University revoking 2nd amendment rights off campus

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It says that the university "reserves the right" to do that.

Their decision might come down according to who's paying the tuition. If you're there on their scholarship, I'd guess you're expendable. But if they're getting tuition in cash, and you look to be there a while, they might reserve their decision for other violators.
 
The bottom line is that the Constitution only applies to government entities. The school is private so they can make any rules they want. You have the right to own firearms, and they have the right to expel you if you exercise your right to own firearms. On or off campus doesn't matter - it's a code of conduct. There's probably a rule against professors having sex with students, on or off campus. Legally they have a right to do it, but the school can still fire/expel them if they find out about it.
 
A private college can expel a student for being an atheist if it wants to -- or a Christian.

The real bottom line? Don't make deals with the devil unless you want to go to hell.
 
I would see about identifying which members of the board were involved in instituting this policy and/or support it and make their names publicly known so they can be forced to change it or kicked off the board if they don't. This kind of garbage should not be tolerated anywhere.
 
All the soapboxing aside, the reality of it is...unless you actually feel like your life is in danger, or your school is in a really bad area, it might just be worth giving in and being a defenseless sheep for a year or two. Is your educational and employment future worth making a point about a stupid rule?

I know that won't be a popular opinion, but take it from someone whose interviewed enough people for jobs - if they were expelled from a school, and I asked why and they said something like "Oh, my school had this stupid rule that you weren't allowed to have guns while you attended, but I thought it was dumb/violation of my rights/whatever, so I just brought my guns up anyways", you can bet they're not getting a call back. What happens when they think safety rules about how to operate our heavy machinery are stupid and they don't have to adhere to the OSHA contracts they signed? Or that the hours they signed up to work "were stupid and a violation of their rights to come and go as they pleased" and we lose thousands of dollars because trucks don't get unloaded?

Sometimes you have to deal with stupid rules. It sounds like your school actually enforces this rule, so all the more reason. Buy a taser or an asp baton and rely on those for a few years, or if it's that odious to you, make sure your GPA is good and find another school with an equally good program in what you're studying and transfer. Part of growing up is having to deal with rules you don't like or think are stupid. A man takes the rules in stride, follows them, and works to change them and educate others. A child breaks them. Think about all the bad press gun owners will get at your school if you show up on facebook with a gun and they publish some article about "Right-wing extremist brought multiple military assualt-type weapons to school!". Now you're expelled, and any responsible gun owners who attend the school for years to come have public opinion thinking they're nut-jobs.

Not worth it, imho.

Also, +1 to keeping your facebook professional. If you wouldn't let your parents see it, you should probably clean it. No one cares if you like doing keg-stands on weekends, but employers are going to think you're an irresponsible dumbass if your profile is public and they see pictures of it.

Also, thank god for going to a hick college like mine :p. UC Davis had such a backlash that students couldn't have guns in the dorms when they moved that they had to implement a free program where you would let the campus police hold your guns and you could go get them whenever you wanted for hunting or target shooting shooting or whatever. Still not as good as...not living in CA, but better than just about anywhere else in the state.
 
I guess you guys didn't read the thread. He's already said his friend is under investigation by the school for some firearm related photos on Facebook so clearly the rule is not a harmless mistake. He is in danger of losing a scholarship to the school over this.

Why you would assume it's harmless is beyond me. These things are rarely accidental or unintended.

I read the thread. I'm basing that on their actual written policy and asking him to get them to clarify. The way it is written is very indirect. The friend part is 3d hand information. We have no idea what other circumstances were involved in that. Was it purely 100% based on just a picture or was there more to it? I don't know. The only person who would know every detail is the friend and the school. That's a he said she said type of situation.

If he made them clarify their intent on that policy it would make it a lot more clear. Getting something in writing would also be nice and that way we could share it with everyone else an act upon it It might be nice to get the word out on them maybe through the NRA's resources or something like that.....without accidentally sending out misinformation.
 
