The MSU Board of Regents approved Operating Policy (OP) 02.41 Carrying Concealed Handguns on Campus on August 5, 2016. You can view the entire policy for Concealed Handguns here.
Approved by Board of Regents: 05/13/2016
Policy Effective Date: 08/01/2016
Policy Effective Date: 08/01/2016
| Policies | Applicable Laws and Regulations | Unique Environment/Safety Considerations/Other Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Effective August 1, 2016 an individual with a License to Carry (LTC) or Concealed Handgun License (CHL) may carry a concealed handgun on the Midwestern State University Campus, subject to state law and these policies. | The Texas Government Code § 411.2031 | These policies are proposed following input and consultation with Midwestern State University students, staff, and faculty about the nature of the student population, specific safety considerations, and the uniqueness of the campus environment. |
| A Campus Carry Implementation Task Force will be appointed to direct the implementation of the policy, including appropriate campus signage and notifications for the campus community and visitors. | ||
| The MSU Police Department will establish Safe Campus training that will be made available to the University community. | ||
| No gun storage will be provided by MSU. However, Storage Safes may be rented through the Office of Housing and Residence Life for use in university housing. | Senate Bill 11 The Texas Government Code, Subchapter H, § 411.188.4 |
A centralized storage location is not feasible on the MSU campus. As this would necessitate concealed handgun carriers transferring handguns to various storage locations, it would increase the time spent handling a gun and would correspondingly increase the risk of accidental discharge and other situations that present a danger to the campus population. Providing handgun storage also presents issues of financial expense, security, privacy, and liability for the University. Multiple storage locations would be cost prohibitive for the University. Storage safes may be rented from the MSU Department of Housing and Residence Life. |
| Any time a handgun in a campus housing facility is not in the immediate care, custody, or control of the owner, that handgun must be stored within secure gun storage as defined by 18 U.S.C. §921(a)(34)(c). | 18 U.S.C. §921(a)(34)(c) defines secure gun storage as “a safe, gun safe, gun case, lock box, or other device that is designed to be or can be used to store a firearm and that is designed to be unlocked only by means of a key, a combination, or other similar means." | The majority of individuals who reside in campus housing are under the age of 21. The communal nature of campus housing increases the likelihood that an unauthorized person may access a handgun if it is left unattended by a license holder. This raises a significant safety concern which would be mitigated by requiring a license holder to keep their handgun in a secure gun storage when the handgun is within campus housing and outside of the license holder’s immediate control. Storage safes that comply with 18 U.S.C. §921(a)(34)(c) are available through the MSU Department of Housing and Residence Life. License holders are also free to procure their own secure gun storage that meets the definition of 18 U.S.C. §921(a)(34)(c). |
| A student who is assigned to a residential room where a firearm is stored and is concerned about his or her wellbeing may request a transfer to another room through the regular university housing process. | ||
| Process for Exemption Request to University President | The course of events at the University may present unique, temporary or unforeseen circumstances in which the carrying of a concealed weapon would pose a threat to the campus population and environment. Procedures will be developed to address such circumstances that are a consequence of the unique environment of the University campus and the diverse activities that take place throughout the University. |
|
| Exclusionary Areas: Where Health, Psychological, and Counseling Services are Provided | ||
|
Chapter 241 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. | The nature of medical, psychological, and counseling services provided in these Centers and Clinics and the population that is served, in some areas including minors, presents unique environments in which the carrying of concealed handguns would present significant safety concerns. |
| Exclusionary Areas: Where Care is Provided for Minors | ||
| Locations used for Pre-K through Grade 12 activities/camps on the MSU Campus. This includes residence halls and other buildings used for summer camps and other scheduled activities where school-age children are on the MSU Campus. | Texas Penal Code §46.03 prohibits the carrying of a weapon on the physical premises of an educational institution on which an activity sponsored by an educational institution is being conducted. | MSU hosts numerous youth groups on campus for summer camps, school group visits, and academic and sporting events. Having children on the MSU campus necessitates that special precautions be taken to ensure the safety of these groups. This prohibition of handguns should be clearly stated and agreed to in the paperwork required to schedule the event on the MSU campus. |
| SAT and ACT Testing on the MSU Campus | Texas Penal Code §46.03 prohibits the carrying of a weapon on the physical premises of a school or educational institute or any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is conduct. | The MSU campus is utilized as a location in which the SAT and ACT tests are administered. The vast majority of individuals taking the SAT and ACT tests are minors. |
| University Interscholastic League (UIL) events held on the MSU campus | Texas Penal Code §46.03 prohibits the carrying of a weapon on the physical premises of a school or educational institute or any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted. UIL rules and regulations prohibit firearms at UIL events. | MSU hosts a number of University Interscholastic League (UIL) events on its campus throughout the year. UIL rules specifically state that firearms may not be present at UIL events. The presence of minors at these events necessitates that additional safety precautions be taken to ensure the safety of UIL participants and their guests. |
| Exclusionary Areas: Primarily Used for Sporting Events, Including Intramural Athletics Activities | ||
| D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code prohibits firearms on the premises where a high school, collegiate, or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place. | This facility is used for a significant number of MSU sporting events, including basketball, volleyball, weight training, and the exercise physiology and athletic training departments. The majority of events held in the Coliseum are NCAA or UIL events or practices. The Coliseum is a large capacity facility that necessitates additional security protocols to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. |
| MSU Softball, Soccer, and Tennis Centers | Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code prohibits firearms on the premises where a high school, collegiate, or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place. | These facilities are used for sporting events by both MSU athletics and athletic events for outside organizations, including those involving school-age children. The majority of events held in these facilities are NCAA or UIL events or practices. The softball, soccer, and tennis centers are large capacity facilities that necessitate additional security protocols to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. |
| Redwine Wellness Center | Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code prohibits firearms on the premises where a high school, collegiate, or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place. | The Redwine Wellness Center houses a gymnasium, weight and other exercise equipment, cycling and exercise studios, indoor running track, volleyball/basketball courts, and an outdoor pool area. Numerous exercise and physical fitness classes, intramural sports, and leisure exercise activity take place in this building. The Redwine Wellness Center also houses the Vinson Health Center and numerous administrative offices. Weapons in the Redwine Wellness Center present a significant safety concern as individuals engaged in exercise activities would have a difficult time keeping a handgun on their person and concealed from public view in a safe manner. The storage of personal items in locker rooms and other storage areas also presents an issue as there is a high likelihood that weapons would be left unattended during participation in physical fitness activities. Intramural athletic competitions are also held in the Redwine Center. |
| Exclusionary Areas: Locations with Special or Unique Uses | ||
| Designated Laboratories – the university president, working with the Provost, will identify the university laboratories that meet the following definition: Any laboratory, room, or storage area with extremely dangerous chemicals, biologic agents, or explosive agents, and areas with equipment that is incompatible with metallic objects. |
Each campus teaching and research laboratory is different and a process will be determined to identify those laboratories that should be considered exclusionary areas. | |
| The MSU Testing Center | The Testing Center may be utilized by members of the campus community, as well as members of the general public. Contractual requirements prohibit weapons in the Testing Center. Additionally, the Testing Center does not allow personal items to be brought into the testing area, which could result in handguns being left in an unsecured location within the Testing Center. | |
| Any meeting, hearing, or other occurrence that involves grievances, discipline, dismissal, or remediation of students, faculty or staff. | Procedures and hearings of this nature are often adversarial and generate numerous emotional responses. Based upon the nature of the matter at issue, these procedures may involve MSU students, faculty, and/or staff. | |