Weapons, Firearms and Explosives
Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) is committed to providing all employees, students, volunteers, visitors, vendors and contractors a safe and secure workplace and/or academic setting by expressly prohibiting the possession of a firearm, weapon, or explosive compound/material on any technical college campus (including all satellite campuses/off-site work units), within the designated school safety zone, or at any technical college sanctioned function in a manner contrary to state or federal law.
Definitions
Contractor: an independent contractor, business, or corporation which provides goods and/or services to the Technical College System of Georgia or any associated technical college under the terms specified in a contract. For the purposes of this procedure, the term also includes all employees of a business or corporation working on technical college property or at a technical college workplace including any sanctioned event.
School Safety Zone: any technical college campus, satellite campus, or other designated worksite.
Explosive Compound: any bomb or explosive, chemical, or biological material referenced in the Official Code of Georgia, O.C.G.A. 16-7-81.
Firearm: includes, any operable or inoperable pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind as defined in O.C.G.A. 16-11-27-1, or a machine gun, shotgun, sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, dangerous weapon or silencer as defined in O.C.G.A. 16-11-121.
Weapon: any operable or inoperable object (or reasonable facsimile thereof) referenced in O.C.G.A. 16-11-127.1., including but not limited to any knife with a blade two or more inches in length (e.g., switchblade, ballistic knife, etc.), straight-edge razor or razor blade, any bludgeon- type instrument (e.g., blackjack, bat or club), any flailing instrument (e.g., nunchuck or fighting chain), or weapon designed to be thrown (e.g., throwing star or oriental dart).
Note: This statute specifically excludes any of these objects used for classroom work authorized by a teacher/instructor; any person employed as a campus police officer/security officer who is authorized to carry a weapon pursuant to Chapter 8 of Title 20; or, any person (e.g., maintenance staff, student, or otherwise) authorized in writing by a duly authorized college official (e.g., President or his/her designee) to have in his/her possession for use as a part of any activity conducted at any technical college workplace a weapon which would otherwise be prohibited by this Code section. The authorization shall specify the weapon(s) which have been authorized and the time period during which the authorization is valid.
Workplace: The CPTC campus, a satellite or off-site work location, or any college sponsored/sanctioned function.
Unless otherwise provided by law, it is unlawful for any person to carry, possess, or have under such person’s control any firearm, weapon, or unlawful explosive compound while within a school safety zone; at an CPTC facility, on CPTC property, or at an CPTC-sanctioned function; or, on a bus or other transportation furnished by the college. Note: this prohibition does not extend to a peace officer as defined by O.C.G.A. 35-8-2 when the individual is acting in the performance of his/her official duties or when en route to or from his/her official duties.
Unless otherwise provided by law, it is an express violation of procedure for any individual to use, possess, manufacture, distribute, maintain, transport, or receive any of the following on any technical college campus, any satellite or off-site work location, or any college sanctioned function:
- any firearm or weapon whether operable or inoperable as defined in O.C.G.A. 16-11-127.1 or any facsimile thereof, including, but not limited to paintball guns, BB guns, potato guns, air soft guns, or any device that propels a projectile of any kind;
- any dangerous weapon, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or rifle, shotgun or silencer as defined in O.C.G.A. 16-11-121;
- any bacteriological weapon, biological weapon, destructive device, detonator, explosive, incendiary, or over-pressure device, or poison gas as defined in O.C.G.A. 16-7-80.
- any explosive compound/material defined in O.C.G.A. 16-7-81; or,
- any hoax device, replica of a destructive device or configuration of explosive materials with the appearance of a destructive device, including, but not limited to, fake bombs, packages containing substances with the appearance of chemical explosives or toxic materials.
The possession of a valid firearms permit and/or a valid license to carry a concealed weapon does not permit an individual (e.g., staff, student, etc.) to carry a weapon or have a weapon under such person’s control on any technical college campus, satellite campus or other work location, or at any college sanctioned event. This prohibition does not extend to any person employed as a campus police officer or security officer and who is otherwise authorized to carry a weapon pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 8 of Title 20.
Any employee who violates the provisions of this procedure shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal as well as possible criminal prosecution.
Any CPTC student who violates the provisions of this procedure shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion consistent with guidelines of the affected technical college’s Student Code of Conduct as well as possible criminal prosecution.
Any volunteer or visitor who violates the provisions of this procedure shall be subject to criminal prosecution.
Any vendor or contractor who violates the provisions of this procedure shall be subject to the termination of his/her business relationship with the affected technical college as well as possible criminal prosecution.
Signage is posted on the CPTC campuses notifying those that enter its property and/or off-site work locations that firearms, weapons, and unlawful explosive compounds are prohibited.
Procedures to inform employees, students, volunteers, visitors, vendors, and contractors are included in the College’s plans for emergency and safety operations.