Concealed carry and college campuses

A

alzika

Moderator
I have a few questions related to this. I'm a graduate student with a concealed carry permit.

What are the restrictions for having a gun on campus? Can I carry the gun in the car with me on the drive to campus, but leave it in the car once I arrive? Or is that illegal to even have it in the car?

What if I'm just driving THROUGH the campus but I don't intend to stop?
 
In NC our CC Instructor drilled into our heads that any type of educational property is a big no - no. Some one else can correct / confirm me in that I believe the actual law is no weapons what-so-ever within 100 yds of school property. However he said that if you are pulled over driving with in 100 yds of a school and get ticketed for it that a judge would most likely throw it out. Personally I don't drive with in 100 yds of a school or college. Back when I was in school I parked my car in a parking lot well over 100yds from campus and walked, leaving my CCW locked up in the car.
 
What are your state and local laws regarding concealed carry? Those are the first things you need to know. Then, what is your school's policy on concealed carry?

For instance, here in Alabama I am legal to carry on campus. There is no law against it. However, my university's policy is that I may have a firearm in my vehicle when it is parked on campus and am not in anyway restricted in using it for legal self defense, but I can't carry it on my person.
 
You're gona have to tell us what state, and maybe even what school. In Virginia, the only law on the books is no carrying concealed on VCU campus period. On every other campus it is perfectly legal but (and its a big one) school rules usually dictate that carrying weapons is forbidden (my school specifically states on any school owned or operated property, which includes parking lots). Breaking these rules will get you kicked out if you're a student or faculty, but not thrown in jail... If you aren't a student, there isn't anything they can do about it.
 
From Clemson's Student Code of Conduct:

Concealed Weapons

The Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act of 1996 provides the requirements for the State Law Enforcement Division to issue permits to allow certain individuals to carry concealed weapons. However, this act does not super cede section 16-23-420(a) of the South Carolina Code of Laws which reads: It is unlawful for a person to carry onto any premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by a private or public school, without the express permission of the authorities in charge of the premises or property.
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Not very enlightening, but I gather that if you are legal to carry, then you must seek permission of the university authorities...I would almost bet that any such permission would be denied, but I could be wrong.

Make sure you're legal to carry in SC (I'm assuming you already know, but it's always good to double check) and then give the universtiy admininstration a call, send them an email, or write a letter requesting permission. If they give it, make sure you get it in writing.
 
Be careful though. There are some stories lately where the mere mention of "gun" will get you suspended pending a psych eval.
 
My Google-Fu is strong, my friend. According to this discussion forum there was a bill (S*0593) that the governor signed, making it legal to keep your CCW in a closed compartment in your locked vehicle on campus. Grassroots SC is confirming that the bill was signed on June 2nd.

The SC code of laws site has not been updated to reflect the change. If I was going to carry my weapon on campus, I'd print out this page and have it in the car with the gun.

The Clemson Campus Safety Report is still citing Section 16-23-420 which prohibits carrying on campus, including in your POV. The Sled website has not been updated either.

C.U. does not appear to have a specific policy regarding CC. They're more conservative than the average university, possibly because of the military heritage. They have Pershing Rifles, a very active AFROTC and even have cannons overlooking Bowman field.
 
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I was lucky when I went to college CCW was legal also they had pioneer days where everyone dressed like a cowboy and put on gunbelts there were no gun related misshaps but our legislators passed a law against it.
 
Remember the difference between "carry" and secured in your vehicle. Based on these laws (which use the word "carry"), someone would be hard pressed to punish you if you secured your gun in your trunk separate from the ammunition and magazines. Obviously the firearm is of little use then, but once you leave campus you can put it back on. In many states, your vehicle is an extension of your home (not sure about SC) except in cases like "can't have a firearm anywhere on the property including parking lots".
 
Obviously the firearm is of little use then
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I wouldn't say its of little use. Its of no immediate use, but there are plenty of stories of college students grabbing their guns from their cars and detaining the BG.
 
In Colorado, the courts/attorney general have decided that individual colleges or universities can decide whether to acknowledge the state's CCW laws. So different colleges treat this differently. At the University of Colorado at Boulder, CCW is strictly a no-no. But at Colorado State University, CCW is fine.

In Texas, there was a big effort to extend CCW (CHL) rights to colleges/universities, but last I heard, the bill was delayed indefinitely.
 
Well unfortunately its impossible to give a blanket answer to you question do to differences in laws from state to state. Basically you should talk to an experienced NRA CCW instructor in your area or even a lawyer who specializes in the 2nd amendment.
 
alzika,

Perhaps you could phrase your inquiry in such a way as to seek the school's policy about issuing permission pursuant to section 16-23-420(a) of the South Carolina Code of Laws, without actually asking permission to carry your weapon or revealing that you own a firearm.

It might or might not allow you to gain information while remaining "under the radar". You are merely gathering information.
 
IMO, concealed carry means just that, in other words don't ask-don't tell. In a simple question in the case of Virginia Tech, if you were there would you have rather been armed ( illegally ):D or unarmed legally:mad:
 
In a simple question in the case of Virginia Tech, if you were there would you have rather been armed ( illegally ) or unarmed legally
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Yeah, that's the trick though. You have to weight that against the possible repercussions. If you think defending yourself against a statistical improbability outweighs the chances (whatever they are) of being caught (arrested and/or expelled), then by all means do so. You just have to be willing to face the consequences.
Unfortunately hindsight is 20/20, and if we knew ahead of time that we would need our weapon, we would just carry illegally (or just call in sick).
 
Multiple Laws May Apply

You need to be very careful because multiple laws may apply. I am a university professor in Florida with a CC permit but...I absolutely cannot have a weapon on campus. While the university has a weak statement prohibiting having firearms on campus Florida's laws (like those in another state another poster mentioned) absolutely prohibit carrying a weapon onto a campus (as well as a few other places, including "notorious establishments").

Florida recently passed a law prohibiting employers from preventing employees from keeping a firearm locked in their car on company property. But...buried in this new law is a reference to the CC statute (it says something like, "nothing in this statute counters the provisions of ___") which is the paragraph in the CC statute that prohibits having a firearm (actually any "weapon") on a campus. This exception was not publicized while the keep it locked in your car was. I contacted the university PD encouraging them to publicize this exception to keep people out of trouble but they never did.

Finally, there is an oddly worded exception in the CC statute that allows you to bring a firearm on campus for the purpose of engaging in competitive shooting. But the language doesn't specify that the shooting has to be on the campus. It opens the door (in my non-lawyer mind) to bringing a weapon onto campus on the way to competitive shooting elsewhere.
 
Don't carry a firearm onto any school ground in California unless you are a sworn peace officer. Don't carry a loaded firearm within 1000ft of any school. You also may not carry a knife with a blade longer than 2 inches on any school ground. Remember, you've been warned. :(
 
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