Z-1435.1                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 6190

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

By Senators McAuliffe, Erwin, M. Rasmussen, Quigley and Winsley

Read first time 01/17/94.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Restricting possession of explosives on school grounds and at school activities.

          AN ACT Relating to possession of explosives on school grounds or at school activities; and amending RCW 9.41.280.

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

        Sec. 1.  RCW 9.41.280 and 1993 c 347 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) It is unlawful for a person to carry onto public or private elementary or secondary school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public or private schools:

          (a) Any firearm; or

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

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

          (e) 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; or

(f) Any explosives, small arms ammunition, small arms ammunition primer, black powder, pyrotechnics, or incendiary devices.

          (2) Any such person violating subsection (1) of this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

          Any violation of subsection (1) of this section by elementary or secondary school students constitutes grounds for expulsion from the state's public schools in accordance with RCW 28A.600.010.  However, any violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section by an elementary or secondary school student shall result in expulsion in accordance with RCW 28A.600.010.  An appropriate school authority shall promptly notify law enforcement and the student's parent or guardian regarding any allegation or indication of such violation.

          (3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to:

          (a) Any student or employee of a private military academy when on the property of the academy;

          (b) Any person engaged in military, law enforcement, or school district security activities;

          (c) Any person who is 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;

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

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

          (f) Any person who has been issued a license under RCW 9.41.070, while picking up or dropping off a student;

          (g) Any ((person)) nonstudent eighteen years of age or older legally in possession of a firearm or dangerous weapon that is secured within an attended vehicle or concealed from view within a locked unattended vehicle while conducting legitimate business at the school;

          (h) Any person who is in lawful possession of an unloaded firearm, secured in a vehicle while conducting legitimate business at the school; ((or))

          (i) Any law enforcement officer of the federal, state, or local government agency; or

(j) Any person hired by a school district to use explosives who holds a valid user's license.

          (4) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), (c), (e), and (i) of this section, firearms are not permitted in a public or private school building.

          (5) "GUN-FREE ZONE" signs shall be posted around school facilities giving warning of the prohibition of the possession of firearms on school grounds.

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