A 16 year-old Columbia Falls (Montana) high school student was honest when she heard that a contraband dog would be roaming the school parking lot.

The student, Demarie DeReu, remembered that she had left her hunting rifle in the trunk of her car after a Thanksgiving weekend hunting trip. She told school officials about the rifle.

The trunk was locked. The rifle was inside a locked case. It was not loaded.

Ms. DeReu is an honor student. She serves on the student council. She is a varsity cheerleader.

This is Montana where hunting and owning a few guns are the norm.

On Monday, school officials will make a decision about the punishment for DeReu. The federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 2004 mandates a one-year expulsion for any student who brings a gun onto school property. Thankfully, Montana law allows for some cooler heads to prevail.

Some reports say she faces a 21 day suspension. That’s too much. Whether it’s a year or 21 days, that is just too severe and could irreparably harm her future – including college. Teachers, administrators, and school board members are all about preparing students for the future and this is a case where they can make a big difference.

DeReu’s honesty and her record of achievement should count for something here. Since she was already suspended, her punishment should be the days that she has already been suspended. That should be it. Have DeReu visit a few classes and talk to younger students about her mistake, her being honest in owning up to the mistake, and let her move on to what appears to be a very bright future.