Another School Shooting, TX

[TK421 2]

Figures, this must be one of the only gun-free places in Texas!

 

After reading their recommendation on what to do with an active shooter when they do not allow legal concealed carry on campus; I have come to the conclusion that those who profess to teach "higher education" are in fact dumber than your average high school drop-out.

 

_{Lone Star College Student Code of Conduct}

 

VI.E.2.04 - Weapons and Weapons Possession

 

A student shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possess or go onto LSCS premises with any prohibited weapon, as defined below, except pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of LSCS.

 

A student shall not interfere with normal activities, occupancy or use of any building or portion of LSCS campuses, or of any vehicles engaged in the transportation of students to and from college-sponsored activities by exhibiting, using, or threatening to exhibit or use a firearm. Prohibited weapons are defined as follows:

a.A firearm (any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance or any device readily convertible to that use).

b.An illegal knife (knife with blade over 5½ inches; hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by being thrown; switchblade knife; dagger; bowie knife; sword; or spear).

c.An explosive weapon (any explosive or incendiary device, bomb, grenade, rocket or mine that is designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury, death, or substantial property damage, or for the principal purpose of causing such a loud report as to cause undue public alarm or terror, and includes a device designed, made or adapted for delivery or shooting an explosive weapon).

d.Knuckles (any instrument consisting of finger rings or guards made of a hard substance that is designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by striking a person with a fist enclosed in the knuckles).

e.Armor-piercing ammunition (handgun ammunition that is designed primarily for the purpose of penetrating metal or body armor and to be used primarily in pistols and revolvers).

f.A chemical dispensing device (device other than a small chemical dispenser sold commercially for personal protection, that is designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of causing an adverse psychological or physiological effect on a human being).

g.A zip gun (a device or combination of devices that was not originally a firearm and is adapted to expel a projectile through a smooth-bore or rifle-bore barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance).

h.A club (instrument specially designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by striking a person with the instrument, including a blackjack, nightstick, mace, and tomahawk).

 

Weapons On Premises

 

II.F. WEAPONS ON PREMISES

II.F.1. Policy

II.F.1.01 Firearms/Weapons - Illegal

A person shall not knowingly, intentionally or recklessly go onto the physical premises or passenger transportation vehicle of the System with a firearm or any prohibited weapon listed in Penal Code 46.05(a) unless pursuant to written regulation or law, or written authorization of the System.

Violation of this law is a third degree felony. Penal Code 46.05 (See also Section: Student Code of Conduct, Section VI. Students, of Board Policy Manual).

The physical premises of the System means any grounds or buildings owned or leased by the System, including, but not limited to, lots and land under the control of the System, or upon which a System building is located

II.F.1.02 Firearms/Weapons - Prohibited

No person shall be permitted to interfere with the normal activities, the normal occupancy or the normal use of any building or portion of campus of any school by exhibiting or using or threatening to exhibit or use a firearm of weapon.

II.F.1.03 Firearms at System Meetings

Regardless of whether the weapon is concealed or not, a person who has been issued a license to carry a concealed firearm commits an offense if he or she carries a firearm at any meeting of the System, unless otherwise allowed by state law.

II.F.1.04 Criminal Trespass

A person who carries a concealed handgun whether licensed or not onto premises to which the System has title or possession or is a holder in due course of a negotiable instrument in violation of a posted notice violates the criminal trespass statute.

II.F.1.05 Prohibition of Concealed Weapons

Unless otherwise allowed by state law, the System may prohibit persons who are licensed to carry a concealed handgun from carrying a concealed weapon onto its premises.

II.F.1.06 System Firearms Policy

It is the policy of this System to prohibit the carrying of firearms, knives and clubs onto any of the System's facilities. The possession of firearms, illegal knives and prohibited knives on System facilities including parking areas and publicly accessed facilities is a violation of criminal law and Board policies. This prohibition includes licensed concealed handguns except as otherwise allowed by state law.

Persons who violate the law and these policies will be subject to serious consequences, including referral for criminal prosecution, dismissal from school or discharge of employment.

