5027-7275 - Weapons and Explosives ## Weapons And Explosives Prohibited

The Avery County Board of Education is committed to providing a safe school environment and, to the maximum extent possible, one that is free from violence. Employees, visitors and other persons are prohibited from possessing, carrying, using or threatening to use, or encouraging another person to possess, carry, use or threaten to use, weapons or explosives on school property or while attending curricular or extracurricular activities sponsored by the school. This policy applies to weapons or explosives carried openly or concealed.

Any employee who violates this policy shall be subject to immediate termination. Any visitor or other person who violates this policy will be escorted from the premises and/or school activity immediately. The superintendent or principal shall immediately report any violations of this policy to law enforcement officials. Any employee who is aware that a weapon or explosive is present on school property or at a school event in violation of this policy must immediately report this information to the principal or designee or the school resource officer as appropriate.

Students who violate this policy are subject to discipline as provided in policy 4333, Weapons, Bomb Threats, Terrorist Threats, and Clear Threats to Safety.

A. Weapons And Explosives Defined

For purposes of this policy, a weapon includes, but is not limited to, any gun, rifle, pistol or other firearm of any kind; or any BB gun, stun gun, air rifle, air pistol, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slingshot, leaded cane, switchblade knife, blackjack, metallic knuckles, razors and razor blades (except solely for personal shaving), fireworks or any sharp pointed or edged instrument except instructional supplies, unaltered nail files and clips and tools used solely for preparation of food, instruction and/or maintenance on educational property. For purposes of this policy, an explosive includes, but is not limited to, any dynamite cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine or powerful explosive as defined in G.S. 14-284.1.

B. School Property

For purposes of this policy, school property is any school building or bus, school campus, ground, recreational area, athletic field, or other property owned, used or operated by the Board of Education.

C. Exclusions

This policy shall not apply to:

  1. a weapon or explosion used solely for educational or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes, or used in a school-approved program conducted under the supervision of an adult whose supervision has been approved by the school authority; or

  2. a handgun in a closed compartment or container within the person’s locked vehicle or in a locked container securely affixed to the person’s vehicle if the person has a concealed handgun permit valid under state law or is exempted by state law from needing a permit to carry a concealed handgun (the person may unlock the vehicle to enter or exit the vehicle provided the handgun remains in the closed compartment at all times and the vehicle is locked immediately following the entrance or exit);

  3. firefighters, emergency service personnel, North Carolina Forest Service personnel, and any private policy employed by the school board, when acting in the discharge of their official duties;

  4. law enforcement officers or other persons as provided in G.S. 14- 269.2(g)(1a); or

  5. a volunteer school safety resource officer providing security at a school pursuant to an agreement as provided in G.S. 115C-47(61), provided that the volunteer school safety resource officer is acting in the discharge of his or her official duties and is on the educational property of the school that the officer was assigned to by the head of the local law enforcement agency.

Legal References: G.S. 14-69.2, -269.2, -284.1; 20-17; 115C-47(61), -288g

Cross References: Weapons, Bomb Threats, Terrorist Threats, and Clear Threats to Safety (policy 4333)

Adopted: 2000-09-11

Revised: 2008-10-06 2013-12-10