Parents/Guardians,
Recently, we recovered gel beads around campus that are projected from toy guns. The toy guns use a mechanism which creates pressure to fire gel balls. Those types of toy guns are considered a firearm under Chapter 19. A popular toy gun which uses gel balls is Orbeez.
Any student who possesses a firearm shall be dismissed from school for not less than one calendar year period. The possession or use of a firearm is prohibited on campus, or other department of education premises, on department of education transportation, or during a department of education sponsored activity or event on or off school property except for participation in athletic teams, clubs and/or Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (JROTC) shooting sports programs and marksmanship training, education, and competitions. If a student is dismissed from school, that student shall be provided alternate educational activities or other appropriate assistance as provided in section 8-19-11.
“Firearm” means:
(1) Any weapon including but is not limited to a starter gun, shotgun, air guns which includes BB guns, pellet guns, paintball guns, or cross bow or any other instrument which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile;
(2) The frame or receiver of any such weapon;
(3) Any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or
(4) Any destructive device. The term "destructive device" means:
(A) Any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas:
(i) Bomb;
(ii) Grenade;
(iii) Rocket having a propellant charge;
(iv) Missile having an explosive or incendiary charge;
(v) Mine; or
(vi) Device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clause;
(B) Any type of weapon which will, or which may be readily converted to expel a projectile, including but is not limited to a weapon that expels a projectile by action of an explosive or other propellant; or
(C) Any combination or parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device described above, and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled.
Please talk with your child to make sure he/she does not bring any type of firearm to school. Thank you.