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The makers intent of Zero Tolerance is not completely known, as the application of it at local levels did was enacted with local school district discretion. With wording that provided for some discretion, violence consequences meted out were often extreme. The words Zero tolerance did not appear in the "Federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994". States were required to comply with the act in order to retain federal funds. Schools complied by removing any student who brings a firearm to school. School districts went well beyond the requirement of “immediate removal of students who bring a firearm to school (or other location controlled by a school) (Dunn, 2002; U.S. Department of Education). Mandatory one year suspensions occurred that were not part of the intent to keep schools safe. Students were being expelled for having nail files, key ring fobs, or other innocent items. Minneapolis schools have suspended more than 500 kindergartners over the past two school years for fighting, indecent exposure and "persistent lack of co-operation," among other offenses. Statewide, Minnesota schools have suspended nearly 4,000 kindergartners, first- and second- graders, most for fighting, disorderly conduct and the like (Toppo,2003). Wh