FIREARMS AND WEAPONS POLICY
Below is the Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Paso (BBBSEP) Firearms and Weapons policy:
1. Carrying a firearm and weapon while with your Little is not sanctioned by the agency and highly discouraged. BBBSEP explicitly prohibits all volunteers from carrying a firearm/weapon while participating in any BBBSEP activity including the match with a Little. BBBSEP explicitly prohibits volunteers from involving a Little in an activity that involves a dangerous weapon. Activities such as hunting, target shooting, paint ball games, or the use of BB or pellet guns are prohibited.
2. Volunteer will ensure that any weapons, firearms or ammunition are licensed, permitted, registered, and handled in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws.
3. Volunteers will inform BBBSEP of the ownership of any weapons or the presence of weapons in the home. BBBSEP staff will discuss the ownership of weapons during the volunteer’s interview and/or home assessment, and update that status for the life of the match. For purposes of this policy, “weapons” may include all firearms, handguns, zip guns, knives (except for kitchen knives and small pocket knives not used or intended for use as a weapon or to inflict bodily injury) and explosive devices.
4. Volunteers will ensure that weapons and ammunition are inaccessible to the child and to any other child participating in BBBSEP, while the child is under their supervision. The means of ensuring the inaccessibility will be discussed during the interview and/or home visit.
5. Volunteers will ensure that any firearms or weapons in their home will be stored with a trigger locking mechanism separately from its ammunition and keep both the ammunition and the firearm in a locked location inaccessible to their Little.
6. Volunteers will adhere to the policy that a volunteer will not carry a firearm at any time while accompanying the child assigned to them by BBBSEP or accompanying any other child participating in a BBBS activity.
7. Volunteers will understand that BBBSEP will disclose to the parent or guardian of the child assigned to you by BBBS the agency’s weapons policy and the volunteer’s admission of weapon ownership or the presence of a weapon in the home.
8. If the volunteer is a Law Enforcement Officer and required to carry a firearm at all times, it will be in their possession and inaccessible to their Little at all times while they are with their Little or accompanying any other child participating in a BBBS activity. The volunteer may be asked by BBBSEP to provide proof that they are a Law Enforcement Officer and permitted by state and federal laws to carry a firearm.
9. Volunteers will abide by any other policy or procedure that BBBSEP may put into effect regarding weapons.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I understand that if the volunteer violates the weapons policy, my child’s match is subject to immediate termination.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY: I, for myself and my heirs, administrators, successors and assigns, hereby release and discharge Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Paso and its directors, officers, agents employees, other volunteers, promoters, sponsors and advertisers (collectively referred to as “Releasees”) from and against any and all claims, liabilities or damages arising out of, or in connection with, my child’s participation, including any claims by, or on behalf of, me for injuries or property damage that my child may suffer during the course of, or that arise out of, my child’s participation in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. I understand that participation creates a risk of injury and I expressly acknowledge and assume the risk of such injury. I further agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Releasees from any-third party suits, claims or actions arising out of, or relating to, my child’s participation in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.