2.19 Possession of Weapons Policy

I. Definitions

College Premises

Any property in use by the College, including property that is leased, owned, used for College functions, or under the control of the College in the conduct of any of its courses of instruction, administrative operations, or extracurricular activity sponsored by the College.

Weapons

Any object, visible or concealed, that is or could be used to threaten, intimidate, inflict serious bodily injury, or kill another person. This includes, but is not limited to, guns, rifles, pistols, air guns, stun guns, other types of firearms, explosives, metallic knuckles, clubs, batons, knives or other blades, dangerous chemicals, or biological agents. Weapons also include any dynamite cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine, or powerful device as defined in North Carolina General Statutes 14-284.1.

II. Policy

Employees, students, consultants, contractors, vendors, visitors, and members of the public who are on the College premises must abide by the provisions set forth in North Carolina General Statutes 14-269.2.

III. Regulations

A. Possession of Weapons

Employees, students, vendors, visitors, and members of the public who are on College premises or attending functions sponsored by the College are strictly prohibited from having weapons in their possession, except as required for preparation of food, instruction, maintenance, or acting in the discharge of official duties.

B. Exceptions

It is the policy of Central Piedmont to prohibit and restrict the possession or use of weapons on College premises, but for the following exceptions for firearms:

1. As may be required by college employees or contractors for faculty instruction, maintenance of equipment or facilities, or acting in the official discharge of employee or contractor duties;
2. A weapon that is used solely for instructional or ceremonial purposes in a curriculum, continuing education course, or class delivered or sponsored by the College, or an event officially sponsored and sanctioned by the College, with prior written approval from the Office of the President or designee;
3. Duly sworn law enforcement officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, emergency services personnel, North Carolina Forest Service, Wildlife, or Corrections personnel, and other persons specifically authorized by the College;
4. A person exempted by North Carolina General Statute 14-269(b);
5. A person registered under North Carolina General Statute Chapter 74C as an armed armored car service guard or armed courier, or armed security guard, when acting in the discharge of their duties;
6. A person who has a concealed handgun permit that is valid under Article 54B of North Carolina General Statute 14-269, or who is exempt from obtaining a permit pursuant to that Article, if any of the following conditions are met:
   1. The person has a handgun in a closed compartment or container within such permit holder’s locked vehicle, or within a locked container securely affixed to such permit holder’s vehicle, and only unlocks the vehicle to enter/exit while the weapon remains in the weapon remains securely locked therein;
   2. The person has a handgun concealed on the person and the person remains in the locked vehicle;
   3. The person is within a locked vehicle and removes the handgun from concealment only for the amount of time reasonably necessary to:
      1. Move the handgun from concealment on the person to a locked container within the vehicle; or,
      2. Reverse the previous actions.

IV. Violations

A. Employees, students, contractors, consultants, vendors, visitors, or members of the public who possess weapons in violation of these regulations may be subject to criminal penalties, as established in North Carolina General Statutes 14-269.2.

B. Any employee or student who reasonably suspects these regulations are being or have been violated must immediately report the matter to College Security Services.

C. Any employee who either violates these regulations, or who fails to report reasonable suspicion of any violation, will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

D. Any student who either violates these regulations, or who fails to report reasonable suspicion of any violation, will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including being banned from campus, suspension, or expulsion.

Changes

Changes approved by the Board of Trustees on May 6, 2020

Changes approved by Cabinet on August 30, 2004; July 23, 2012; September 16, 2013

Approved by Cabinet on May 1996