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This topic addresses the legal and ethical safety guidelines, or lack thereof, at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores (NC Aquarium, PKS). As a marine educator at the NC Aquarium, PKS, I am often in charge of large groups of school age children be it: sleepovers, field trips, or camps. However, until last summer, there has not been a single safety procedure made concerning a gun threat from a student. There is the mandatory, one paragraph active shooter procedure, but nothing else. This padlet will serve as a springboard for potential aquarium policies regarding threats of violence involving weapons.

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Outside of the active shooter policy in the aquarium safety manual, I could not find a single environmental education, gun violence procedure (Emergency Procedures, 2020). This lack of procedure may be due to the lack of active shooters targeting zoos and aquariums. However, that does not excuse the lack of preparation. Environmental education facilities need to develop strategies preemptively, so they are prepared if the event does occur.

In North Carolina, gun laws are relatively lax outside of conceal carry laws (35 NC Gen. Stat. § 14-269.). However, in light of the uptick of gun purchases due to COVID-19, and the raised emotions for the same reason, threats of gun violence may spill over to previously untouched facilities (Pane, 2020). The NC Aquarium, PKS only has two security guards at any given moment, and the vast majority of staff are ill equipped to handle a non-animal-related emergency.

References:

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. (2020, March 20). Emergency Procedures Quick Reference Guide, Weapons. [PDF].

Offenses Against the Public Peace, 35 NC Gen. Stat. § 14-269.

Pane, L. M. (2020, March 16). Virus fears fuel spike in sales of guns and ammunition. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/virus-fears-fuel-spike-in-sales-of-guns-and-ammunition

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Ascd. (2004). Chapter 6. Student threats and violence in schools. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/104147/chapters/Student-Threats-and-Violence-in-Schools.aspx

·      < http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/104147/chapters/Student-Threats-and-Violence-in-Schools.aspx>

·      This informational post helps distinguish the differences between idle words and “true threats.” Additionally, is helps identify the different types of true threats and how to legally handle them (Ascd, 2004).

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How aquarium security, Chattanooga police team up to provide protection. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/40584548/how-aquarium-security-chattanooga-police-team-up-to-provide-protection

·      < https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/40584548/how-aquarium-security-chattanooga-police-team-up-to-provide-protection>

·      On June 3, 2019, two people were shot outside of the TN Aquarium.

·      This article references an interview with the aquarium’s security manager and how he prepares for possible situations such as this.

·      This is one of very few shootings that happened around a zoo or aquarium, and the facility was closed at the time.

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Pane, L. M. (2020, March 16). Virus fears fuel spike in sales of guns and ammunition. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/virus-fears-fuel-spike-in-sales-of-guns-and-ammunition

·      < https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/virus-fears-fuel-spike-in-sales-of-guns-and-ammunition>

·      In light of COVID-19, people are panic purchasing guns.

·      Many are purchasing to defend against projected lawlessness if the economy continues to crumble

·      With more people toting guns, there’s a higher risk of gun-related violence at the aquarium when it does open again.

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Slide #6 Original Source of Law 1: Constitutional

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Slide #6 Original Source of Law 1: Constitutional

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U.S. Const. amend. II.

·       Source of Law: US Constitutional

·       < https://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment2.html>

·       Law Summary: The right for people to keep and carry weapons shall not be taken.

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Slide #7 Original Source of Law 2: Administrative

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Slide #7 Original Source of Law 2: Administrative

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Weapons, 07. NC Admin. Code § 15 .0401

·       Source of Law: State Administration

·       <http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2007%20-%20natural%20and%20cultural%20resources/chapter%2015%20-%20north%20carolina%20aquariums/07%20ncac%2015%20.0401.pdf>

·       Law Summary: It is unlawful to carry any deadly weapons in any of the North Carolina Aquarium facilities except by federal officers and those with conceal carry permits.

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Slide #8 Original Source of Law 3: Statutory 

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Slide #8 Original Source of Law 3: Statutory 

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Offenses Against the Public Peace, 35 NC Gen. Stat. § 14-269.

·       Source of Law: State Statutory

·  <https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-269.html>

·       Law Summary: it is unlawful to conceal any deadly weaponry anywhere in North Carolina unless you need it for your position or have a conceal carry permit.

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Slide #9 Original Source of Law 4: Judicial

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Slide #9 Original Source of Law 4: Judicial

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Britt v. State, 363 N.C. 546 (2009)

·       Source of Law: NC Judicial

·       < https://appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=1&pdf=5388>

·       Law Summary: The previous law denying firearm ownership to convicted felons was declared unconstitutional. This means convicted felons with conceal carry permits are legally able to carry on aquarium property.

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Slide #10 Local Administrative Law/Policy/Rule:

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Slide #10 Local Administrative Law/Policy/Rule:

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North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. (2020, March 20). Emergency Procedures Quick Reference Guide, Weapons. [PDF].

·      Source of Law: NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores Administration Policy

·      Link Unavailable: Internal document

·      Law Summary: Carrying weapons on aquarium property is strictly prohibited. Any suspicions of person, who is not a uniformed official, carrying a weapon should be immediately reported to security.

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Association of Zoos & Aquariums. (2017). AZA Code of Professional Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.aza.org/code-of-ethics

·      < https://www.aza.org/code-of-ethics>

·      “any action by a member that is detrimental to the best interest of the zoo and aquarium profession and the AZA, shall be considered unethical conduct” (AZA Code of Professional Ethics, 2017).

·      If anyone brings a weapon into the aquarium, they could be considered acting to the detriment of the aquarium’s best interest and could be subject to discipline. However, that does not apply to non-AZA members, such as daily visitors (AZA Code of Professional Ethics, 2017).

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Ascd. (2004). Chapter 1. school safety. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/102114/chapters/School-Safety.aspx

·      < http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/102114/chapters/School-Safety.aspx>

·      This resource is a thorough analysis of the ethical and legal aspects of school safety subjects such as crisis management and search and seizures (Ascd, 2004). Since the PKS Aquarium does not currently have any policies regarding gun threats in summer camps, this resource will be a good baseline for possible future policies.

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Slide #13 Bulleted list of Recommendations / Best Practices for Compliance:

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Slide #13 Bulleted list of Recommendations / Best Practices for Compliance:

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·      Develop a safety policy if a child or adult threatens severe violence towards another. This does not currently exist at the NC Aquarium, PKS.

·      Make new employees aware of current safety policies regarding carrying weapons into the aquarium facility by frequent trainings (Emergency Procedures, 2020). I have worked at the aquarium over 5 months and still have not received the active shooter procedure training.

·      Develop a safety procedure for camps and other summer programs where a formal teacher or other adult is not present to help the aquarium educator in an emergency.

·      Develop a safety procedure, based off of NC Admin. Code § 15 .0401, for a potential situation where a guardian threatens violence or is intoxicated while attempting to pick up a student.

·      Develop a handout for parents and guardians entailing the safety procedures in case of an emergency and what actions educators will take if a student or guardian threatens violence towards another.

·      Train educators on noticing potential at-risk students and how to address stress and other concerns to prevent threats before they can manifest (Ascd, 2019).

References:
Ascd. (2019, October). For school leaders, a time of vigilance and caring. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/oct19/vol77/num02/For-School-Leaders,-a-Time-of-Vigilance-and-Caring.aspx

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. (2020, March 20). Emergency Procedures Quick Reference Guide, Weapons. [PDF].

Offenses Against the Public Peace, 35 NC Gen. Stat. § 14-269.