A student shall not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly go onto school property or to a school-sponsored activity with any prohibited weapon, as defined below, unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the College. This prohibition shall not normally apply to school supplies such as pencils, compasses, scissors, and the like, unless those instruments are used in a menacing or threatening manner. Students found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including suspension.
Prohibited weapons include but are not limited to:
- A firearm, which is not covered in the Panola College Campus Carry Regulations, (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).
- An illegal knife (knife with a blade over 5 ½ inches, hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by being thrown, dagger, Bowie knife, sword, spear).
- An explosive weapon (any explosive or incendiary 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).
- A machine gun (any firearm that is capable of shooting more than two shots automatically without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger).
- A short-barrel firearm (rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches or a shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches, or any weapon made from a rifle or shotgun that, as altered, has an overall length of less than 26 inches).
- A switchblade knife (any knife with a blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath and that opens automatically by pressing a button or by the force of gravity or centrifugal force).
- 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).
- “Live” ammunition.
- 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).
- 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 rifled-bore barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance).
- A club (an 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).
- Fireworks, throwing stars, and other martial arts weapons are prohibited.
No weapons of any kind, whether operable or not, are allowed in the residence halls. College personnel may inspect lockers and cars parked on College premises if there is reasonable cause to believe they contain weapons. See Panola College campus carry regulations for concealed handgun policy.