You are the prof; an adult college student is printing. What do you do?

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cambeul41

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Last night was the third class of the fall term. Afterwards, a student stayed to chat – and to sound me out on my attitude toward guns. He is a fireman, has his CCW/CPL, and carries wherever legal.

Near the end of an enjoyable conversation, he said that if I noticed a bulge in his sweat shirt, there was a chance that he had forgotten to disarm before entering the classroom. This was in downtown Detroit. In Michigan guns are prohibited in college dorms and classrooms, but are otherwise legal on campus.

The question is this. You are the teacher, and you see an adult student printing. What would you do if
1) you know (or are sure that) the student is licensed to carry;
2) you do not know whether the student is licensed, but he has given you no reason to see him as anything other than a good citizen who happens to be armed;
3) you do not know whether the student carrying legally, but he has projected an attitude that causes you suspect that he is not licensable;
4) you know the student is not licensable.
 
Judgment call, but if I was in any doubt that anything un-kosher was going on I'd discreetly get the po-po. Part of what they get paid for is to sort stuff like this out.

I'm much more live-and-let-live out in public, but being in a place with prohibited carry changes things imo.
 
1. Nothing. Perhaps engage in like minded conversation.
2. Nothing. Perhaps engage in like minded conversation.
3. Nothing. Perhaps engage in conversation on liberty and personal responsibility.
4. Note to self his attitude. Definitely engage in conversation on campus security, individual liberty, personal and professional responsibility. Depending on outcome of that/those conversations, perhaps engage Campus Security Dept Head in conversation.
 
Two things I would have done differently if I were the student.

1. I would never discuss guns on campus , especially with faculty.
2. I would never advertise, this draws unwanted attention.

If I were the professor,

1. I would tell him to keep his mouth shut next time for his own protection and that he is lucky that he is speaking to a pro RKBA professor. VERY LUCKY.
 
The question is this. You are the teacher, and you see an adult student printing.
Click to expand...
Query points...aren't all your students adults? Only rarely did I ever encounter a non-adult college student. If not an adult, how do you know? How is this information conveyed to you as the instructor?

Now, is the student printing or do you just see a bulge? Students have bulges all the time from various IPODs, phones, etc. I don't worry about amorphous bulges.

Near the end of an enjoyable conversation, he said that if I noticed a bulge in his sweat shirt, there was a chance that he had forgotten to disarm before entering the classroom.
Click to expand...

But this guy has told you that his bulge will be a gun. That is a different matter.

What would you do if
1) you know (or are sure that) the student is licensed to carry;
Click to expand...
In the case of your fireman, he is a moron for telling you that if there is a buldge under his shirt that he will be carrying a gun. Since he has told you his bulge will be a gun, then it is reasonable for you to believe that he is carrying a gun and therefore you are in a position where you believe the student is committing an illegal act in your presence and as such are likely obligated as per your employment handbook to report the the student accordingly. A gun on campus in Michigan is a felony, right?

It matters not that he has a permit. He obviously is incapable of adhering to the law if he does remember to disarm before going on campus and has told you that a bulge will be a gun, basically taking his amorphous bulge and identifying it for you.

Basically, it sounds like your conversation with the guy was him feeling you out to see how you might react. He sounds like he is trying to get the nod from you to carry in your class without any worry from you reporting him.

You and the student would both be better off if he would have kept his mouth shut about having a permit and the fact that he may "forget" to disarm before class.
 
once, many many moons ago I was in a night school class where the majority of students were adults. As it was a business school, we were required to wear jackets and ties to classes. On a particular night it was sort of warm. The professor told us we could take off our jackets. Out of 22 students 14 were armed and LEO's of one kind or another.
A very cool prof just looked up and said "guess a whole lot of you will pass this semester".
Of course that was 1970.

AFS
 
I don't think I would turn the guy in, but I would tell him I'm disappointed that he told me in the first place, which put me in the position of potentially having to inform my superiors. Just keep your mouth shut.
 
snap a cell phone or other picture and show it to him, then promptly delete
 
Tell him he's printing as suggest better concealment options in the first two.

In the third, you need to make a judgment call if the individual poses a threat to anyone else. If not then suggest better concealment options. If you do decide they pose a threat to innocents then contact the authorities.

