Campus carry in the United States

In the United States, campus carry refers to the possession of firearms on college or university campuses. Each state has its own discretion on laws concerning campus carry.

A map of campus carry laws in the United States:
  Mandatory (guns always allowed)
  Institutional (campuses can choose)
  Non-permissive (guns banned)
Firearm legal topics of the
United States
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As of 2023, 19 states ban the carrying of a concealed weapon on a college campus; 19 states allow individual colleges and universities to make decisions on whether to prohibit or permit the carrying of a concealed weapon on their campuses; 12 states (either because of state legislation or judicial decision) permit the carrying of concealed weapons on public post-secondary college campuses; and two states (Utah, West Virginia) have a specific state law requiring all public colleges and universities to allow the carrying of concealed weapons on their property.[1][2]

History

The first state to legalize campus carry on a statewide basis was Utah in 2004.[3] In 2012, in a lawsuit brought by the activist group Students for Concealed Carry, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the 2003 Colorado Concealed Carry Act prohibited public universities in the state from regulating the possession of concealed handguns on campus. Before the 2012 decision, the University of Colorado System, although not other Colorado public universities had banned firearms possessions on its property, as a non-binding state attorney general's opinion stated that the University of Colorado was not subject to the Concealed Carry Act.[4][5]

Public opinion

Campus carry falls under the general gun debate in the United States.

Argument in opposition

Many believe that permitting firearms in a classroom would lead to disruption in the learning processes of students and diminish the overall safety of students. "Ball State University found that 78% of students from 15 Midwestern colleges and universities would feel unsafe if students, faculty and visitors carried concealed firearms on campus" (Marc Randsford, 2014).[6] In a study published in 2012, survey results from two college campuses indicated a majority of faculty, students, and staff (73%) did not want qualified individuals to be able to carry a gun on campus, 70% did not feel safer with more concealed guns on campus, and 72% did not think armed faculty, students, and staff would promote a greater sense of campus safety.[7]

Argument in favor

Proponents of campus carry argue that 94% of mass shootings occur in gun free zones.[8] Therefore it is argued, by passing campus carry, mass shootings on college campuses will decrease. Additionally, despite students stating that they would feel less safe with campus carry, there has been no increase in violence on campuses with campus carry.[9] Proponents argue that college campuses are open to the public by nature, so enforcement of campus carry restrictions would be near-impossible, and would not stop a bad actor. This argument is also used to address the “chilling” effect of campus carry, by holding that anyone could have a concealed weapon on their person, even on campuses with restrictions on campus carry.[10] Finally, proponents argue that campus carry violates the second amendment rights of adult students. In June of 2022, the Supreme Court in NYSRPA v. Bruen held that the right to carry a firearm extends outside the home, with limited exceptions.

Campus carry by state

There are three different forms of campus carry laws that states enact: mandatory, institutional, or non-permissive.

Mandatory refers to a law or court decision which requires a publicly funded institution to generally allow firearms on campus, though some locations may be exempted depending on the school policy (e.g. in a secure area, or at a sporting event). Restricted areas vary by state and individual school; refer to a school's specific policy for details. Some states require the firearm to be concealed (e.g. Texas) while others allow concealed or open carry (e.g. Utah).

Institutional refers to the decision of each institution to determine whether to allow firearms on campus. School firearm policies generally do not have the force of law. The majority of institutions in these states opt to ban guns with a few exceptions (e.g. Liberty University).

Non-permissive refers to the prohibition of firearms on any institutional property by law, with limited exceptions.

For full details for each state, including references to state laws and campus policies, see references.[1][11][12]

