Oregon campus concealed carry database...

[Joe Link]

Hey guys. I noticed there's no central resource for finding out which schools here in Oregon allow students and/or faculty to carry, so I'm going to make one. I just want to get your opinions on the letter I'll be sending them. I know I can find the information in their student handbook, but I want to hear them tell me for themselves (hopefully).

Hello,

My name is Joey Link. I’m a college student from Portland, currently enrolled in Portland Community College. My days at PCC are growing shorter, and I’m beginning to search for a bachelor program in which to enroll. As I research schools and look into the various aspects of each I’ve found one of those aspects stands side by side with the quality of the actual program in which I’d be enrolling – student and campus safety. This is an especially important issue, considering the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech.

As I looked for information on what each school does to protect its students, I noticed there was no central source for this information. I then figured, since I would be asking so many schools, I ought to publish my findings on the internet for other students to use as well. I know it will be of particular importance to know your policy regarding the concealed carry of firearms (for both students and faculty), especially for students such as myself licensed to carry and choose to do so on campus. I’d really appreciate if you could get back to be as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Joey Link

 

[Boats]

I carried at both PSU and UO against school policy. It was the old rather be judged by twelve than be carried by six equation.

Never made once, but I was an older married student not prone to partying or getting inconveniently hugged.

You'll find that the OSSHE policy is no weapons (including CCW) on campus. It's not illegal, more akin to trespass. You get caught and you get punished, up to and including expulsion.

 

[physics]

Yup, PSU won't let you carry, and I've had professors specifically ask me not to (of course carrying a gun near a 2 tesla magnetic field is likely not the best of ideas) because of lab safety issues.

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

While the schools have made policies regarding concealed carry, the fact of the matter is that those policies are actually against state law. The applicable sections of ORS are these:

ORS 166.170, State Preemption

ORS 166.370 Possession of firearm or dangerous weapon in public building or court facility....

This particular section deals with where you are not allowed to carry firearms, and that includes universities. On the face of it, you would think you are not allowed to carry there. However, further reading reveals that this law DOES NOT apply to those licensed to carry a concealed handgun. Even though the OSSHE is allowed by law to promulgate OAR's (administrative rules) those OAR's cannot trump state law. The reality is that it is perfectly legal to carry a firearm on school property (and yes, this also includes ALL public schools) as long as you are licensed to carry a concealed handgun. The schools may attempt to expel you for violating their "rule" but if they do, they KNOW that they would lose that lawsuit, and it would then eliminate any question in the mind of licensed individuals. Ginny Burdick has tried several times to get that CHL exemption removed as far as schools go, but it keeps falling flat on its face.

Additional information can be found at www.oregonconcealedcarry.com and www.oregonfirearms.org

 

[kd7nqb]

As a PSU student and current chair of the PSU 2nd Amm society, I am working hard to change OUS policy. But its a tough road. Kevin Starrett filed a suit a few years back against OUS but it got stalled and such.

 

[Boats]

Well that was kind of my point. Are you willing to be a test case? If not, don't carry your piece to class.

You will not get into any criminal trouble, but you will be treated like one by the University administration and they have more lawyers than you do.

 

[azredhawk44]

Hey guys. I noticed there's no central resource for finding out which schools here in Oregon allow students and/or faculty to carry, so I'm going to make one. I just want to get your opinions on the letter I'll be sending them. I know I can find the information in their student handbook, but I want to hear them tell me for themselves (hopefully).

I would suggest using a pseudonym for any school that you REALLY want to get into.

Otherwise, your name will go into the "rabble-rowser" pile of applications along with all the guys you see at "Free Mumia" rallies.

 

[TheOld Man]

Local talk radio guy Lars Larson < http://larslarson.com > says he carries all the time, even when he makes speeches at schools. He claims there is no law against it, and says he has never been challenged. HOWEVER, I have been told that carrying ANY deadly weapon within 1000 feet of any school is a violation of Federal law. This is how kids get carted off in handcuffs for accidentally bringing a butter knife to school in their lunch. A High School Principal I talked to says the only way to get around that law is to be a "Duly Deputized Police Officer." From some of what ol' Lars says, he may be a Reserve Police Officer (He goes on ride-alongs.)

