legal question, campus possession

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myusername

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I live in Louisiana. I go to one of the state schools, they all have pretty much the same policy regarding firearms. That is you can not have one on campus.

The state law allows a firearm in your dorm room. It is quoted here.

RS 14:95.2

95.2. Carrying a firearm, or dangerous weapon, by a student or nonstudent on school property, at school-sponsored functions or firearm-free zone

A. Carrying a firearm, or dangerous weapon as defined in R.S. 14:2, by a student or nonstudent on school property, at a school sponsored function, or in a firearm-free zone is unlawful and shall be defined as possession of any firearm or dangerous weapon, on one's person, at any time while on a school campus, on school transportation, or at any school sponsored function in a specific designated area including but not limited to athletic competitions, dances, parties, or any extracurricular activities, or within one thousand feet of any school campus.

B. For purposes of this Section, the following words have the following meanings:

(1) "School" means any elementary, secondary, high school, vocational-technical school, college, or university in this state.

(2) "Campus" means all facilities and property within the boundary of the school property.

(3) "School bus" means any motor bus being used to transport children to and from school or in connection with school activities.

(4) "Nonstudent" means any person not registered and enrolled in that school or a suspended student who does not have permission to be on the school campus.

C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to:

(1) A federal, state, or local law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties.

(2) A school official or employee acting during the normal course of his employment or a student acting under the direction of such school official or employee.

(3) Any person having the written permission of the principal.

(4) The possession of a firearm occurring within one thousand feet of school property and entirely on private property, or entirely within a private residence, or in accordance with a concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to R.S. 40:1379.1.

(5) Any constitutionally protected activity which cannot be regulated by the state, such as a firearm contained entirely within a motor vehicle.

(6) Any student carrying a firearm to or from a class, in which he is duly enrolled, that requires the use of the firearm in the class.

(7) A student enrolled or participating in an activity requiring the use of a firearm including but not limited to any ROTC function under the authorization of a university.

(8) A student who possesses a firearm in his dormitory room or while going to or from his vehicle or any other person with permission of the administration.


D.(1) Whoever commits the crime of carrying a firearm, or a dangerous weapon as defined in R.S. 14:2, by a student or nonstudent on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or in a firearm-free zone shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than five years.

(2) Whoever commits the crime of carrying a firearm, or a dangerous weapon as defined in R.S. 14:2, on school property or in a firearm-free zone with the firearm or dangerous weapon being used in the commission of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) on school property or in a firearm-free zone, shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than five years, or both. Any sentence issued pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph and any sentence issued pursuant to a violation of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) shall be served consecutively. Upon commitment to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections after conviction for a crime committed on school property, at a school-sponsored function or in a firearm-free zone, the department shall have the offender evaluated through appropriate examinations or tests conducted under the supervision of the department. Such evaluation shall be made within thirty days of the order of commitment.

E. Lack of knowledge that the prohibited act occurred on or within one thousand feet of school property shall not be a defense.

F.(1) School officials shall notify all students and parents of the impact of this legislation and shall post notices of the impact of this Section at each major point of entry to the school. These notices shall be maintained as permanent notices.

(2)(a) If a student is detained by the principal or other school official for violation of this Section or the school principal or other school official confiscates or seizes a firearm or concealed weapon from a student while upon school property, at a school function, or on a school bus, the principal or other school official in charge at the time of the detention or seizure shall immediately report the detention or seizure to the police department or sheriff's department where the school is located and shall deliver any firearm or weapon seized to that agency.

(b) The confiscated weapon shall be disposed of or destroyed as provided by law.

(3) If a student is detained pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection for carrying a concealed weapon on campus, the principal shall immediately notify the student's parents.

(4) If a person is arrested for carrying a concealed weapon on campus by a university or college police officer, the weapon shall be given to the sheriff, chief of police, or other officer to whom custody of the arrested person is transferred as provided by R.S. 17:1805(B).

