Real Common Sense Response to Gun on Campus

[SC1903A3]

Now that school is out I thought I would tell about an incident that occurred on the University Campus where I work. This happened back in January. One of the University custodians was cleaning and found a DPMS box in the trash in front of one of our residence halls. It was on my day off so the Safety Director called me in to review video of the area in an attempt to identify the person who put the box in the trash. After reviewing 24 hours of video I was able to identify the student. He was called into the directors office. He admitted to possession of the rifle and that he also had a S&W shield in the trunk of his car which is a violation of the Universities weapons policy. He surrendered both items to our office for safe keeping until the incident was resolved with the Office of Student Life.

The final decision of the Office of Student Life was that the student had two choices. The first was to face disciplinary action for violation of the Universities no guns on campus policy or to have the weapons kept by the Safety Office until the end of the semester and take them home with no disciplinary action being taken. Needless to say he chose to let the Safety Office store his weapons for him until the end of the semester.

[jbarn]

Now that school is out I thought I would tell about an incident that occurred on the University Campus where I work. This happened back in January. One of the University custodians was cleaning and found a DPMS box in the trash in front of one of our residence halls. It was on my day off so the Safety Director called me in to review video of the area in an attempt to identify the person who put the box in the trash. After reviewing 24 hours of video I was able to identify the student. He was called into the directors office. He admitted to possession of the rifle and that he also had a S&W shield in the trunk of his car which is a violation of the Universities weapons policy. He surrendered both items to our office for safe keeping until the incident was resolved with the Office of Student Life.

The final decision of the Office of Student Life was that the student had two choices. The first was to face disciplinary action for violation of the Universities no guns on campus policy or to have the weapons kept by the Safety Office until the end of the semester and take them home with no disciplinary action being taken. Needless to say he chose to let the Safety Office store his weapons for him until the end of the semester.

What is your position? Does the student hold a CHL? Private or public university?

What steps are in place to protect his property?

[SC1903A3]

It's a private University, the student did not have a CHL and when seconds count the police are minutes away. The point of the post was to show there was no lock down mode or over reaction. That the University did not take disciplinary action against the student. They had him take the guns home at the end of the semester. My personal position is that I'm in favor of campus carry.

[Jim Beaux]

All is well that ends well. Considering the current hysteria running among the campuses, I think the university handled the situation in a reasonable manner. The bottom line is the student violated campus rules & if he were my son, I would be grateful.

btw I support campus carry & would like to see teachers/professors receive training in weapons & active shooter response.

[Captain Matt]

Maybe I'm old fashioned but in my day a common sense response would not have included scouring hours of video because a box was found in the trash. However, it's good to hear saner heads did prevail in the end.

[oohrah]

I also work at a private university. This is a very sensible response. Private university's have a little more leeway, I think, since the student was not actually breaking the law. My school allows faculty/staff who have CHLs to keep in the their vehicle in the parking lot, but not students. It is written in their personnel policies.

I also favor campus concealed carry, considering that most students are not 21 anyway, so can't have a CHL. We had an incident before I joined of a disgruntled student entering the back door of our faculty offices with a rifle looking to settle a score with a particular faculty member. That prof was not there at the time, but the student didn't go ballistic. He was quietly escorted away by campus police (I don't know what the subsequent repercussions were), and we started locking the back door after that.

Point is, legal or not, a mentally ill student will bring a gun regardless of the rules, and I personally would like to be able to defend myself in that rare event.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I also work at a private university. . . . My school allows faculty/staff who have CHLs to keep in the their vehicle in the parking lot, but not students. It is written in their personnel policies.

Your university administration needs to change their student policy. SB1907 went into effect on 9/1/13 and it prohibits public or private universities from adopting or enforcing any policy that would prohibit students with a CHL from storing guns and/or ammo in their cars.

Chas.

SB1907

[jbarn]

It's a private University, the student did not have a CHL and when seconds count the police are minutes away. The point of the post was to show there was no lock down mode or over reaction. That the University did not take disciplinary action against the student. They had him take the guns home at the end of the semester. My personal position is that I'm in favor of campus carry.

Just looking for the details.

[oohrah]

Charles, thanks. I will look into that.

[oohrah]

I stand corrected, my university does allow students with a CHL to keep firearms in their car. I couldn't find the policy because it is in the "Misconduct" policy: to quote "(university) acknowledges that under Texas law, a student who holds a valid concealed handgun license may store a concealed firearm in a locked, privately owned or leased motor vehicle parked on a street or driveway or in a (university) parking lot or parking garage."

[Charles L. Cotton]

I stand corrected, my university does allow students with a CHL to keep firearms in their car. I couldn't find the policy because it is in the "Misconduct" policy: to quote "(university) acknowledges that under Texas law, a student who holds a valid concealed handgun license may store a concealed firearm in a locked, privately owned or leased motor vehicle parked on a street or driveway or in a (university) parking lot or parking garage."

Thanks for the update and I'm glad to see your school following Texas law, rather than waiting to see if they get caught.

Chas.