I doubt it's worth the effort to fight it out with the school; if you feel there's a real possibility of your being bounced because you own a firearm, and you are uncomfortable with disposing of them and giving up any hope of firing a gun while you're a student, then you need to seriously consider transferring to a less ridiculous institution.

On the other hand, as so many have said in other contexts, concealed means concealed.

I hope you're not using any school computers or internet connections to access this forum. Certainly the school would not approve of the folks you're associating with here, nor would they be comfortable with you as a student, having been exposed to your beliefs. BTW, I note you've posted a pic of a forbidden object. That's probably enough to get you busted if the Thought Police at your school can put you and your ID here together.

I've always found academics to be extremely open-minded, so long as your mind opens onto the same views theirs do. Sometimes their minds are so open it sounds like a pipe organ when the wind blows.

You sure be gettin an interesting education. Bet it ain't quite what you expected to be learnin, huh?
 
Sorry, name the school or I call BS.

IMHO - If you're on scholarship, you're on their dime. They can pull it for nothing.

If you're paying the bill, tell them where they can stick their policy.
 
I highly doubt its BS. Most colleges have anti-gun policies like this, though the off-campus part may be a bit unusual its not surprising. Whether these policies come from anti-gun bigotry or the extreme lawyer-induced risk avoidance that has become so common, who can say.

Whatever the case may be, there's not much a student can do about it even at public universities. As has been said a few times here, a public institution would likely not be able to restrict second amendment rights but they do anyway and it would take a legal challenge to change anything. What student wants to be that test case? What student could afford the legal fees? And if a student managed to get their case financially supported by the NRA or SAF, who would want to throw away a six-figure education to prove a point? Not only would your career at the institution you were caught at be over, but a record of breaking weapon policies would not bode well for you getting accepted anywhere else. On top of that, in a state like Indiana carry in K-12 schools is specifically made illegal. I would not be suprised in the least for a school to pursue state criminal charges on the grounds that their staff day care facilities turn the entire campus into a K-12 facility. Whether that would stick or not, I don't know, but again, what student is going to want to risk that?

It sucks, but if you go to most colleges, you're just going to have to deal with it.
 
If they think so little of the Bill of Rights.

What do you think will be their take on academic freedom? These folks are frankly rather dictatorial.

These are the type of folks I don't like. I consider them the enemy.

Go figure.

Fred
 
Something I have suggested a few times and certainly should bring up now is that everyone should withold all monetary donations to universities with anti gun policies and tell them to rescind such policies if they want any money from you in the future.
 
No jurisdiction!

The University is seeking to violate your (recently adjudicated) Second Amendment Right! It doesn't matter whether they are a private or Gov't-operated institution; even a private citizen can be prosecuted for violating another's constitutional rights.

Having said that, if they find that you are exercising your RKBA, they may decide to expel you for unspecified "conduct inappropriate for a student of this University" or some similar 'offense' that they (alone) may determine.

I know what I'd do; but be aware that you have an investment in your education; you may want to know if expelled students can obtain an official transcript of their academic records - for credit at another school.

Stay under the radar!:uhoh:
 
The University is seeking to violate your (recently adjudicated) Second Amendment Right! It doesn't matter whether they are a private or Gov't-operated institution; even a private citizen can be prosecuted for violating another's constitutional rights.

Actually, as has been pointed out in this thread numerous times, it does matter. Your employer can "violate" your 1st amendment rights by including in your employment contract that you are never to speak to the media about your company, for example.

Another example would be a private property owner "violating" your 2nd amendment rights by not allowing firearms onto their property.

Still another example would be an employer "violating" your 4th amendment rights by searching your car, workspace, etc...

All examples are perfectly legal and above board.

Civil rights violations by a person usually involve a right being violated as a result of the commission of a (violent) crime of some sort, not by a person or entity imposing rules and regulations that the "victim" has agreed to abide by.

A little less rhetoric and a little more research leads to a better informed society.
 
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My comments don't differ in substance from a lot of the others, but let me put it a bit differently.

