Carry in a book bag. Yea, or nay?

[Blarelli]

I have been considering having a BUG and some spare mags in my book bag when I go to school, but is it wise to take a gun to school if that gun is not on my person at all times? I mean, it will be with my laptop, and several hundred dollars worth of books, so the entire bag getting stolen is not out of the question. What do you guys think?

[Devonai]

Where else will it be, if not on your person? Why can't you keep it with you at all times? Gymnasium? Snuggle session?

If you can't lock it in a locker with your own combination lock, I don't think it's a good idea. Leaving a firearm unsecured is never a good idea.

[Treo]

I've considered carrying a BUG in my book bag. Ultimately, I decided against it because the option was to very obviously carry it W/ where ever I went or leave the gun unsecured at times. If you are LEGALLY able to do so carry the gun on your person.

[DMZ]

This is what I did.

I often carry a notebook and file folders at times in my job.

I bought a small $10 day planner at a discount store and stripped it out.

It is just the right size to keep my CCW in and I keep a spare mag in the webbed pocket that normally holds pens & pencils. Like a day planner, it is always with me, in my hand or within my immediate control.

I don't always carry that way, but it gives me good, inconspicuous carry alternative.

[Darthbauer]

What about the places that you might go that check bags but not your person? Ive thought this when going to places like Disneyland or Angel games. Last time I went to an Angel game though they did tell me to lift up my jacket.

[mljdeckard]

Been here, done this.

I was in the Criminal Justice program at Weber State, and I carried quite regularly. I found out a few things.

Yes, it's a lot of crap to carry. I had roughly the same load as you. I found it's difficult to keep track of EVERYTHING from class to class. One very bad day, I somehow left my glasses in my car, back up at the big parking lot I rode the shuttle from. I was useless in class and decided to walk back and get them. (My gun wasn't doing me much good that day.) Since I was in Criminal Justice, I was always surrounded by other students who were one flavor of cop or another, who were carrying openly. As soon as I saw that I had them in all of my classes, I didn't stop carrying entirely, but I cur it way back.

If you put it in a backpack, you must maintain absolute accountability of it. This means not checking it into the clerk at the testing center. This means not walking away from it as part of some class activity or other.

I usually used a fanny pack in front. It was not always easy to keep everything comfortable.

[lions]

gun in backpack + backpack not with you = NO!!!

[RyanM]

If you try it, use a good stiff holster which covers the magazine release, secured somewhere in the bag. Kydex is good. Otherwise, the mag may end up falling out.

[Tom Fury]

DMZ: Bookbag carry is like all off body carry; there is always the risk that you will forget the bag: have done planner carry, and still do on occasion; often attach car keys to zipper with carabiner if I'm going to someplace (restaurant or library) where I may become distracted. Still, as noted always the chance of forgetting it or becoming separated from it. I did carry in a planner in a bookbag all thru grad school.

MLJDeckard: Your emphasis on accountability extremely important, both from the responsibility side and the legal liability side. I have had a gun stolen from my vehicle before (locked car, under seat) and have never been comfortable with where it might have got to; adds another dimension to do I really need to carry on this outing on this day, and how secure is secure enough; off body carry is still riskier than I like for reasons discussed, and almost too risky for me to justify under most everyday conditions.

Aside from all the rights issues, sometimes it just isn't expedient; Just because I could doesn't mean I needed to; I got nothing to prove to anyone but myself (not for a moment suggesting you feel that way); but the zombies probably have not targeted Eastern Kentucky University yet. (My U). At the time it was more of an ego thing for me (I could so I did) but I think I might do something different now.

Anyway; I think the issue is how secure is secure enough when I am not infallible? Accountability requires me to answer that question.

Cheers, TF

[RaspberrySurprise]

Extra magazines yes, firearm no.

[XDShooter07]

Sorry, I have to interject here and ask if you've checked the school's policy on concealed carry on campus yet? Does it address that issue? And is it legal?

But my advice on having the gun off your person in a book bag.......no go.

Say for instance you're walking down the sidewalk, can you get to it quickly enough? What if someone lifts your bag?

Carrying on person is safer, offers better retention, and keeps you from getting into accountability issues with your firearm.

Don't risk it if there's even a possibility.

