S-3974.1          _______________________________________________

                            SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6157

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Oke, Bauer, Barr and McCaslin)

Read first time 02/07/92.Prohibiting dangerous weapons on elementary and secondary school premises.

     AN ACT Relating to dangerous weapons on elementary or secondary school premises; amending RCW 9.41.280; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 9.41.280 and 1989 c 219 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) It is unlawful for ((an elementary or secondary school student under the age of twenty-one knowingly)) a person to carry onto public or private elementary or secondary school premises:

     (a) ((Any firearm; or

     (b))) Any dangerous weapon as defined in RCW 9.41.250; or

     (((c))) (b) Any device commonly known as "nun-chu-ka sticks", consisting of two or more lengths of wood, metal, plastic, or similar substance connected with wire, rope, or other means; or

     (((d))) (c) Any device, commonly known as "throwing stars", which are multi-pointed, metal objects designed to embed upon impact from any aspect; or

     (((e))) (d) Any air gun, including any air pistol or air rifle, designed to propel a BB, pellet, or other projectile by the discharge of compressed air, carbon dioxide, or other gas.

     (2) It is unlawful for any person to carry any firearm into a public or private school building while school or a school function is in session.

(3) It is unlawful for any person to carry any loaded firearm onto public or private school grounds outside of school buildings while school or a school function is in session.

(4) It is unlawful for an elementary or secondary school student under the age of twenty-one to knowingly carry onto public or private elementary or secondary school premises any firearm.

(5) Any such ((student)) person violating subsection (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

     Any violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section by elementary or secondary school students constitutes grounds for expulsion.

     (((3))) (6) Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this section ((does)) do not apply to:

     (a) Any student or employee of a private military academy; or

     (b) Any ((student)) person engaged in military, law enforcement, or security activities((, sponsored by the federal or state governments)) while engaged in official duties; or

     (c) Any ((student)) person who is ((attending)) involved in a convention, showing, demonstration, lecture, or firearms safety course authorized by school authorities in which the firearms of collectors or instructors are handled or displayed; or

     (d) Any ((student)) person who possesses nun-chu-ka sticks, throwing stars, or other dangerous weapons to be used in martial arts classes conducted on the school premises; or

     (e) Any ((student)) person while the ((student)) person is participating in a firearms or air gun competition approved by the school or school district.

(7) In addition to the exemptions under subsection (6) of this section, subsection (2) of this section does not apply to any person licensed under RCW 9.41.070 who is authorized by school authorities to carry a firearm.

(8) In addition to the exemptions under subsection (6) of this section, subsection (3) of this section does not apply to any person licensed pursuant to RCW 9.41.070.