In the fourth, you need to decide if there's no reason to contact the authorities.
 
I say rock on. He may be the guy that saves you life. Tell him to keep his big mouth shut next time..
 
I agree with what most have written so far - to err on the side of caution.
Even though it's legal to carry on campus - you've stated that it's illegal to carry in classrooms.
If I saw him with a bulge I'd discretely take him aside and remind him that he has "forgotten" to disarm and that you'll be glad to hold the class while he goes to his car and makes himself legal again.
At the risk of sounding paranoid, you never know if it might be a test by the administration to see if it's instructors are acting appropriately.
 
I suspect this young man already had an idea you were pro gun, it would have been very bold to have this conversation with your average leftist prof.

Now, on to you situation. I'd not report him specifically, but if you did notice a student with a gun and you were unsure if he was licensed, I'd report it to security.

If THIS student does print in class, I'd strongly encourage him to make sure abides by campus rules and NOT forget to disarm prior to class. Just explain to him that you don't want some radical leftist to report him and do him harm.
 
In the case of the conversation you had with the student, I would tell him it's his responsibility as a licensed carrier to damn well *not forget* about carrying where it's not legal.

In the other cases, tough call unless the "bulge" is unmistakable as a gun (careless). If it's illegal, it's illegal. Maybe he isn't up to no good, maybe he is. Notify the authorities and let them sort it out. No need to confront the student yourself.

K
 
If he is a professional firefighter there has already been a very extensive check into his past and a check for any criminal background. There may have been a specific incident occur in his life that makes him choose to carry. I would not report him but if he opens his trap about breaking the schools policy again I would inform him to not share it with you. JMHO
J
 
Wow...on a supposedly pro-gun, pro-liberty board, lot's of people eager to turn the guy in.

I always tell my 7-year old and my 6-year old to not tell on people. Same advice I would give to adults. Same thing I follow.
 
One major problem here is for the professor. If the student gets arrested for carrying a concealed weapon in someone else's class, he might tell the police that you knew about it and said nothing. What ever happens in such a case you must never admit knowing about it. In fact make a very brief denial and refuse to answer any further questions without counsel.
 
I have to go with barnetmill; my employment and interfaces with LEA's should not be in jeopardy because he didn't remember to "undress" before coming to class. He said "there might be a chance" that he's carrying; there is also the chance that the bulge is a cell phone or other device, how am I to know? I would be wary and tell him to never discuss this with me again.

lawson4
 
I personally think CCW should be allowed everywhere so i would not say anything as long as the kid looked respectable. Due to campus shootings and such, i would be happy if someone/or many poeple where carrying a gun into my class. I would feel safer. For those thinking what if he wants to kill me, well i dont think me telling him that his gun is printing is going to stop a shooting rampage.
 
I think your student is not very bright. Flat out tell him that if, in the future, he does or says anything that gives you strong reason to believe he is carrying in class you will contact LE. If you reasonably suspect he is a threat, contact them now. I do not say that lightly, as I do not like to deal w/ LE nor like snitches. The conversation he held w/ you is not a conversation that an intelligent person would hold with anyone but a highly trusted friend. I suspect you are not that. Do not let this guy jeopardize your career.

To all, do not flame me. I know “victim disarmament” zones are stupid, but that is not what this is about.
 
Last edited:
1. I would never discuss guns on campus , especially with faculty.
2. I would never advertise, this draws unwanted attention.
Click to expand...

True.

This student needs to learn to ****.
 
I wouldn't personally have a problem with this individual havng a gun as long as I had my own gun. But since you are probably abiding by the law, and do not have a gun while teaching class, this puts you in a bad position.

As others have said, it depends on the circumstances whether you should contact law enforcement. I would say only to do so if the guy strikes you as "not quite right." In any case, do let him know that it will not be tolerated it your class. You have to look out for numero uno.
 
Be sure it is a gun printing before you act. A Fireman may have any number of pager/phone/safety related devices on himself to be prepared to act as a first responder.

A guy who works a jeep junkyard I visit has a Volunteer Fire Dept pager that is the size of a old style cassette walkman. Not a lot of money in It is probably 3x5x2 in dim on his belt. Under a shirt it looks like something completly different ;)
 
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