imported post
Topic:
CRIME; FELONIES; SCHOOLS (GENERAL); WEAPONS;
Location:
SCHOOLS; WEAPONS;
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October 25, 2006
2006-R-0658
POSSESSION OF WEAPON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS
By: Soncia Coleman, Associate Legislative Analyst
You asked whether properly trained Connecticut public school faculty and staff are allowed to have guns in schools.
Permission to carry a gun in a public school is limited. The deciding factor for those who may carry a gun is not whether they have been properly trained and licensed but rather why they are on school grounds. Generally, possessing a firearm or deadly weapon on school grounds is a class D felony, punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a $ 5,000 fine, or both. A person is guilty of this crime when, knowing they are not licensed or privileged to do so, a person possesses the weapon
(1) in or on public or private elementary or secondary school property or (2) at a school-sponsored activity. However, this prohibition does not apply to the otherwise lawful possession by a:
1. person for use in a program approved by school officials that is on school property or at a school-sponsored activity (e. g. fire-arm safety program);
2. person in accordance with an agreement between the person or person's employer and the school district (e. g. security guard);
3. peace officer while engaged in the performance of his official duties; and
4. person while traversing school premises for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting or other lawful purposes, if the entry is authorized by the board of education and the weapon is unloaded (CGS § 53a-217b).
When this law was originally enacted in 1992, there was an additional exception for the lawful possession of a firearm by a person holding a valid state or local permit. However, this exception was eliminated in 1998.
While a teacher or staff-member would be prohibited from bringing a gun to school without the district's permission, the statute appears to allow him to do so pursuant to an agreement with said district. However, it is not clear from session transcripts that this result was contemplated by the legislature and a cursory review of related board of education policies reveals that this practice would generally be prohibited by school districts. For instance, Hartford Public Schools' policy on weapons and dangerous instruments and personnel states that “all dangerous instruments and illegal weapons are prohibited on school property, student transportation and at school-sponsored activities. ” Similarly, a Stamford Public Schools board of education policy notes that “the presence of weapons poses a risk to all persons, and [the board] prohibits weapons from school property and school-sponsored activities, except as may be required as a condition of employment, such as for peace officers. ” It generally prohibits employees and others form bringing any weapon or dangerous instrument onto school property or to any school-sponsored activities.
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It appears that the State's definition of "Seconday School" is key to this quesition.[/align]
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On the internet, I found this:[/align]
secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an institution where the final stage of compulsory schooling, known as secondary education, takes place. It follows on from primary or elementary education. There are many different types of secondary school and the terminology used varies around the world.
IS UCONN A SECONDARY SCHOOL?
If you read the heading "Possession of a weapon on school grounds: Class D Felony, you would be led to believe that carrying a weapon on a college campus was in fact a violation of the law. But when you read the state statute, you find that the law is limited to public and private schools through the 12th grade.
ASK A PROFESSOR OF LAW AT THE UCON LAW SCHOOL TO INVESTIGATE AND RESEARCH THIS TOPIC.
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Sec. 53a-217b. Possession of a weapon on school grounds: Class D felony. [/align]
(a) A person is guilty of possession of a weapon on school grounds when, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he possesses a firearm or deadly weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, (1) in or on the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school or (2) at a school-sponsored activity as defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm (1) by a person for use in a program approved by school officials in or on such school property, (2) by a person in accordance with an agreement entered into between school officials and such person or such person's employer, (3) by a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, while engaged in the performance of his official duties, or (4) by a person while traversing such school property for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided such firearm is not loaded and the entry on such school property is permitted by the local or regional board of education.
(c) Possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class D felony.
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