[DMZ]

TF- When I carry off body, I am acutely aware of the fact that I have a firearm in my hands or under my arm. It is not at all unlike carrying a holstered handgun around in your hand, except the holster is unconventional. Off body carry options gives people (mostly women) viable and flexible carry alternatives as opposed to being unarmed.

There are risk elements with any type of concealed carry, each individual is responsible to mitigate those risk or leave the weapon in the safe at home.

[bearmgc]

Better a Fannypack.

[lions]

XDshooter
The schools policy may say no but it might still be alright to carry.

I was told it was illegal to carry on Kansas State University campus so I did some checking and found out that is just a school policy. You can carry if you do so with a permit, the only thing is if you have to use the gun to save your life you will be kicked out for violating school policy... a trade I am willing to make! Point being make sure you check the legality thoroughly!

[tinygnat219]

If you are going to carry, be responsible about it. Keep it on your person at ALL times. Remember to check school rules and state laws. While it may not be against the law, it may be against school policy where if you are caught, expulsion is possible, costing you thousands of dollars and thousands of hours.

Just something to consider.

Also try E-College.

[James T Thomas]

Since the book bag precludes a quick draw, perhaps you could carry the gun unloaded; with the ammo on your person. A fast loading beats nothing to load at all. ?

Or, carry a pistol with the; dare I say it? -Locking device. Such as Taurus or Smith and Wesson. The keys are available, but doubtful that most thieves would be carrying them for just that purpose.

Or, lastly, you might consider haveing a handgun that is readily disassembled/
reassembled. Remove the slide, etc. and carry that on your person.
The semiautos that are disabled when the magazine is removed?

[Vern Humphrey]

On body carry, only. Never carry a gun in such a way it is out of your personal control at any time.

[mljdeckard]

He's in Utah, so it's ok to carry at any state school. It's ok to carry at the rest of them as well as long as you keep your mouth shut. Utah has preemption, only the state decided where one can and cannot carry. A private entity may only forbid individuals from trespassing.

[XDShooter07]

I didn't know the state could preempt the policy of a private entity. I don't know what the law is in Utah; what if they had signs that post no concealed weapons on the door? Would that be different than them having it in the school policy?

Anyways, as long as you're not breaking the law then go ahead and carry but I still wouldn't recommend off body carry unless it was attached to your body like a fanny pack or easily accessible and retainable like a concealed carry messenger bag or briefcase. And it needs to stay with you at all times.

On another note; I know it sucks but be careful carrying to classes as if you are made there would likely be quite a stink about it; I know it sucks and needs to change but that's the way it is right now.

[woad_yurt]

Is the bookbag a backpack? I used to use a backpack a looong time ago until one guy grabbed it late one night in the train station. I couldn't easily get him to let go. He was huge and he swung me around, using the backpack as a handle. If it's a backpack, I'd never put a gun in it for any reason.

[searcher451]

Most definitely no. Bookbags are easily entered from behind, and the owner has no way of knowing what's going on behind his back. That's a very bad idea, indeed.

[Squidward]

Aside from what has already been mentioned, now you have to train drawing from a book bag. Sounds good in concept, but probably not worth it in the long run.

[mljdeckard]

In Utah, only the state can decide where a permit is or is not valid. (Federal land being excepted, of course.) Owners of private property may refuse to allow anyone onto their property for any reason. If they ask you to leave, and you refuse, you may be cited for trespassing, a misdemeanor.

State schools are subject to state laws. A few years ago, the University of Utah attempted to surpass state law with school policy, forbidding carry on campus, and were struck down by the state Supreme Court. The court affirmed that "Academic Privilige" cannot put universities above state law, and the policy still stands, carry laws are the same on campus as anywhere else.

It is worth noting, that in pushing for other states to allow carry on campus, we are not asking for any kind of special privilige. We are merely asking for the campuses to use the same policy as the rest of the state in which carry is already allowed.

[Wildfire]

Hey There:
I rarely wear my carry gun but it is always with me.
Most of the time it is in my camera bag, no one has ever questioned it.
Other times I carry it in a leather thingy that looks like a book.
The manual cover to my last Ford truck had a nice little zippered book cover that the manual came in. I let the manual go when I got a new truck but kept that little book cover and my Kimber Ultra carry fits perfect in there. And NO it is not slow to get it out.