PRO 4.070 Firearms

1. All firearms procured for the purpose of instruction in the law enforcement program will be registered with the college business office and assigned to the supervisor of law enforcement for security and proper use. Specific requirements for the storage and use of such firearms are as follows:
   1. All firearms in the custody of the supervisor/instructor of law enforcement will be stored in a locked metal file cabinet. The combination of numbers for the lock on the cabinet will be known only to the supervisor/instructor of law enforcement. The combination will also be placed in a sealed envelope and be deposited with the business manager for safekeeping. The cabinet in which the firearms are stored shall be placed in a vault on campus. The security and entrance to the vault will be under the direction of the senior administrator of the rank of dean or higher. Off campus storage facilities in a local law enforcement agency may be utilized if a suitable on-campus vault is not available.
   2. Live ammunition for training and instructional purposes shall be stored in a secure and appropriate manner consistent with nationally recognized standards and the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement standards for safe and secure storage. Ammunition shall be provided to authorized students only under the direction and supervision of qualified instructors at the firing site. All unused ammunition shall be retrieved by the supervising instructors and promptly returned to the storage site.
   3. Only instructors certified by a nationally recognized organization and/or the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement standards as competent to teach the safe and effective use of firearms will be allowed to provide instruction.
   4. The supervisor/instructor of law enforcement will ensure that the techniques and/or practices taught in the use of firearms conform to the current practices of state and local law enforcement agencies.
   5. The supervisor/instructor of law enforcement will be responsible for the receipt and proper storage of all assigned firearms after the completion of every instructional period.
   6. Any college owned firearms unaccounted for shall be reported to the college president immediately.
   7. Regular inventory will be taken monthly of the firearms.
2. All firearms brought by individuals for use on the Kirtland Community College firing range shall, unless otherwise authorized according to law and college policy, remain unloaded, cased, and stored in a secure manner consistent with state law regarding the transport of firearms. No firearms may be taken into or stored in student housing, except in the possession of certified law enforcement personnel. Kirtland range rules shall be prominently posted at the entrance to the range and to the firing line, and shall at all times when the range is in use be enforced by a qualified range officer. General requirements are as follows:
   1. The function of the Kirtland range facility is to provide training, instruction, and practice in the safe and appropriate use of firearms. Only individuals, recognized civic organizations, and government entities engaged in such or related activity are permitted use of the range. Kirtland classes and law-enforcement training exercises have first priority for range use. Scheduled sessions for competitive events, community education, and other like activities have next priority. When not otherwise in use, the college may post scheduled range open practice times under the supervision of a qualified range officer, for students enrolled in firearms classes, participants in Kirtland shooting teams, and individuals, recognized civic organizations, and government entities who have purchased or been otherwise authorized range access privileges under POL 3.015 Community Use of College Facilities. All adults using the range must be able to present identification/ documentation allowing the range officer to verify that they or any minors under their responsibility are authorized to use the range. The college reserves the right to conduct background checks on any user in accordance with state law to verify they are lawfully permitted to handle firearms.
   2. The college administrator responsible for firearms instruction will determine whether an individual meets the requirements to be a qualified range officer. A qualified range officer shall be present and observing the firing line whenever the discharge of firearms is taking place. The range officer has the authority to warn and to suspend the range privileges of any individual who violates the rules of the range. Appeal of any suspension may be directed in writing to the college administrator responsible for firearms instruction within ten (10) business days of the suspension being issued. The administrator or his/her designee will investigate and respond within ten (10) business days following the appeal being received. The administrator over student services has discretion, in consultation with the administrator responsible for firearms instruction, to determine if any refund will be issued. If the suspension is upheld, the suspended individual may then appeal to the president of the college within ten (10) business days. The decision of the president is final.

KIRTLAND RANGE RULES

1. Firearms shall always be pointed in a safe direction.
2. Fingers shall remain outside of the trigger guard until ready to shoot, or as otherwise directed by an instructor or range officer.
3. The action shall remain open and the firearm unloaded until the user has taken his/her place on the firing line, and the range has been cleared for live firing.
4. No live firing shall take place except as directed by the range officer. The range officer will advise of the commands to be followed for live firing.
5. Firing may continue until a predetermined time period has elapsed or until all participants have completed the prescribed course of fire.
6. All firing shall immediately cease when directed by the range officer, or upon any individual calling for cease fire. Unless otherwise directed by the range officer, unload, open the action, remove the magazine, and ground and/or bench all firearms during a cease fire, unless in possession of a misfire.
7. A shooter experiencing a misfire shall keep the firearm pointed down range, alert the range officer, remove finger from within the trigger guard, and wait three minutes.
8. No one shall proceed down range until the range officer has declared “range clear.”
9. Do NOT handle any firearms while others are down range.
10. The range shall only be used at times permitted by the college, by individuals and groups authorized by the college, and only in the presence of a range officer as authorized by the college.
11. Alcohol is prohibited on the college premises, and tobacco products are prohibited at the firing line. Anyone appearing under the influence of alcohol or drugs, legal or otherwise, shall not handle a firearm on the premises.
12. No food or beverages shall be placed or consumed on the firing line while firing is taking place.
13. Effective ear and eye protection are required. A billed cap is recommended. Open, loose-fitting clothing that a hot casing could drop within is not recommended.
14. If in possession of more than one firearm requiring different ammunition, use one at a time and keep the others stored and their respective ammunition type separate from what is in use.
15. The range officer has the right to inspect any firearm or ammunition for safety issues at any time, and to prohibit the use of any firearm or ammunition deemed unsafe.
16. All adults using the range must be able to present identification and/or documentation allowing the range officer to verify that they or any minors under their responsibility are enrolled in a firearms class, have purchased range privileges, or are otherwise authorized to use the range.
17. The college reserves the right to conduct background checks on any user in accordance with state law to verify they are lawfully permitted to handle firearms.
18. The range officer has the authority to warn, and to suspend the range privileges of any individual who violates the rules of the range. Appeal of any suspension may be directed in writing to the college dean responsible for firearms instruction, within ten (10) business days of the suspension. The dean or their designee will investigate and respond within ten (10) business days. A suspended individual may then appeal to the college president within ten (10) business days. The decision of the president is final.

To view the policy, go to POL 4.070 Firearms