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Weapons Policy

The possession, carrying, or use of any weapon, ammunition, or explosive by any person is prohibited on all Science & Arts property except by authorized law enforcement officers and other persons specifically authorized by the University. No person shall possess, carry, or use any fireworks on University property, except for those persons authorized by University and local governments to discharge such fireworks as part of a public display. Paintball guns and paintball markers may only be used on the property of the University in connection with authorized University activities and only at approved locations. Any University student who violates these prohibitions shall be subject to discipline in accordance with regular University procedures, which may include suspension or dismissal from the University. Visitors to the University will be subject to appropriate trespass actions for failure to comply with these regulations. Further, if possession or use of a weapon, fireworks or paintball device is in violation of the law, it will be referred to University Security officers, Dean of Students, or other proper law enforcement authorities.

Definitions: A weapon is any instrument or implement which is capable of inflicting serious bodily injury, and shall include but not be limited to:

  1. Any rifle, shotgun, handgun, machine gun, or other firearm, or antique firearms suitable for use; any air gun, spring gun, B-B gun, or implement that is not a firearm, which propels a pellet of any kind; any starter pistol, flare gun, tranquilizer gun, stun gun, zip gun, spear gun, dart gun, sling shot; realistic facsimiles of guns or ammunition of any type for weapons governed by these regulations.
  2. Any knife with a blade larger than that of a folding pocketknife; dagger; razor or other cutting instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push- button, spring mechanism, or otherwise.
  3. Any striking instrument to include clubs, truncheons, blackjacks, sandbags, metal knuckles, or sap gloves.
  4. Any martial arts weapons to include nunchakus, tonfas, staffs, and throwing stars.
  5. Any bow and arrow combination.
  6. Any device which discharges chemical irritant or tear gas and smoke grenades.
  7. Any incendiary device to include flammable substances enclosed in readily breakable containers that can be equipped with an igniter of any type.
  8. Any explosive device to include hand grenades, bombs, black powder, smokeless powder, percussion caps, friction primers, and pyrotechnic fuses.
  9. Fireworks are defined as any combustible or explosive composition or any substance or combination of substances or any article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation.
  10. Any blank cartridge or toy cannon in which explosives are used; the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel them; firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles, aerials, or other fireworks of like construction; and any fireworks containing any explosive or flammable compound or any tablets or other device containing any explosive substance.

Regulations: All use and possession of weapons must conform to all applicable state, federal and local laws.

  1. Possession and storage of weapons in on-campus residences is prohibited. No person shall store any weapon in a vehicle on campus.
  2. Possession of commercially available aerosol dispensers of non-lethal chemical irritants for the purpose of self-protection is permitted. Any such use of such devices must be justifiable in accordance with the laws governing the use of force.
  3. Educational use, including instructional, research and authorized recreational use and possession of weapons is permitted under the supervision of appropriate faculty members.
  4. Occupational use and possession of weapons by employees of the University is permitted where authorized by appropriate supervision.
  5. Heads of those departments which have need for weapons and/or their use for educational, instructional, occupational, or recreational purposes must provide specific information pertaining to their individual needs to Dean of Students office. The safe use and security of weapons for such authorized purposes shall be the responsibility of the Department involved, subject to any conditions as required in the authorization.
  6. Club sports teams and student organizations which utilize weapons in their organizational activities must have approval to maintain and use any implements defined as weapons in this policy. The authorization for club sports teams shall be granted by the Dean of Students.
  7. The authorization for student organizations shall be granted by the Dean of Students. Approval will be granted only after the sports club team or student organization has provided information describing how the weapons are to be used, the qualifications of those who will be instructing and/or overseeing the activities involving weapons, and the established procedures to insure the safe use and storage of any weapons. Annually during September of each year, club sports teams and student organizations must submit a request for renewal of their authorization to maintain and use weapons. Any sports club teams or student organization whose activities involve the use of firearms must also have their request for authorization reviewed and approved by University Security before initial approval may be granted. Any significant changes in the procedures for maintaining and using firearms must be approved by University Security.
  8. Conferences having a need to use or store weapons for educational, instructional, research or authorized recreational activities may store weapons at suitable facilities on the campus when such storage is limited to the duration of the conference and the storage facility and storage procedures have been approved by University Security.

Any questions concerning the interpretations of these regulations should be forwarded to University Security.