WEAPONS & DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS

Under BP 5131.7, the Board recognizes that students and staff have the right to a safe and secure campus free from psychological and physical harm, and desires to protect them from the dangers presented by firearms and other weapons.

Possession of Weapons

The Board prohibits any student from possessing weapons, imitation firearms, or dangerous instruments, as defined in law and administrative regulation, in school buildings, on school grounds or buses, at school-related or school-sponsored activities away from school, or while going to or coming from school. Any student possessing or threatening others with any weapon, dangerous instrument, or imitation firearm shall be subject to suspension and/or expulsion in accordance with law, board policy, and administrative regulations.

Under the power granted to the Board to maintain order and discipline in the schools and to protect the safety of students, staff, and the public, any school employee is authorized to confiscate a weapon, dangerous instrument or imitation firearm from any person on school grounds. 

The principal or designee shall notify law enforcement authorities when any student possesses a firearm, explosive, or other prohibited weapon or dangerous instrument, sells or furnishes a firearm, or commits any act of assault with a firearm or other weapon. 

Possession of Pepper Spray: To prevent potential misuse that may harm students or staff, students are prohibited from carrying tear gas or tear gas weapons, such as pepper spray, on campus or at school activities.

Prohibited weapons and dangerous instruments include, but are not limited to:

1. Firearms, including pistols, revolvers, shotguns, rifles, zip guns, stun guns, Tasers, and any other device capable of propelling a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.
2. Ammunition or reloaded ammunition.
3. Knives, razor blades, and box cutters, including any dirks, daggers, ice picks, or other weapons with a fixed, sharpened blade fitted primarily for stabbing, weapons with a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches, folding knives with a blade that locks into place, and razors with an unguarded blade.
4. Explosive and/or incendiary devices, including pipe bombs, time bombs, cap guns, containers of flammable fluids, and other hazardous devices.
5. Any instrument that expels a metallic projectile, such as a BB or a pellet, through the force of air pressure, carbon dioxide pressure or spring action, or any spot marker gun.
6. Any other dangerous device, instrument or weapon, especially those defined in PC 12020, including a blackjack, slingshot, billy, nunchaku, sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles, or any metal plate with three or more radiating points with one or more sharp edges designed for use as a weapon.
7. Any imitation firearm, defined as a replica of a firearm that is so substantially similar in physical properties to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm. 

Any employee may take any weapon or dangerous instrument from the personal possession of a student while the student is on school premises or under the authority of the District. In determining whether to take possession of the weapon or dangerous instrument, the employee shall use his/her own judgment as to the dangerousness of the situation and, based upon this analysis, shall do one of the following:

1. Confiscate the object and deliver it to the principal immediately.
2. Immediately notify the principal, who shall take appropriate action.
3. Immediately notify the local law enforcement agency and the principal.