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Weapons Policy 660.00
Johnson County Community College
Series: 600 Safety and Security
Section: Campus Security and Control

Applicability: This Policy applies to the Johnson County Community College (“JCCC” or the “College”) campus community, including all students, personnel, and visitors i) on the JCCC main campus and locations owned or leased by JCCC that are not part of the JCCC main campus (“Campus”), or ii) when attending or participating in College activities or performing College duties at any off-campus College-sponsored or supervised classes, practices, activities or other programs (“Off-Campus Activity”).

Purpose: The purpose of this Policy is to promote a safe and secure community college and learning environment.

Definitions:

“About the Person” means that an individual may carry a Handgun if it can be carried securely in a suitable carrier, such as a backpack, purse, handbag or other personal carrier designed and intended for the carrying of an individual’s personal items. The carrier must at all times remain within the exclusive and uninterrupted control of the individual. This includes wearing the carrier with one or more straps consistent with the carrier’s design, carrying or holding the carrier or setting the carrier next to or within the immediate reach or control of the individual.

“Concealed” means completely hidden from view and does not reveal the Handgun in any way, shape or form.

“Handgun” is defined as a “firearm” pursuant to K.S.A. 75-7c02, with cross-reference to K.S.A. 75-7b01, and generally means (1) a pistol or revolver which is designed to be fired by the use of a single hand and which is designed to fire or capable of firing fixed cartridge ammunition; or (2) any other weapon which will or is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive and which is designed to be fired by the use of a single hand.

“Public Areas” is defined at K.S.A. 75-7c20.

“Weapons” means a weapon described in K.S.A. 21-6301, as further defined under K.S.A. 75-7c20; and, for purposes of this Policy includes knives more than 4 inches in length, ballistic knives and throwing stars.

Statement:

JCCC prohibits the possession or use of Weapons on Campus and at Off-Campus Activities, other than as set forth below.

In accordance with the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act, K.S.A. 75-7c01 et seq., as amended, and other applicable federal and state laws, it is permissible and will not be a violation of this Policy for the:

1. lawful carrying of a Concealed Handgun on Campus by legally qualified individuals, pursuant to federal and Kansas law, and also in accordance with the Concealed Carry Restrictions set forth below.
2. lawful carrying of a Concealed Handgun by an employee performing College duties at an Off-Campus Activity, when in accordance with applicable laws and policies for such location; though carrying of a Concealed Handgun is not considered to be within the scope and course of employment (other than for JCCC law enforcement employees) and JCCC is not liable for any resulting injuries to the employee.
3. lawful possession of a Handgun within a personal, non-College vehicle.
4. lawful possession of Weapons

  • by JCCC Police Department or other law enforcement officers while acting within the scope of their employment, by authorized armored car personnel, or by others authorized in writing by the JCCC Chief of Police or designee, or
  • as necessary for the conduct of College approved programs.

5. lawful possession of knives 4 inches or less in length.

Concealed Carry Restrictions:

Concealed Carry: Each individual who lawfully possesses a Handgun on Campus shall be wholly and solely responsible for carrying, storing and using that Handgun in a safe manner and in accordance with the law and this Policy. Individuals who carry a Handgun on Campus must carry it Concealed on or About the Person at all times. It shall be a violation of this Policy to openly display any lawfully possessed Handgun while on Campus, and in accordance with K.S.A. 75-7c24, any person who carries a Handgun openly may be subject to denial to or removal from Campus or an Off-Campus Activity.

Federal and State Restrictions: Kansas law states that the only type of firearm that an individual can carry while concealed is a Handgun as defined above. The following Kansas and federal laws apply to possession and use of firearms, including the carry of Concealed Handguns, and the violation of any of the following restrictions is both a crime and a violation of this Policy.

  • An individual in possession of a concealed firearm must be at least 21 years of age [K.S.A. 21-6302(a)(4)] or possess a valid provisional license issued pursuant to K.S.A. 75-7c03 or a valid license or permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by another jurisdiction and recognized in Kansas pursuant to K.S.A. 75-7c03 [K.S.A. 21-6302(d)];
  • A firearm cannot be carried by an individual:
    • under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, to such a degree as to render the individual unable to safely operate the firearm [K.S.A. 21-6332],
    • who is both addicted to and an unlawful user of a controlled substance [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(10)],
    • who is or has been a mentally ill person subject to involuntary commitment [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(13)],
      with an alcohol or substance abuse problem subject to involuntary commitment [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(13)],
    • who has been convicted of a person felony crime [K.S.A. 21-6304] or convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year [18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1)];
    • An automatic firearm or sawed-off shotgun cannot be carried [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(5)];
    • A cartridge which can be fired by a Handgun and which has a plastic-coated bullet with a core of less than 60% lead by weight is illegal [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(6)];
    • Suppressors and silencers cannot be used with a firearm [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(4)];
    • Firearms cannot be fired in the corporate limits of a city or at a dwelling, or at a structure or vehicle in which people are present, except in self-defense [K.S.A. 21-6308, K.S.A. 21-6308a];
    • A firearm cannot be carried by a person who:
      • is a fugitive from justice [18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(2)];
      • is unlawfully in the United States or admitted under a nonimmigrant visa [18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(A) & (B)];
      • has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions [18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(6)];
      • has renounced the person’s United States citizenship [18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(7)];
      • is subject to a court order restraining the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of the intimate partner [18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8)]; or,
      • has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence [18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)].