 

[GUNNER..]

If you want to challenge a particular school, pursue it legally. Do not let the " light of Va.Tech" shine on you (getting caught on campus with a weapon) because it will instantly label you as a "bad guy" or "psycho" etc.etx.

Research the Federal Laws first! That way you have a base of information that cannot be used to thwart your efforts. Then you can be sure that school rules can only be trumped by your state laws. I think it would be a worthwhile endeavor. Best wishes..

 

[hirundo82]

HOWEVER, I have been told that carrying ANY deadly weapon within 1000 feet of any school is a violation of Federal law. This is how kids get carted off in handcuffs for accidentally bringing a butter knife to school in their lunch. A High School Principal I talked to says the only way to get around that law is to be a "Duly Deputized Police Officer."

1) The law to which you refer is the Gun-Free School Zones Act. It only applies to firearms. Kids do not get carted off in handcuffs for violating the law for bringing a butter knife to school; they are expelled because they violated some "zero tolerance for weapons" policy that was dreamed up bu some bureaucrat at the local level.

2) Colleges are not considered schools under the Gun-Free School Zones Act.

3) The Gun-Free School Zones Act explicitly excludes those who are licensed to carry in the state in whic the school is located.

 

[DavidVS]

I work at Lane Community College.

According to state and federal law this is a "community college" not a "school". The rules are quite specific. Without a CHL, all guns must be unloaded and locked in the trunks of cars. With a CHL, guns may be carried concealed or open.

Lane Community College, despite being right beside the freeway, is a very safe place. There has never been a gun drawn or pointed at someone on campus in agression or anger. There have been "gun crimes", but these are almost always instances of people not storing their gun properly in their parked car (i.e., it was visible instead of in the trunk). Only once has someone without a CHL been confronted by campus security and told to put his gun in the trunk; the offender was unaware of the law and did so agreeably.

There have also been instances of faculty who became very alarmed and called campus security when they noticed a student was carrying, only to learn that the student had a CHL and was thus allowed to do so. (The most recent instance involved a student who was a detective by profession, and a faculty member who remained irate for a long time.) Even with a CHL open carry is probably asking for hassle.

The head of campus security has told me that, in his mind, at this time the fewer people carrying on campus the better. The need for safety from a deadly threat seems truly negligible, whereas each time someone openly carrying is hassled it wastes campus security time that would otherwise be spent preventing more realistic crimes (parking lot thefts, etc.).

The Lane Community College campus security is very public with their crime records and statistics. Simply e-mail them if you are interested.

Tangentially, in this county about 4% of adults over 21 have a CHL, which is about 7.5% of housing units.

 

[AntiqueCollector]

3) The Gun-Free School Zones Act explicitly excludes those who are licensed to carry in the state in whic the school is located.

One other thing I noticed in my reading of federal law: The Gun Free School Zones Act was added to the 68 GCA. Therefore, where the term "firearm" appears in this school zone act, it is the same definition as in the rest of the 68 GCA. Under the 68 GCA, "antiques" (pre-1899 anything, cap and ball revolvers, muzzleloaders) are not defined as firearms. Therefore (and not being a lawyer this ain't legal advice but it seems pretty clear to me) if someone is in an open carry state, or a state like mine where no permit is issued for either CC or OC (Vermont, and I'm honestly not sure what the feds have said on people carrying here regarding this act because I haven't found anything yet), carrying something like a cap and ball revolver or pre-1899 firearm prevents breaking this stupid 1,000 ft law as it's not defined under this law as a firearm.

 

[chetrogers]

I wonder about Clackamas Community College?

 

[johndoe1027]

I’d really appreciate if you could get back to be as soon as possible.

Just making sure you're spelling is correct in the actual letter.

 

[UnknownSailor]

I thought the 1000' provision of the Gun Free School Zone Act was thrown out in court?

 

[AntiqueCollector]

It was, then they passed another law recreating it, with a bunch of real twisted illogical arguing for how it comes under "interstate commerce" because the court had ruled the original law was not shown to come under interstate commerce and therefore they didn't have the authority to create it.