G. Any principal or school official in charge who fails to report the detention of a student or the seizure of a firearm or concealed weapon to a law enforcement agency as required by Paragraph (F)(2) of this Section within seventy-two hours of notice of the detention or seizure may be issued a misdemeanor summons for a violation hereof and may be fined not more than five hundred dollars or sentenced to not more than forty hours of community service, or both. Upon successful completion of the community service or payment of the fine, or both, the arrest and conviction shall be set aside as provided for in Code of Criminal Procedure Article 894(B).

Acts 1991, No. 833, §1; Acts 1992, No. 197, §1; Acts 1993, No. 844, §1; Acts 1993, No. 1031, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 25, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 38, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 107, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1236, §1.

School policy does not allow this, out of the long list of things prohibited on campus this is the part regarding guns.





10. Unauthorized possession or use of weapons, including but not
limited to:
a. Illegal or unauthorized possession, use, or threatening the use of
firearms, knives, blades, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals;
b. Possession of any weapon, including but not limited to, guns, and
other firearms and knives with blades longer than five inches, on
University property;

c. Other violations in weapon policy. Refer to: Board of Supervisors of
the University of Louisiana System Policies and Procedures at:
http://www.selu.edu/Academics/Provost/uls_rules/chapter_ii.htm

State law allows you to keep a firearm in your dorm room. Can the state school tell you that you can't?

I don't live on campus so I'm not worried about something happening to me but I don't like the fact that the school is taking away something given by law.

There is also a section of the law that lets those with a certain type of concealed handgun permit carry. It is not the general permit, it is another one given by a sheriff to certain people. It used to be the only one available before the statewide permit was available. The sheriff would give them to his friends, they were really hard to get for most people.
 
Not sure about the laws, but from what you posted.... it clearly saids "with permission from the administrator. So, get permission or forget it :uhoh:
 
I think the permission part applied only to "other persons"

And while its not a state crime to carry on school grounds if your state allows it, you can still be punished by the university, which can include fines/suspension/expulsion...

Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone...
 
Well, it says that as one exception. But for possession in a dorm the law does not require permission.

I didn't think a state school could tell you that you can't do something when a state law says you can.

I don't know. I guess I need an attorney to look over it to get an answer.

There is a local judge I talk to every now and then, I may ask him next time I see him.
 
dont take mefor sound legal advice...

reading it as is, i come up with the following oddities....

School says you cant carry on campus or in dorm room without principles/school employees permission.
Legally would that mean the JANITOR can give you permision to carry your glock or ak47 on campus?

State says you can legally carry in your dormroom, but heres the catch as i see. Theoretically you can argue and win the right to have a weapon in your dormroom. BUT you have no legal right to take the weapon to the room...as that would require you to go across anti gun ground.
 
I would really like to know what the KY law is. I believe one can have one on campus in KY if the school so chooses. If I read the law correctly, it is not a crime if you do have one despite the rule and there must be signs posted as to the ban.
 
State says you can legally carry in your dormroom, but heres the catch as i see. Theoretically you can argue and win the right to have a weapon in your dormroom. BUT you have no legal right to take the weapon to the room...as that would require you to go across anti gun ground.

In the same sentence it lets you go to or from your vehicle. Meaning you can go to and from your car and your dorm.
 
Open Carry

I am also from Louisiana and looked into this stuff recently.
I do not have the guts to test it out , but the way I read it open carry on campus is permitted since it is protected under our LA constitution.

Also...the only way that sentence makes sense is if the permission applies to "other people" (ie - not dorm students).
 
Gee, I love the "constitutionally protected" part...and then they go on to violate it repeatedly.
 
Don't mean to sound "chicken" but I'd do some research into a good pro 2A lawyer in your state, and get to know them.

Not a bad idea to find a good one in advance, should you ever need legal representation in the future regarding a firearms issue . . .
 
I am also from Louisiana and looked into this stuff recently.
I do not have the guts to test it out , but the way I read it open carry on campus is permitted since it is protected under our LA constitution.

Also...the only way that sentence makes sense is if the permission applies to "other people" (ie - not dorm students).

I've been told by several people that open carry is not permitted as it falls under the "firearm free zone" legislation and is not excluded by one of the exceptions.

I don't know for sure though.
 
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