Safety Law News for April 21, 2023

–  In the Virgin Islands, the United States District Court, ruled that “the area within 1,000 feet of the school grounds is within the scope of sensitive places;…the presence of large numbers of children either at school or traveling to and from it [are such that] possession of firearms within some distance around such locations similarly presents the risk of danger and disruption.”  The ruling upheld the conviction of a man who was found carrying a firearm on a public school campus.  The court acknowledged that “the Second Amendment protects conduct by law-abiding citizens. Even so, the court applied one of the exceptions to this right found in the U.S. Supreme Court case of District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008) e.g., “this Nations historical tradition of lawfully disarming citizens in “sensitive places” … is constitutionally sound.”  United States v. Walker, No. 3:20-CR-0039, 2023 WL 3020321 (D.V.I. Apr. 20, 2023)

— In Indiana, officials in Warren Township district wants voters to approve an $88 million operating referendum that would increase property taxes to provide funding for 11 school resource officers, 14 school safety officers and equipment and supplies. 

— In Michigan, Port Huron police and school officials are working on a way to safely and calmly reunite students with family members in the event of a campus crisis incident.  Under the proposal, students will be brought to a reunification point away from the school. Reunification officials will then work to successfully connect students with their parents or guardians.

— In South Carolina, biometric gun safes are being installed in the Oconee County schools.  The goal is to provide officers with a place to store their patrol rifles in the safe during the school day instead of their patrol car. The school’s SRO is the only person who will be able to access the rifle in the safe using their fingerprint. SROs will also be able to access the safe in their school or another school in the district using a code if there is an emergency.