The System may impose the most severe sanctions available to it, including expulsion, in the case of a student, or immediate discharge, in the case of an employee, if it finds that the policy was breached intentionally or in a manner that placed in jeopardy the safety and security of the colleges or any of the persons on its premises.

The System, through its police department, publications and signage, shall inform students, employees, renters and visitors of the law and these policies.

The System shall develop procedures to permit law enforcement officers and others in similar positions, identified as exempt from these policies, to carry concealed weapons on their persons while in the actual course of duty, and in their vehicles while off duty, if required to carry such weapons by their employers.

It is the policy of this System to prohibit the carrying of firearms, knives and clubs onto any of the System's facilities.

 

Active Shooter

 

An Active Shooter is a situation where one or more suspects participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, and demonstrating intent to continuously harm others. The overriding objective appears to be that of inflicting serious bodily injury or death rather than other criminal conduct. These situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, demanding immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to innocent victims.

 

In the Classroom or Office

•If you are in a classroom, room or office, STAY THERE, secure the door and turn off the lights.

•Remain silent.

•If the door has no lock and the door opens in, a heavy door wedge can be kept on hand and used, otherwise look for heavy furniture to barricade the door.

•If the door has a window, cover it.

•Depending on the gunmen's location, you may also exit through windows. Have someone watch as you get as many students out through windows as calmly and as quietly as possible.

•If the windows do not open, you cannot break them, or you are not on a ground floor, get out of sight from the door and stay low and quiet.

•If no police units are on scene, move well away from the incident and find safe cover positions (not the parking lots) and wait for the police to arrive.

•When police officers arrive, while keeping your hands on top of your head and do exactly what the police tell you to do.

 

In Hallways or Corridors

•If in the hallways, get in a room that is not already secured and secure it.

•Unless you are very close to an exit, do not run through a long hall to get to one, as you may encounter the gunmen or hostage taker.

 

In Large Rooms or Auditoriums

•If in a gym or theater area and the gunmen are not present, move to an external exit and move toward any police unit.

•Drop all bags and keep your hands on your head.

•Do what the police tell you to do.

 

Open Spaces

•Stay alert and look for appropriate cover locations. Hard cover, such as brick walls, large trees, retaining walls, parked vehicles, and any other object that may stop bullets, may be utilized as cover.

 

Trapped with the Gunmen

•If you are trapped with the gunmen, don't do anything to provoke them.

•If they are not shooting, do what they say and don't move suddenly.

•There is no set procedure in this situation.

•If possible, call X5911 or 281.290.5911 and talk with a police dispatcher.

•If you cannot speak, leave the phone line open so the police can hear what is going on.

•If they do start shooting people, you need to make a choice: stay still and hope they do not shoot you, run for an exit while zigzagging, or attack the shooter.

•If you chose to run, a zigzagging moving target is much harder to hit than a straight runner.

•Playing dead may also be a consideration.

•It is not a recommendation to attack the shooter, but remember that you have a choice to fight when there are no other options.

•The last thing that the shooter will expect is to be attacked by you.

 

What to Expect from Responding Police Officers

 

Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area where the shots were last heard; their purpose is to stop the shooting as quickly as possible. The first responding officers may possibly be from different police agencies and dressed in different uniforms. They may even be in civilian clothes and wearing an external bulletproof vest.

•Regardless of how officers appear, remain calm.

•Do as the officers tell you, and do not be afraid of them.

•Put down any bags or packages that you are carrying and keep your hands visible at all times.

•If you know where the shooter is, or know the shooters description, tell the officers.

•The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured victims.

•Rescue teams will follow shortly after the first responding officers enter the area.

•They will attend to the injured and remove everyone safely from the area.

•Keep in mind that once you have escaped to a safer location, the entire area is still a crime scene.

•Police will usually not let anyone leave until the situation is under control and witnesses have been identified.

•Until you have been released, remain at the assembly point authorities have designate.

 

What else can you do?

•Prepare a plan of action for an active shooter in advance.

•Determine possible escape routes and know where the nearest building exits are.