Status of campus carry, by jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Mandatory Institutional Non-permissive Notes
Alabama checkY
Alaska checkY
Arizona checkY May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Arkansas checkY Effective September 1, 2017. Enhanced concealed carry permit holders only. Concealed carry only; open carry is forbidden. May carry, but not store, firearms in university-owned or -operated dormitories/residence halls.[13] May not carry "into a location where an official meeting is being conducted in accordance with documented grievance and disciplinary procedures as established by the university, provided that certain other requirements are met."[13] May not carry in a public preschool or K-12 school.[14] Under state law, the Arkansas State Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences "may submit security plans to the State Police to obtain permission to designate certain sensitive areas off-limit to firearms, and colleges and universities may do the same while hosting or sponsoring collegiate athletic events, as specified."[14] May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.[15]
California ☒N May carry only with permission of institutional authorities; otherwise guns banned.[16]
Colorado checkY May carry concealed as per the Concealed Carry Act of 2003. Affirmed by the Colorado Supreme Court in 2012 that public universities may not ban guns for persons who have concealed carry permits.[4]
Connecticut checkY
Delaware checkY
District of Columbia ☒N
Florida ☒N May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Georgia checkY Effective July 1, 2017.[17] Allows the holders of concealed-carry permits who are 21 years of age to carry concealed firearms on some parts of campus, as well as to leave firearms in locked vehicles.[17][18] Carrying of firearms is not permitted in dormitories; fraternity and sorority houses; gymnasiums and athletic venues; "classrooms used to teach high school students in dual enrollment programs"; "faculty, staff and administrative offices"; "rooms where disciplinary hearings are held"; and campus child-care centers.[18]
Hawaii checkY
Idaho checkY Enhanced concealed carry permit holders only. Concealed carry only; open carry is forbidden.
Illinois ☒N May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Indiana checkY
Iowa ☒N Weapons banned on campus.[19]
Kansas checkY Effective July 1, 2017. Concealed carry only. No permit required. Gun ban allowed only if "adequate security measures" are in place.

Adequate security measures includes the use of metal detectors, armed personnel, metal detecting wands, etc.

Kentucky checkY May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Louisiana ☒N May carry only with permission of institutional authorities; otherwise guns banned. May keep a gun in dormitory. May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.[20][21]
Maine checkY
Maryland checkY
Massachusetts ☒N
Michigan checkY ☒N State law bans the concealed carry of guns in dormitories or classrooms of colleges, but not college grounds. Open carry is not illegal.[22] May also carry if the parent of a child in school.[23] May also carry at Michigan State University grounds but not buildings.[24] More information here. May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Minnesota checkY Colleges may only forbid carrying by employees and students. Only employment or academic sanctions may be imposed; no criminal charges. Non-employees/non-students can carry. May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.[25]
Mississippi checkY Permit holders who have taken a voluntary instructional course on the safe handling of firearms may carry on school property.
Missouri ☒N
Montana checkY Effective June 1, 2021, both concealed and open carry are allowed at all public institutions. While no permit is required, one must have received training that would make one become eligible for a permit.[26]
Nebraska ☒N May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Nevada ☒N May carry, or keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot, only with permission of institutional authorities; otherwise guns banned.[27]
New Hampshire checkY
New Jersey ☒N
New Mexico ☒N May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot. May carry openly or concealed while in a motor vehicle on campus if 19+, but carrying on-foot while on campus is prohibited. Exceptions exist for university-sponsored shooting events and ROTC programs.[28]
New York ☒N
North Carolina ☒N May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
North Dakota checkY May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Ohio checkY ☒N No law against open carry on college grounds (not buildings) thus making open carry institutional. However, open carry by students of that institution may be subject to code of conduct violations/discipline. May carry concealed only with permission of institutional authorities; otherwise concealed carry banned. May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Oklahoma ☒N May carry only with permission of institutional authorities; otherwise guns banned. May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Oregon checkY In 2021, the state legislature passed SB 554, which states that each campus may choose whether to ban firearms. Prior to that, firearms were allowed on campus grounds pursuant to an Oregon Court of Appeals ruling from 2011.[29]
Pennsylvania checkY
Rhode Island checkY
South Carolina ☒N May carry only with permission of institutional authorities; otherwise guns banned.[30] May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
South Dakota checkY
Tennessee ☒N Full-time employees of public colleges/universities with handgun carry permits may carry concealed; students/general public cannot.[31] May keep a gun in a locked car in parking lot.
Texas checkY Effective August 1, 2016, for four-year universities; August 1, 2017, for community colleges. Concealed carry only; open carry is forbidden. Must have a license to carry. Limited gun-free zones are allowed for specific sensitive places. Private institutions may opt out, and all have done so, with the exception of Amberton University.[32]
Utah checkY Both concealed and open carry are allowed at all public institutions.
Vermont checkY
Virginia checkY
Washington checkY ☒N University of Washington: may carry only with permission of institutional authorities; otherwise guns banned.[33]

All other public universities: institutional.