Location Restrictions: Certain Campus buildings and Public Areas within Campus buildings can be permanently or temporarily designated to prohibit concealed Handguns. There are no Campus buildings or Public Areas that have been permanently designated to prohibit Concealed Handguns with Adequate Security Measures (ASMs) in place. However, the JCCC Police Department may temporarily designate a specific location as prohibiting concealed Handguns and use temporary ASMs as defined and required by law. Appropriate notice will be given whenever this temporary designation is made.

Campus locations leased by JCCC or used for Off-Campus Activity, and owned by an entity that may lawfully exclude or permit firearms at their premises (Concealed or otherwise), may choose at their sole discretion to exclude or permit Handguns from their premises, notwithstanding a lease or use arrangement with JCCC. If Handguns are excluded at such locations and would otherwise be permitted by this Policy, individuals are expected to comply with the rules imposed by the location.

Safety Requirements: To reduce the risk of accidental discharge on Campus, when carrying a concealed Handgun on Campus (whether on or About the Person, such as in a carrier), the Concealed Handgun is to be secured in a holster that completely covers the trigger and the entire trigger guard area and that secures an external hammer in an un-cocked position through the use of a strap or by other means. The holster is to have sufficient tension or grip on the handgun to retain it in the holster even when subjected to unexpected jostling. Handguns with an external safety are to be carried with the safety in the “on” position. Semiautomatic Handguns are to be carried without a chambered round of ammunition and revolvers with the hammer resting on an empty cylinder.

Storage: Handgun storage is not provided by JCCC. Individuals may store a Handgun in the individual’s vehicle when the vehicle is locked, and the Handgun is secured in a location within the vehicle that is not visible from outside the vehicle. Handgun storage by any other means is prohibited. Specifically, it is prohibited for any individual to store a Handgun i) in a vehicle that is unlocked or when the Handgun is visible from outside the vehicle, ii) in an individual’s office, iii) in an unattended backpack or carrier, iv) in any type of locker or v) in any other location and under any circumstances except as specifically permitted by this Policy and by state and federal law.

Training: Training on the proper handling of a concealed Handgun is strongly encouraged. All JCCC employees are eligible for JCCC Continuing Education training reimbursement to supplement training for local, noncredit workshops, which could include a gun safety course (for reimbursement, employees must submit an Application to Staff Development). Additionally, JCCC may periodically offer presentations to students and employees related to safe Handgun practices.

Even the lawful carrying of a concealed Handgun has its own risks. Any report of Weapons on a JCCC Campus will be addressed by the JCCC Police Department or local police departments in coordination with the JCCC Police Department. The lawful carrying of a Concealed Handgun should not create concerns on Campus; however, anything other than the lawful carrying of a Concealed Handgun has the potential to create confusion and additional risk during police responses.

Enforcement:

Any individual violating this Policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension, expulsion, termination of employment, immediate removal/trespass from the premises, and arrest. Enforcement of this Policy will be administered by the JCCC Police Department.

Reporting:

  1. Suspected violations of this Policy should be reported to JCCC Police Department:
    • Call: 913-469-2500
    • Walk-in: Police Department lobby, Midwest Trust Center Suite 115 located at 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kansas
    • Text: JCCC Guardian Campus Safety App
    • Non-emergency Anonymous Reporting (reports generally reviewed the next business day): KOPS-Watch via jccc.edu/kops or 888-258-3230
  2. Emergency reports concerning threats or violence on campus:
    • Call 913-469-2500 for JCCC Police Department
    • Or call 911

Date of Adoption: 05/17/2007
Revised: 01/15/09, 05/11/17 (effective 07/01/2017; renumbered from 424.06; material incorporated from Student Code of Conduct Policy 319.01), 07/15/2021, 04/20/2023