The university has a legitimate interest in a) the safety of students, teachers, and employees, and b) it's reputation. It has developed a policy concerning guns (that most on THR would not agree with) in support of those interests. This can reasonably cover your possession of guns on campus, and wherever you are living while attending class even if off-campus. It can also cover Facebook, since that was started as a school-oriented web site, and what appears there reflects on the university.

I don't think it can cover your ownership of a gun if it's not connected with the university, say if it was stored in your parent's home. The university may say (in some sort of legal language) that "teaching you that guns are bad is part of your university education". That is hogwash, but it still may be too difficult to fight. I'm surprised that a mid-western school would adopt what is basically a "no hunters wanted" policy.
 
I may be mistaken, but I think I've heard of cases in which nominally-private schools were nonetheless held to the same standards as government entities because they accepted government money. I don't know for certain if my memory is correct, let alone if it would apply here, but it might be an avenue worth pursuing.

In any event, tell your friend to lawyer up, and as suggested above, contact FIRE (http://www.thefire.org).
 
I'm surprised that a mid-western school would adopt what is basically a "no hunters wanted" policy.

If it's the school I believe it is, it's located in Chicago... (which makes the policy not so surprising after all).
 
Wow. That thing was written with the best intentions and is clearly being enforced exactly as written.

Taken literally it means that you cannot touch a gun anywhere, anytime unless you are a cop or in ROTC. It does not even allow you to touch one as a member of the armed forces (National Guard/Reserves).

GET A LAWYER!
CONTACT THE NRA!

Get any help you can get.

Or you can roll over, take it from behind, and say 'thank you sir, may I have another!'

Your choice.

All evil needs to succeed is for good men to do nothing.

-Jim

PS. http://www.iit.edu/student_affairs/handbook/pdfs/handbook.pdf Look on page 27.
 
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How, exactly are they going to accomplish that?
Unenforceable rule, screw 'em and break it, what are they going to do, search all your possessions while you're in class?

Here's the issue Dave. Schools are now going to be looking at the Myface and Spacebook pages of the students who go there. If the young adult puts up a picture of him with the whitetail deer he killed, and is holding a rifle, he will be expelled.
 
They are a private university. Game over.


If they are fully and truely private, then yes.

IF, however, like most private universities, they have accepted taxpayer money, they tied a thousand strings to themselves and you can make them dance like a puppet.
 
Taken literally it means that you cannot touch a gun anywhere, anytime unless you are a cop or in ROTC. It does not even allow you to touch one as a member of the armed forces (National Guard/Reserves).

GET A LAWYER!
CONTACT THE NRA!

Get any help you can get.

Or you can roll over, take it from behind, and say 'thank you sir, may I have another!'

Taken literally, he absolutely would be able to carry a firearm as a member of the armed forces on any level. There ain't a private school in the land that has more power than Uncle Sam, friend. You are taking the policy way past what is actually written.

Getting a lawyer and calling the NRA will do no good. For the thousandth time, it is a private institution. They aren't saying he can't own a gun, they are saying he can't own a gun and go to their school. This is 100% legal. It's a bad policy, but there isn't anything he can do about it. Frankly, I don't know that I would want it any other way, because it is a darn slippery slope when you start telling private entities what they can and can't do... (outside of normal legal precedent, that is)

Schools are now going to be looking at the Myface and Spacebook pages of the students who go there

Schools, potential employers and cops have been doing this for a long, long time. I posted a story on my blog like a year and a half ago about some kid that got drunk, drove, and killed a lady then put up pictures on his facebook after the fact dressed in a prison uniform and getting loaded at a halloween party. The prosecutors successfully used his pictures to show a lack of remorse. To be blunt, if you have incriminating stuff on a blog, facebook, myspace or whatever that can be tied to you, you are pretty dumb.
 
Here's the issue Dave. Schools are now going to be looking at the Myface and Spacebook pages of the students who go there. If the young adult puts up a picture of him with the whitetail deer he killed, and is holding a rifle, he will be expelled.
Another great reason to make your online presence anonymous to some degree.
I'd be curious to know what school employee gets the fun job of searching for every student's online activities.

Employers and schools don't need anything beyond a sanitized E-Mail address, people.
 
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