My school's weapons policy

[Aggie_engr]

Weapons

State law prohibits the possession, carrying or use of illegal weapons or firearms on property that is owned or controlled by Texas A&M University at Galveston. All of these actions are considered to be felony offenses. The weapons-free zone for TAMUG extends 600 feet beyond the campus perimeter.

The only exception to this policy is for authorized law enforcement offices or other persons specifically authorized by TAMUG. Student violations of this policy may additionally result in disciplinary action.

The only thing that I see that might not prohibit chl's is the adjective "illegal." But, I have already personally confirmed with the police chief that chl or not, no one but officers can be in possession of a weapon on campus and he also cited the federal gun free school zone requirement of 600ft.

Should I chance getting caught with my handgun locked in my vehicle while parked on campus or while driving through to drop my g/f off for class?

On another note, this is nowhere close to being consistent with college station's weapons policy. At least they know the law and allow chl's to store their guns in their vehicles...

[seamusTX]

They are so massively misinformed as to be brain-damaged or willfully ignorant.

The federal law is 1,000 feet, not 600. It contains an exemption for CHL holders, and local police cannot enforce it.

The person to contact about this is the DA. His office will or will not pursue charges. I don't know what he will say.

- Jim

[Aggie_engr]

Who could I talk to about getting it resolved? How could the DA pursue charges that are so grossly negligent of state law? Maybe email the code to the chief about chl's being exempt from campus weapons bans except for the actual premises? I try to avoid coming onto campus now with my piece but sometimes it's just too inconvenient not to.

[Aggie_engr]

Another quote from our glorious handbook... Reminds me of the corrupt kalifornia system of issuing licenses.

Special permission for bringing a weapon on campus may be granted by the Chief of Campus Police or his or her designated representative.

And directly from the Texas A&M University Police Policies:

Weapons
For the safety of everyone, all types of weapons are prohibited on
University premises. This includes, but is not restricted to, firearms, illegal
knives, clubs or prohibited weapons (as defined in Penal Code Section
46.05(a)). Anyone possessing or using any of these weapons can and will
be subject to disciplinary action and possible arrest, imprisonment, or fine
according to state or federal law.
Weapons Free Zone
Weapon Free Zone - The University and 600 feet around the University is
considered a Weapon-Free Zone according to the laws of The State of
Texas, penalties are enhanced for any weapons charges. The University
and any facilities are also considered Places Where Weapons are
Prohibited by the laws of the State of Texas.

[seamusTX]

Who could I talk to about getting it resolved?

I don't know. The TAMUG cops aren't going to change their policy until they get direction from Austin, probably.

This kind of garbage is all over Galveston. The city has an ordinance that can't be enforced legally, and the county has signs that don't belong where they are.

I'm not willing to be the lightning rod. I have dependents and bills to pay. That's how the system works.

Kurt Sistrunk's phone number is 409-766-2355

- Jim

[Aggie_engr]

Thanks Jim. I wonder if anyone in college station would like to know about it since they actually know the laws?

[seamusTX]

I don't know how the Texas A&M system is organized. I don't mean to sound negative, but these issues are complicated and difficult to figure out. I don't have a law degree, and no one is paying me to analyze the situation.

- Jim

[Aggie_engr]

College Station's correct weapons policy:

UNIVERSITY RULE
34.06.02.M1 Weapons, Handguns, and Other Firearms
Approved March 1, 2006
Supplements System Policy 34.06 and System Regulation 34.06.02

1. GENERAL
1.1. The Texas Penal Code prohibits possession of firearms, illegal knives, clubs, or prohibited weapons (as defined in Penal Code Section 46.05(a)) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution. This prohibition even includes individuals licensed to carry a concealed handgun.
1.2. It is also a violation of University Rules to possess firearms, illegal knives, clubs, or prohibited weapons on the physical premises of Texas A&M University. Students, faculty or staff who violate this provision may be subject to University discipline in addition to criminal action. Licensed police officers (including game wardens) are authorized to carry a firearm at all times.
1.3. “Premises” as used in this Rule means a building or portion of a building. The term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk, walkway, parking lot, parking garage or other parking area.

