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Back to School:

What’s Your Campus


Firearms Policy?
A report from GUN-SHY

By Laura Kramer
August, 2003

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Introduction
In light of the new conceal and carry handgun law that went into effect in
May, 2003, GUN-SHY, the youth component of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota
Education Fund, thought it important to find out how this state’s major public and
private colleges and universities were responding to the new law.
As described by the author, the purpose of the “Minnesota Personal
Protection Act” (also known as conceal and carry) is to “recognize the inherent
right of law-abiding citizens to self-protection through the lawful use of self-
defense [and to] provide a system under which responsible, competent adults
can exercise their right to self-protection by authorizing them to obtain a permit to
carry a pistol.”
The act regulates the manner in which permits are granted and the extent
to which owners or users of private property may restrict gun carrying.
The full text of the law can be obtained from the Minnesota Legislature’s
website: www.leg.state.mn.us. Search for “sf842” on the Legislation and Bill
Status page.
According to the law, all public and private post-secondary institutions may
establish policies that restrict the carry and possession of firearms by their
students and employees while on the institution’s property. But different rules
apply to those same public and private institutions when it comes to prohibiting
the carrying of weapons by the general public. Public colleges and universities
may not prohibit members of the general public from carrying weapons on
campus. An athletic event on the campus of a public institution, for example, may
prohibit weapon carrying by students and staff, but may not restrict weapon
carrying by the opposing team’s players, or non-student spectators.
Private colleges must follow the same guidelines as any other private
establishment if they wish to ban guns. They must post signs that comply with
specifications delineated in the law (size, language, font, etc.) at every entrance
to every building and personally notifying individuals that guns are forbidden.
Violators may be charged with trespass and charged a maximum fine of $25. The
firearm may not be seized.

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According to the new law, guns may not be prohibited from campus
parking lots or ramps, whether publicly or privately owned.
Acting as landlords, colleges and universities, whether public or private,
may ban weapons from student housing if students have a licensure relationship
with the school. Colleges that have a tenant relationship with their students are
unable to prohibit weapons in student housing.

The Survey
In this survey, we contacted representatives from campus safety and
security departments by telephone to find out what type of policy they had
developed in response to the new conceal and carry law. We asked these
questions:

1) What is your firearms policy for students? For faculty and staff?
2) Do you allow the general public to carry guns on campus property?
3) If not, where is gun carrying restricted?
4) Have you posted signs in accordance with the new handgun permit law?

Thirteen private colleges and universities participated in this survey:


Augsburg College, Bethel College, College of St. Benedict, College of St.
Catherine, College of St. Scholastica, Concordia University, Gustavus Adolphus
College, Hamline University, Macalester College, Northwestern College, St. Olaf
College, St. John’s University, and the University of St. Thomas.
Three University of Minnesota branches, the U of M-Twin Cities, U of M-
Duluth, and the U of M-Morris, also participated, along with all Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities, which include community colleges.
Two colleges had not finalized a policy at the time of this survey: Carleton
College and St. Mary’s University.

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Results
All but one institution (Concordia U) prohibit students from carrying guns
(see table). Every college and university surveyed prohibits its faculty and staff
from carrying guns on campus. Two private colleges—Concordia University and
Northwestern College—and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities,
which include 34 public institutions, allow the general public to bring guns onto
campus property. All others ban gun carrying by the general public.
Only one college is posting signs in strict accordance with the new law
while five colleges are posting in some variation. The campuses that are not
posting or are posting non-compliant signs stated a number of reasons for this
decision including 1) expense, and 2) signage not fitting with the atmosphere or
culture of the campus.
The University of Minnesota system, for example, will post signs in high
traffic areas and at special events such as football games. Several other colleges
and universities will, rather than posting, inform students, staff, and the general
public about their weapons-free policy through regular written communications,
such as newsletters, or print the policy on ticket stubs to public events.

TABLE
College/University Students Employees General public Posting?
allowed to allowed to allowed to
carry a gun? carry? carry?
Augsburg College NO NO NO YES. All buildings have
Private signs at every entrance.

Bethel College NO NO NO YES. Not sure where yet.


Private

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College/University Students Employees General public Posting?
allowed to allowed to allowed to
carry a gun? carry? carry?

College of St. NO NO NO NO. Only will notify at


Benedict special events and on
Private ticket stubs.

College of St. NO NO NO YES. Signs posted at


Catherine entrance gates.
Private
College of St. NO NO NO NO. Security force will ask
Scholastica visitors with firearms to
Private leave.

Concordia YES. Allow NO YES NO. Only firearm


University students with restriction is daycare
Private permits to carry. center.
Gustavus Adolphus NO NO NO NO. General public with
College gun will be asked to leave
Private it in car.
Hamline University NO NO NO YES. Perimeter around
Private the campus will have
signs posted, as will
tickets to events,
publications, and campus
maps.
Macalester College NO NO NO NO. Visitors with guns will
Private be asked to leave.
Northwestern NO NO YES NO. Guns are not
College restricted on campus.
Private
St. John’s NO NO NO NO. Only will notify at
University special events and on
Private ticket stubs.
St. Olaf College NO NO NO YES. At main entrances
Private and public buildings.
University of St. NO NO NO NO. Will inform public
Thomas about policy through
Private regular written
communications.
Individuals found on
campus with guns will be
asked to leave.

University of NO NO NO YES. Only in high traffic


Minnesota-Twin areas and at events like
Cities, Duluth, & football games.
Morris
Public

Minnesota State NO NO YES NO


Colleges &
Universities
Public

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Recommendations
GUN-SHY recommends that parents of current and prospective students
review their school’s firearms policy when asking about campus safety and
security. The greatest differences between school policies can be found in those
relating to the general public.
In addition, families are urged to find out whether students are considered
“tenants” or “licensees” for purposes of dormitory and other student housing.
“Tenants” may not be restricted from keeping firearms. This has implications for
students’ roommate choices.

GUN-SHY, the youth group component of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota Education Fund, works
to reduce youth suicide and gun violence.

Copies of this report can be obtained by calling Kate at 651-645-3271.

The report can also be downloaded from the GUN SHY page of the CSM website:
www.endgunviolence.com.

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Appendix A: Campus survey respondents.

Augsburg College
Dick Adamson Macalester College
Head of Security David Weetan
Vice President of Administration
Bethel College
Matt Brown Minnesota State Colleges &
Director of Safety & Security Universities
Board Policies
College of St. Catherine
Director of Security Northwestern College
Director of Safety
College of St. Benedict/St. John’s
University St. Mary’s University
Jim Shoeman Jerry Seibert
Security Director Director of Safety

College of St. Scholastica University of Minnesota- Twin Cities


Bob Ashenmacher University Relations

Concordia University University of Minnesota- Morris


Sara Mulso Charles Grusing
Director of Safety Deputy of Safety

Gustavus Adolphus College University of Minnesota-Duluth


Stacia Senne Lieutenant John Kehiri
College Relations/News
University of St. Thomas
Hamline University Jim Winterer
Terry McDonald News Service
Assistant Director of Safety/Security

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