College Town Carry

[War Squirrel]

Hi everyone. I am attending college in Columbia, S.C, and I have a question about carrying in town. I do not have a vehicle, so I do most of my traveling and shopping on foot. I am going to start carrying soon, but one thing has me worried.
The USC campus is spread out all over town, and the school has a no-firearms policy. The state also prohibits carry in "elementary and secondary schools", although I am not sure if that applies.

What I was wondering is, if I am walking through town using the sidewalks that pass adjacent to USC buildings and property, am I technically carrying on their property? Or are the sidewalks considered public property?

 

[gathert]

At Clemson they have the same rule. The roads that run through the campus that are state roads count as public property and anyone can have guns in their car like any other public place. But I myself wouldn't risk carrying on the sidewalk walking through campus even though I'm on the public road.

We do get to keep guns in our carry with a carry permit though so those can be on campus whenever we are, just not on our person.

Its probably best to not carry when walking those roads if you can help it or take a different route a street over. My holster is so comfortable I almost walked to class a few times still wearing it.

 

[War Squirrel]

So you don't think the sidewalks would be considered public property? I could understand the USC-maintained paths that cross their own property blocks, but I would imagine the sidewalks being adjacent to public roads, as well as state mainainted, should be public.

Sounds like a darn good holster. What kind of holster do you use?

 

[elano]

Check the state laws. Know what laws you are potentially breaking, you do not want to get charged with carrying a gun on campus?

 

[War Squirrel]

I absolutely do not want to get charged with such a thing. I just want to know if sidewalks on the side of main roads, yet are adjacent to USC property, are considered property of the city or property of the school.

 

[hermannr]

Read your state laws carefully. Here in WA "no carry on campus" is a College policy, not law. If you are not a student they can do nothing here. If you are a student and you carry into a building they may be able to expel you from the school but nothing else.

As to School GFZ (k-12) again, check your state law. Most states allow carry on public property near a k-12 if you have a concealed permit, some will allow carry on school property with a permit...again read you particular state law.

www.handgunlaw.us is a very good site with links to the particular state laws. Updated regularly. The NRA site has a ton of errors, I would not use it.

BTW: Private colleges are private property and can do what they want, except on the public, state owned highways/sidewalks.

 

[Art Eatman]

SFAIK, if you're carrying in a legal manner, sidewalks adjacent to various buildings are okay for carry. Mostly, the deal is that you cannot carry into a building such as a school or post office. Carrying as you walk by is legal.

 

[War Squirrel]

Thanks a ton guys! I won't worry about it as long as I'm not blatantly entering property/buildings and such. I'll do some more reading just to make sure.