5049 Firearms and Weapons

Firearms. No person may bring, possess, handle or transmit a firearm on school grounds, in a school owned vehicle, or at a school activity or event off school grounds, except as permitted by this policy. Definition of Firearm. The term “firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921, means any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any firearm muffler or firearm silencer, or any destructive device (excluding an antique firearm).

Weapons. No student may possess, handle, or transmit any weapon while on school grounds or at any school activity or event off school grounds except as permitted by this policy. No visitor under the age of 18 may possess, handle, or transmit any weapon while on school grounds or at any school activity or event off school grounds except as permitted by this policy. Definition of Weapon. The term “weapon” means any object, device, instrument, material, or substance which is capable of causing injury in the manner it is used or intended to be used.

Exceptions Regarding Firearms. This prohibition does not apply to:

1. The issuance of firearms to or possession by members of the armed forces of the United States, active or reserve, National Guard of this State, or Reserve Officers Training Corps or peace officers or other duly authorized law enforcement officers when on duty or training; or

   1. Firearms that may lawfully be possessed by a person who is receiving instruction at the school under the immediate supervision of an adult instructor; or

   2. Firearms contained within a private vehicle operated by a nonstudent adult that are not loaded and are encased or are in a locked firearm rack that is on a motor vehicle. Definition of Encased. The term “encased” means enclosed in a case that is expressly made for the purpose of containing a firearm and that is completely zipped, snapped, buckled, tied, or otherwise fastened with no part of the firearm exposed.

Exceptions for Students. The only exceptions for a student to bring or possess a weapon, including a firearm, are as follows:

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1. The firearm or weapon has been brought to school grounds or to an activity or event off school grounds for some educational purpose; and

   1. The person bringing the firearm or weapon has requested and received the prior approval of both the instructor and the building principal to do so;

   2. All arrangements to use and store the firearm or weapon safely while it is on school premises have been agreed to and carried out.

Consequences. Federal law requires that any student who brings a firearm, as that term is defined in 18 United States Code 921, to school be expelled from school for one calendar year. State law and this policy provide that any student who violates this policy by knowingly bringing, possessing, handling or transmitting a firearm or weapon on school grounds, in a school owned vehicle, or at a school activity or event off school grounds may be expelled for two semesters, suspended on a long-term basis or mandatorily reassigned. The superintendent of school shall have the authority to modify the expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Confiscation of Firearms. Administrative and teaching personnel are statutorily authorized, without a warrant, to confiscate any firearm possessed in violation of this policy. By statute, any firearm that is confiscated by school personnel shall be delivered to a peace officer as soon as practicable. Such firearms are subject to being destroyed by law enforcement authorities.

Report to Law Enforcement Authorities. All school personnel are required to report any violation of this policy to a principal or the superintendent of schools. Pursuant to state and federal law, school personnel are required to report to law enforcement authorities when a student brings a firearm or weapon to school.

Adopted on: ____6/1/2007 Revised on: ____6/6/2012_____ Reviewed on: ____6/6/2012____