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Mt. Hood Community College Mt. Hood Community College Mt. Hood Community College

  • Firearms, Weapons and Destructive Devices Free Environment: AR-5040-C

  • Section 5000: Personnel
    Firearms, Weapons and Destructive Devices Free Environment
    Administrative Regulation: AR-5040-C
    		 President’s Cabinet (PC) Approval: 9/24/01
    Revised: 5/6/08
    9/22/09

    Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) is committed to preventing workplace violence and to maintaining a safe work and learning environment. The College strictly prohibits any person, including students and employees, from being in possession of or giving the appearance of being in possession of any firearm, weapon, or destructive device as defined by law, while on College business, or at any other time while in College owned or controlled buildings, offices, premises, sites or vehicles, or at activities under the jurisdiction or sponsorship of the College. College property also includes that portion of any other building occupied by the College on a permanent or temporary basis. 

    A sheriff, police officer, other duly appointed peace officer or a corrections officer may possess a firearm on the College campus while acting within the scope of employment.

    Employees may possess and use tools such as knives, picks, shovels and other implements necessary to perform his/her job.

    Persons who apply for or obtain a protective or restraining order that lists College locations as being protected areas are required to provide public safety with a copy of the petition and declarations used to seek the order, a copy of any temporary protective or restraining order that is granted and a copy of any protective or restraining order that is made permanent.
    1. Preventative Measures
      The following measures will be taken to effectively implement this regulation and maintain a safe working and learning environment:
      1. Pre-employment screening, including criminal background and reference checks, will be conducted to reduce the risk of hiring individuals with a history of violent behavior.
      2. The College encourages employees to bring his/her disputes or differences with other employees to the attention of his/her manager or the Human Resources Department before the situation escalates into potential violence. Students are encouraged to bring his/her disputes or differences with other students or staff to the attention of public safety before the situation escalates into potential violence.
      3. All employees will be reminded each year to review the College’s Emergency Procedures Safety Handbook.
      4. The College will take necessary corrective action to reduce all identified risks.
    2. Responsibility to Report
      All College employees are responsible for reporting to his/her manager and/or public safety any knowledge that a person possesses or gives the appearance of being in possession of any firearm, weapon, or destructive device while that person is on College business, or at any other time while in College owned or controlled buildings, office, premises, sites or vehicles, or at activities under the jurisdiction or sponsorship of the College.

      Students are responsible for reporting to the public safety office any knowledge that a person possesses or gives the appearance of being in possession of any firearm, weapon, or destructive device while that person is on College business, or at any other time while in a College owned or controlled building, office, premises, site or vehicle, or at activities under the jurisdiction or sponsorship of the College.
    3. Sanctions
      Any person who violates this regulation is subject to:
      1. Disciplinary proceedings, which may include but not limited to suspension, termination of employment, expulsion and/or criminal prosecution.
      2. Reassignment of job duties.
      3. Termination of any business relationship.
      4. An order to leave the immediate premises or property owned or controlled by the College by a person in charge of College property and remain off College premises pending outcome of an investigation.  The College will issue a decisive and appropriate response. Persons failing to comply with an order by a person in charge to leave or to remain off the immediate premises or property owned or controlled by the District are subject to arrest for criminal trespass
    4. Definitions
      "Dangerous Weapon" means a weapon, device, instrument, material or substance, by whatever name known, animate or inanimate,which under circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury”, unless such possession is authorized by the College in the performance of the employee’s job duties. Examples of dangerous weapons and firearms include, but are not limited to:
      1. A device designed to expel a projectile by the action of black powder, smokeless powder, compressed air, gas, compressed spring or by any chemical action and which is readily capable for use as a weapon.
      2. A breech-loading firearm in which there is an unexpended cartridge or shell in or attached to the firearm including but not limited to, in a chamber, magazine or clip that is attached to the firearm.
      3. A muzzle-loading firearm that is capped or primed and has a powder charge and ball, shot or projectile in the barrel or cylinder.
      4. Any knife having a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or centrifugal force; any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slingshot, metal knuckles; or any similar instrument or knife other than an ordinary pocket knife by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person.
      5. Mace, tear gas, pepper mace or any similar deleterious agent.  Note: Mace and pepper spray that employees and students carry for his/her personal protection in coming to and leaving work and pocket knives with 4-inch or shorter non-spring-loaded blades will not be considered weapons provided they are kept concealed.
      6. An electrical stun gun or any similar instrument.
      7. A tear gas weapon.
      8. A club, bat, baton, billy club, bludgeon, knobkerrie, nunchaku, nightstick, truncheon or any similar instrument, the use of which could inflict injury upon a person or property;
      9. A blowgun, any hunting or target bow and arrow, crossbow, or explosive device.
      10. A straight razor.
      11. Noxious, irritating, incendiary, or poisonous gases, poisons and drugs.
    5. "Destructive Device" means:
      1. A projectile containing an explosive or incendiary material, poison gas component or any other chemical substance; or
      2. A bomb, grenade, rocket, missile, mine, or similar device or any launching device therefore.
    Legal References
    ORS 1 61.015
    ORS 166.210 - 166.382
    OAR 576-065-0010