PURPOSE

To provide guidelines for employees, students, and the general public related to bringing weapons on campus. 

REFERENCES

• WAC 132D-150-050 Prohibited student conduct (Skagit Valley College) 
• RCW 9A.16.020 Use of force–When lawful 
• RCW 9.41.050 Carrying firearms 
• RCW 9.91.160 Personal protection spray devices 

BACKGROUND

Skagit Valley College strives to create and maintain an effective environment for teaching and learning and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the college’s students, employees and members of the community This policy is the result of careful consideration about how the college can best protect the safety needs of the campus community while balancing student, employee, and visitor rights. 

POLICY

SVC’s policy is to prohibit the possession, holding, wearing, transporting, storage or presence of weapons on college property or facilities, owned or leased by any staff, student, or faculty, or visitor subject to the following exceptions: 

• Commissioned law enforcement personnel or legally authorized military personnel while in performance of their duties; 
• Persons employed in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard or Marine service of the United Stated or any member of the Washington National Guard when in the discharge of their official duties and acting under orders requiring them to carry arms or weapons; 
• Civil officers of the United States in the performance of their official duties; 
• Armored guards in the performance of their duties of picking up and dropping off money; 
• For educational purposes and the instruction of students in the Basic Law Enforcement Reserve Academy (BLERA) and Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA), weapons needed for the training program may be authorized and permitted on campus as approved by the appropriate vice president or designee; 
• A simulated firearm/weapon may be authorized and permitted for educational purposes, teaching or theatrical production, (e.g., stage play or film production, or rehearsals for them), from the appropriate Vice President or designee; 
• The president or their designee, may grant permission to bring a weapon on campus upon a determination that the weapon is reasonably related to a legitimate pedagogical, religious, or other purpose. Such permission shall be in writing and shall be subject to such terms or conditions incorporated in the written permission. 
• Individuals who have a valid concealed weapons license may store their weapons in their parked vehicles in accordance with RCW 9.41.050 provided that: 
  • the firearm is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view outside the vehicle; and  
  • Individuals shall not carry or place a loaded firearm in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed firearm.  
  • For SVC employees, the employee must remain inside the vehicle at all times that the firearm is there, OR if the employee is away from the vehicle, and the firearm is locked within the vehicle, the firearm must be concealed from view from outside the vehicle. 
• This policy does not apply to the possession and/or use of a defensive spray agent (i.e. pepper spray) when possessed and/or used for self-defense in accordance with RCW 9A.16.020. 

Enforcement 

Anyone who violates this policy will be asked to remove the weapon from campus immediately.  Employees who violate the policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.  The college may impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who violates this policy in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct. Violations of the policy may result in referrals to external law enforcement agencies. 

DEFINITIONS

Weapon: Any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, explosive device, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm. This includes: all firearms, facsimile firearms, ammunition, firearms accessories, empty holsters, and magazines, electronic defense weapons, martial arts weapons, paintball guns, air guns, simulated weapon, replicas, parts of a weapon, switchblade knives, or any knives with blades four or more inches in length, swords, bows and arrows, hand grenades, brass knuckles, sling shots, dangerous materials and chemicals. 

Possession: the presence of a weapon on an individual, in their motor vehicle, desk, lunch box, locker, a tool kit, bag, purse, cabinets, office, or under their control.