get what the kids were trying to "prove"... or why... it's kinda a no-brainer...

What would have been better is to instruct on the safety and proper usage, now that's something not everyone knows but should...

This proves how stupid associations can result in teenager safety…I know they’re trying to protect kids from dangerous situations, but it seems they over do at times. Wow I can’t believe they purchased Ballistics gel, that’s some high quality stuff!

The fact that parents in this age shelter thier kids like this is complete nonsense... more like %&&%ing Bull #$#@

And I'll keep it at that to keep the mods happy.

Or perhaps they could have video taped their project and presented their findings that way.

That's a shame. They were trying to prove something to help benefit others, but they get punished for it.

I'm a little surprised that this happened, to tell the truth. Did the children intend to have live demostrations? That would certainly account for the ban. However, having spent all that time and effort, I find it difficult to believe they did not have a significant visual display, and cannot think why any school would ban that, particularly when it is supporting a position they have.

Methinks there is something more to this story than what we have read.

But doesn't that reason mean they proved here experiment and should pass?

Well in ANY school across America, they do not allow guns in school. Here in Wisconsin, you can't even have them in your car/truck so during hunting season the streets across the school are completely full from the hunters.

I still think this is ridiculous!!!

i feel bad that they werew disqualified but they probably would not have won anyways because everybody knows that BB gubs are dangerous.