Gun team ban may be lifted

Wake schools get policy proposal

RALEIGH -- Wake County school officials have drafted a policy that, if approved, would allow Wake students to compete in state-sponsored marksmanship competitions.

The proposal, presented Tuesday, would clarify rules that stopped students at East Wake High School from taking part in the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Hunter Education Tournament in March. Under the current policy, students are banned from using firearms, either on campus or off, in school- sponsored events.

Included in the draft policy:

* Students would need notarized parental permission to participate in a firearms event.

* Students who take part in a tournament must pass hunter education taught by a state-approved instructor.

* Events must occur at approved firing ranges.

The final policy would reiterate Wake rules that no firearms are allowed on school grounds.

"You can't have it in your truck because you were going to practice after school," said school board member Lori Millberg. "We don't want to frighten people and say that you can now have guns in Wake County schools. You can't."

The marksmanship team from East Wake was banned from competition after more than two decades of competition.

The ban generated outcry from gun-rights advocates.

The draft guidelines will be heard at the school board's committee of the whole meeting Tuesday.