Colchester, Connecticut

Copy of 1700 Posession of Deadly Weapons or Firearms

Board of Education Regular Meeting 6:00 PM

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Book                         Policy Manual

Section                      0000/1000 - Community/Board Operations

Title                        Position of Deadly Weapons or Firearms

Code                         1700

Status                       Active

Adopted                      December 13, 2016

Last Revised                 September 14, 2021




                            POSSESSION OF DEADLY WEAPONS OR FIREARMS POLICY


Notwithstanding the otherwise lawful possession of firearms defined in section 53a‑3 in or on the real property
comprising school district property by persons who hold a valid state or local permit to carry a firearm and would
otherwise legally traverse school property with an unloaded firearm for the purpose of gaining access to public or
private lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, such entry onto school property by these persons for
these purposes is prohibited by the Board of Education.

The issuance of a permit to carry a pistol or revolver does not authorize the possession or carrying of a pistol or
revolver on school district property. The Board of Education prohibits such possession on school district property.

        I. Definitions:

              A. Deadly Weapon means "any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be
                 discharged, or a switchblade knife, gravity knife, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, or metal knuckles."
                 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-3 (6).

              B. Firearm means "any sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, or other
                 weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged." Conn. Gen. Stat. §
                 53a-3 (19).

             C. Peace Officer means “a member of the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency
                Services and Public Protection or an organized local police department, a chief inspector or inspector
                in the Division of Criminal Justice, a state marshal while exercising authority granted under any
                provision of the general statutes, a judicial marshal in the performance of the duties of a judicial
                marshal, a conservation officer or special conservation officer, as defined in section 26-5, a
                constable who performs criminal law enforcement duties, a special policeman appointed under
                section 29-18, 29-18a or 29-19, an adult probation officer, an official of the Department of
                Correction authorized by the Commissioner of Correction to make arrests in a correctional institution
                or facility, any investigator in the investigations unit of the office of the State Treasurer, any special
                agent of the federal government authorized to enforce the provisions of Title 21 of the United States
                Code, or a member of a law enforcement unit of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe or the Mohegan
                Tribe of Indians of Connecticut created and governed by a memorandum of agreement under 47-
                65c who is certified as a police officer by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council pursuant
                to sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive.” Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-3 (9).

             D. Real Property means the land and all temporary and permanent structures comprising the district's
                elementary and secondary schools, and administrative office buildings. Real property includes, but is
              not limited to, the following: classrooms, hallways, storage facilities, theatres, gymnasiums, fields,
              and parking lots.

            E. School-Sponsored Activity "means any activity sponsored, recognized or authorized by a board of
               education and includes activities conducted on or off school property." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-
               233a(h).

   II. Prohibition of Deadly Weapons and Firearms

        In accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-28(e) and § 53a-217b, the possession and/or use of a deadly
        weapon or firearm on the real property of any school or administrative office building in this district, or at
        a school-sponsored activity, is prohibited, even if the person possessing the deadly weapon or firearm has
        a permit for such item.

  III. Peace Officer Exception

        A peace officer engaged in the performance of his or her official duties who is in lawful possession of a
        deadly weapon or firearm may bring such item on the real property of any school or administrative office
        building in this district, or to a school-sponsored activity.

   IV. Other Exceptions

        Persons in lawful possession of a deadly weapon or firearm may possess such item on the real property of
        any school or administrative office building in this district, or to a school-sponsored activity if:

           A. The person brings the deadly weapon or firearm on the real property of any school or administrative
              office building or to a school-sponsored activity for use in a program approved by school officials. In
              such case, the person must give school officials notice of his/her intention to bring such item, and
              the person must receive prior written permission from school officials.

           B. The person possesses the deadly weapon or firearm on the real property of any school or
              administrative office building or at a school-sponsored activity pursuant to a written agreement with
              school officials or a written agreement between such person's employer and school officials.

   V. Consequences

           A. Unless subject to one of the exceptions listed above, any person who possesses a deadly weapon or
              firearm on the real property of an elementary or secondary school in this district, or administrative
              office building, or at a school-sponsored activity, whether or not the person is lawfully permitted to
              carry such deadly weapon or firearm, will be reported to the local police authorities once school
              officials become aware of its possession.

           B. A student who possesses and/or uses any deadly weapon or firearm on school property in violation
              of this policy shall be disciplined in accordance with Board of Education Student Discipline Policy.

           C. The Board of Education reserves the right to forbid anyone caught possessing a deadly weapon or
              firearm on the real property of its school buildings or administrative office buildings, or at a school-
              sponsored activity, from using any and all school facilities.


Legal                      Conn. Gen. Stat. §29-28(e) Permit for sale at retail of pistol or revolver. Permit to
                           carry pistol or revolver. Confidentiality of name and address of permit holder. Permits
                           for out-of-state residents.

                           Conn. Gen. Stat. §53a-3 Definitions.
                           Conn. Gen. Stat. §53a-217b Possession of a weapon on school grounds: Class D
                           felony.
                           Conn. Gen. Stat. §10-233a Definitions.

                           Conn. Gen. Stat. §10-244a Employment of persons to provide security services in a
                           public school while in possession of a firearm.



  Suggested replacement with Shipman Minimum Legal policy