Bringing Weapons onto School Premises in Colorado Springs: What You Need to Know

This article provides an overview of what you need to know about bringing weapons onto school premises in Colorado Springs.

Bringing Weapons onto School Premises in Colorado Springs: What You Need to Know

Under Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) § 18-12-105, 5, it is illegal to possess a deadly weapon on the grounds of any public or private school. Generally, the open carrying of legal firearms is allowed, unless the law specifically prohibits it. Prohibited persons include criminals, fugitives, those subject to protection orders that prohibit possession of firearms, and others. A permit holder employed by a school district as a security officer may carry a concealed gun over public school real estate while on duty.

The permit holder may also carry a concealed handgun in an undeveloped building owned by a school district that is used for hunting or other shooting sports. The Colorado School Districts Self-Insurance Fund insures a combination of 30 districts and charter schools that have approved teachers and staff to arm themselves. Chris Harms, director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety's School Safety Resource Center, notes that a district could refuse to respond if it allows teachers and staff to arm themselves. Last year, House Republicans sponsored a bill that would have required school boards to consult with their county sheriff's department to develop a curriculum to arm teachers; however, the bill failed to pass the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives committee due to fears that it would lead to more guns being allowed in schools. Veteran police chief who has served in Colorado Springs believes supportive teachers should stop bringing weapons to classrooms.

Colorado requires the expulsion of any student who brings a firearm to a school or possesses one in a school for at least one year, unless the superintendent of the school district modifies this requirement on a case-by-case basis in writing. Colorado is one of at least nine states where teachers can arm themselves in the classroom if their districts or charter schools allow it. The Colorado Home Rule Act and Denver's firearms prohibitions do not affect the right to own or carry legal firearms on private property, as long as all other applicable Colorado firearms laws are complied with. As Colorado's education system operates under local control, school boards and charter schools decide if arming teachers makes sense for their communities. Thirty school districts or charter schools in the state have done so.

If you get a CCW permit in Colorado or a CCW permit in one of the 35 states that have a reciprocity agreement with Colorado, you can carry a concealed legal weapon anywhere that is not prohibited by state law. Before a gun show vendor transfers or attempts to transfer a firearm at a gun show, he will require that a background check be carried out on the potential transferee and obtain approval for the transfer from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation through an authorized arms dealer. There is no state training standard for school employees who carry weapons, no standard policy on the use of force such as those intended to advise police officers, and little guidance for school districts other than that provided by their liability insurers. As an expert in SEO, I understand how important it is for people to be informed about laws regarding weapons on school premises in Colorado Springs. It is essential for parents and students alike to know what they can and cannot do when it comes to bringing weapons onto school grounds. This article provides an overview of what you need to know about bringing weapons onto school premises in Colorado Springs.

Under Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) § 18-12-105, 5, it is illegal for anyone other than security personnel with proper permits to possess deadly weapons on public or private school grounds. Open carrying of legal firearms is generally allowed unless specifically prohibited by law. Those prohibited from carrying firearms include criminals, fugitives, those subject to protection orders prohibiting possession of firearms, and others. The Colorado School Districts Self-Insurance Fund insures 30 districts and charter schools that have approved teachers and staff to arm themselves.

Chris Harms, director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety's School Safety Resource Center, notes that districts could refuse to respond if they allow teachers and staff to arm themselves. Last year, House Republicans sponsored a bill requiring school boards to consult with their county sheriff's department to develop curriculums for arming teachers; however, this bill failed due to fears it would lead to more guns being allowed in schools. Veteran police chief who has served in Colorado Springs believes supportive teachers should stop bringing weapons into classrooms. According to state law, any student found bringing firearms into schools or possessing them on campus must be expelled for at least one year unless modified by the superintendent on a case-by-case basis.

Colorado is one of nine states where teachers can arm themselves in classrooms if their districts or charter schools allow it. The Home Rule Act and Denver's firearm prohibitions do not affect the right to own or carry legal firearms on private property as long as all other applicable laws are followed. School boards and charter schools decide if arming teachers makes sense for their communities; 30 districts or charter schools have done so far. If you get a CCW permit in Colorado or one from any of 35 states with reciprocity agreements with Colorado, you can carry concealed legal weapons anywhere not prohibited by state law.

Before transferring firearms at gun shows, vendors must conduct background checks on potential transferees and obtain approval from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation through an authorized arms dealer. There are no state training standards for school employees carrying weapons nor standard policies on use of force like those intended for police officers; guidance for school districts comes from their liability insurers. In conclusion, it is important for people living in Colorado Springs to be aware of laws regarding weapons on school premises. Knowing what you can and cannot do when it comes to bringing weapons onto school grounds can help ensure everyone's safety.

Liz Lamons
Liz Lamons

Extreme pop culture nerd. Amateur internet specialist. Hardcore coffee scholar. Infuriatingly humble beer nerd. Incurable food trailblazer. Unapologetic pop culture practitioner.