West Virginia checkY In March 2023, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice signed into law Campus Carry for all Public Universities in the state effective July 2024.[2]
Wisconsin checkY Campus buildings are exempted if signs posted.
Wyoming checkY ☒N No law against open carry, thus making open carry institutional. May carry concealed only with permission of institutional authorities; otherwise concealed carry banned.[34]

See also

References
  1. "Guns on Campus: Overview". National Conference of State Legislatures. November 1, 2019.
  2. "SB 10 Text".
  3. "Utah only state to allow guns at college". NBC News. Associated Press. 2007-04-28. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  4. Kopel, David (20 April 2015). "Guns on university campuses: The Colorado experience". Washington Post.
  5. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, LLC v. Regents of the Univ. of Colo., 280 P.3d 18, 28 (Colo. App. 2010), aff'd, 271 P.3d 496 (Colo. 2012).
  6. Lewis, Shaundra K. (2017). "Crossfire on Compulsory Campus Carry Laws: When the First and Second Amendments Collide" (PDF). Iowa Law Review. 102 (5): 2109–2144. ProQuest 2187897377.
  7. Patten, Ryan; Thomas, Matthew O.; Wada, James C. (15 November 2012). "Packing Heat: Attitudes Regarding Concealed Weapons on College Campuses". American Journal of Criminal Justice. 38 (4): 551–569. doi:10.1007/s12103-012-9191-1. S2CID 144202347.
  8. https://crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/
  9. "Following legalized campus carry, universities report no increase in violence on their campuses". 6 December 2019.
  10. "Why You Should Care About Campus Carry | Students for Concealed Carry".
  11. "Colleges and Universities where concealed guns are permitted". Armed Campuses. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  12. "State By State". concealedcampus.org. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  13. "Concealed Carry Frequently Asked Questions". University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  14. "Other Location Restrictions in Arkansas". Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. October 9, 2019.
  15. "Act 1078" (PDF).
  16. "In wake of school shootings, Gov. Jerry Brown bans concealed guns on California campuses". Los Angeles Times. 10 October 2015.
  17. Ramsey Touchberry, What Georgia's new concealed campus carry law means for students and faculty, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (July 12, 2017).
  18. Eric Stirgus & Maya T. Prabhu, Georgia's year-old campus carry law still stirs confusion, debate, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (July 2, 2018).
  19. "681-13.14(5)" (PDF).
  20. "Louisiana State Legislature". legis.la.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  21. "Louisiana State Legislature". legis.la.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  22. "So, it's legal to carry a loaded gun into a Michigan school?". MLive.com. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
  23. "Michigan Legislature - Section 28.425o". www.legislature.mi.gov. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  24. "MSU allows people to carry concealed firearms on campus". Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  25. "624.714 - 2016 Minnesota Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  26. "Montana HB102 | 2021 | Regular Session". LegiScan. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  27. "NRS: Chapter 202 - Crimes Against Public Health and Safety". www.leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  28. "2017 New Mexico Statutes :: Chapter 30 - Criminal Offenses :: Article 7 - Weapons and Explosives :: Section 30-7-2.4 - Unlawful carrying of a firearm on university premises; notice; penalty". Justia Law. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  29. VanderHart, Dirk. "Oregon lawmakers pass the state's first gun-control legislation in years". OPB. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  30. "2009-2010 Bill 593: Weapons - South Carolina Legislature Online".
  31. "TN Gov. Haslam lets guns-on-campus bill become law without his signature". timesfreepress.com. 2016-05-02. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  32. Watkins, Matthew; Conway, Madeline (2016-07-29). "Only One Private Texas University Adopting Campus Carry". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  33. "WAC 478-124-020: Conduct on campus code—Prohibited conduct". apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  34. "2015 Wyoming Code :: Title 6 - Crimes and Offenses :: Chapter 8 - Weapons :: Article 1 - Weapons Offenses :: Section 6-8-104 - Wearing or carrying concealed weapons; penalties; exceptions; permits". Justia Law. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
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