not trying to start a rant here but here are some thoughts on the matter. As a conservative with a strong libiteraian slant I tend feel that there was no real harm in cakes or cupacakes with gun decorations or army men on it. However, one has to admit the timing on the choice to do so is poor at best on the part of the parents.

1. Yes the administration of school is over-reacting but in this law suit happy world of ours it is CYA or else these days. So I doubt the school's intent was malicious towards the student. From what I understand no disciplinary action was imposed on the kid by the school. Some large city schools are expelling students for much less.

2. What were the parent's thinking? It would be wise to err on the side of caution not to place army men on shared treats within months of the last mass-shooting. It's not the kids fault but the parents should exercise a little more intelligent discretion and wait for the freshness of this situation to ease with time. It is true, that in a free country we shouldn't be limited in how we express ourselves and plastic army men are certainly not in anyway dangerous (unless eaten with the cupcakes). However, it is awfully close to a national tragedy to be "making statements about not making statements".

3. When I was growing up in Michigan, and I actually lived in Caro as an adult so I know the community, bringing toys to school was generally not acceptable when I was in school even if they were cupcake decorations. 

While the gesture of sending army men is a clever one and speaks a valid point allow me to offer this. It is a very small rural farming town with a population of about 5000 people. It is a little tight knit community where people still know who you are when pass them in the local grocery store. While a gesture like this speaks volumes the point would only cause grief and unnecessary attention to a child who should be more concerned with learning when in school than making politcal statements. If you want to send army men send them to the kid not the school. In a town of 5000 I don't think he wants to be the center of national attention or scrutiny.