2. RESTRICTIONS
2.1. Firearms, illegal knives, clubs, or prohibited weapons are not permitted on or in:
2.1.1. the physical premises of Texas A&M University,
2.1.2. any grounds or building (or portion of a building) on which an activity sponsored by Texas A&M University, or University recognized groups, is being conducted,
2.1.3. a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution.

[Aggie_engr]

TAMUG is a direct branch of TAMU college station. We are allotted funds directly from college station. A&M Corpus, Prarie View, etc. are all independent of college station.

Your opinions are not taken negatively Jim. No harm done in a free exchange of ideas and thoughts!

[seamusTX]

TAMUG is a direct branch of TAMU college station. We are allotted funds directly from college station.

Given that information, IMHO, the TAMUG cops are as I stated above.

I will be very interested in what you find out.

- Jim

[C-dub]

I wonder how ticked off they would be if you took them all of the pertinent statutes that allowed you to leave your weapon in your vehicle on the campus lots and showed them?

[JJVP]

Weapons

State law prohibits the possession, carrying or use of illegal weapons or firearms on property that is owned or controlled by Texas A&M University at Galveston. All of these actions are considered to be felony offenses. The weapons-free zone for TAMUG extends 600 feet beyond the campus perimeter.

The only exception to this policy is for authorized law enforcement offices or other persons specifically authorized by TAMUG. Student violations of this policy may additionally result in disciplinary action.

The only thing that I see that might not prohibit chl's is the adjective "illegal." But, I have already personally confirmed with the police chief that chl or not, no one but officers can be in possession of a weapon on campus and he also cited the federal gun free school zone requirement of 600ft.

Should I chance getting caught with my handgun locked in my vehicle while parked on campus or while driving through to drop my g/f off for class?

On another note, this is nowhere close to being consistent with college station's weapons policy. At least they know the law and allow chl's to store their guns in their vehicles...

PC 46.03. PLACES WEAPONS PROHIBITED. (a) A person commits
an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses
or goes with a firearm, illegal knife, club, or prohibited weapon
listed in Section 46.05(a):
(1) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution,
any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or
educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation
vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or
educational institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written
regulations or written authorization of the institution

46.035 (f)(3) "Premises" means a building or a portion of a building. The
term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk
or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.

[74novaman]

(1) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution,
any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or
educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation
vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or
educational institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written
regulations or written authorization of the institution

46.035 (f)(3) "Premises" means a building or a portion of a building. The
term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk
or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.

Not a lawyer, but doesn't both of these allow guns in personal cars on the Texas A&M campus? I lived on campus 4 years, and had an AK in the trunk and a pistol in the center console for the last year I lived on campus. Since campus rules specifically allow weapons in cars, and "premises" is defined to not include a parking garage, that should have been just fine. I read over things pretty carefully before I parked on campus.

Edit: JJPV, thought you were now refering to TAMU, where the rest of the discussion had turned, not on TAMUG and the original question. My mistake. Same should still apply regarding the Premises definition, regardless of campus rules, correct?

[seamusTX]

Speaking of brain damage, I forgot that the federal law applies only to primary and secondary schools, not colleges.

- Jim

[Aggie_engr]

Hey novaman, sorry if I caused some confusion by posting so many different things, but I attend Texas A&M at Galveston, where our weapons policy does not allow weapons on campus period. You are correct that the same should apply down here as in college station, but i spoke with the campus police chief and he was definately under the impression that not even chl's could leave a weapon in their vehicle.

I wonder how ticked off they would be if you took them all of the pertinent statutes that allowed you to leave your weapon in your vehicle on the campus lots and showed them?

He seemed to get somewhat agitated when I said I didn't think texas law prohibited chl's from storing weapons in vehicles and that's when he came up with the gun free school zone bull and said "yeah we even have faculty here that have asked the same question and we let them know that it's against the law." He's an older guy so maybe he's just stuck on the old ways...