5.1.1 Concealed Carry and Prohibited Weapons Policy

Illinois State University is committed to a safe and secure environment for the University community and its guests. The University established this Concealed Carry and Prohibited Weapons Policy pursuant to the 2013 Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66 et seq.) and its enabling regulations and other University policy. The purpose of this policy is to establish restrictions on possession, storage, and/or concealed carry of firearms and weapons on University property as defined below.

This policy applies to all University employees, students, and visitors. The University maintains a Weapons and Firearms-Free policy for all University Property. All persons covered by this policy, unless authorized by law or a specific exception in this policy, are prohibited:

1. From possessing, storing, carrying, or unlawfully using any weapon or firearm on University property or in any vehicle owned, leased or controlled by the University, even if that person has a valid federal or state license to possess or carry a firearm.
2. From displaying, brandishing, discharging, or otherwise using any and all weapons or firearms, including concealed weapons or firearms.

All persons covered by this policy must follow and are subject to any other applicable state or federal laws, and/or University policies including, but not limited to. Policy 5.1.19 University Violence. 

Exceptions

The carrying or use of a firearm will be permitted in the following circumstances only if all criteria are met:

1. Instruction and curriculum of officially recognized programs as approved by the ISU Police Department including, but not limited to military science; or
2. The firearm is carried by an on duty law enforcement officer required to carry a weapon or firearm as a condition of their employment; the firearm is carried by an enforcement officer from an external agency conducting official business on University property; or any other exception is deemed necessary as determined by the ISU Chief of Police; or
3. A concealed firearm may be stored within a personally owned vehicle only in certain unrestricted parking areas on campus and only if all of the following conditions are met:
   • The individual has a valid conceal and carry permit; and
   • There is not a posted sign at the entry to the parking lot that prohibits concealed firearms in the parking lot; and
   • The firearm and its ammunition is concealed in a case within the locked vehicle ("case" includes a glove compartment or console that completely encloses the firearm or ammunition, the trunk of the vehicle, or a firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container) OR the firearm and/or its ammunition is concealed in a locked container out of plain view within the vehicle; and
   • If the person removes the concealed firearm from the vehicle, it must first be unloaded inside the vehicle, and it may only be removed for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving it from the trunk of the vehicle.

Prohibited Weapons

All weapons, including, but not limited to, a concealed firearm/handgun are prohibited on any University property unless all provisions of a firearms exception above are met; the weapon is used for a specially authorized purpose of instruction, research, and service approved in writing by the ISU Chief of Police; or the weapon is authorized for use by an employee in the ordinary course of employment (e.g. an on-duty law enforcement officer).

Prohibited weapons include, but are not limited to:

1. Firearm, Handgun, Firearm ammunition, BB gun, pellet gun, paintball gun (except with prior written approval from the Chief of Police), tear gas gun, stun, taser, or other dangerous or deadly device of similar type;
2. Knife with a blade of at least 3 inches in length (except an ordinary eating utensil), dagger, dirk, switchblade knife, stiletto, ax, hatchet, or other deadly or dangerous weapon or instrument of similar type;
3. Bludgeon, blackjack, slingshot, sandbag, sand club, metal knuckles, billy club, throwing star, nunchaku, or other dangerous or deadly weapon of similar type;
4. Bomb, bombshell, grenade, firework, bottle, or other container containing an explosive, toxic, or noxious substance, unless under academic/classroom supervision, (other than an object containing a nonlethal noxious liquid, gas, or substance designed solely for personal defense possessed by a person 18 years of age or older);
5. Souvenir weapon or other weapon that has been rendered permanently inoperative; and any weapons outlined in the Illinois Compiled Statutes on Armed Violence (720 ILCA 5/33A-1, et seq.)

Violations

Knowledge of violations of this policy should be reported to the ISU Police and a supervisor (if applicable). In the case of emergency, the ISU Police (911) should be contacted.

Violations of this policy by students or employees will be considered "misconduct" and will subject the student or employee to discipline, up to and including expulsion or discharge/termination/dismissal as well as potential criminal prosecution.

Violations of this policy by visitors will subject the visitor to removal/restriction from any and all property owned, leased or controlled by the University, on a temporary or permanent basis as well as potential criminal prosecution.

ISU Police Department personnel may refer suspected violations of law to appropriate law enforcement authorities, and provide access to investigative or other data as permitted by law.

Reporting

As required by state and federal law, the ISU Chief of Police or designee, and/or ISU President or designee, and/or a principal of the ISU Laboratory Schools or designee, will report to the Illinois State Police within 24 hours of the determination that a student poses a clear and present danger to themselves or others. (430 ILCS 66/105-Duty of School Administrator). 

Definitions

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Clear and Present Danger

1. A serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable victim or a clear and imminent risk of serious physical injury to themselves or another person as determined by a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner; or
2. Threatening physical or verbal behavior, such as violent, suicidal, or assaultive threats, actions, or other behavior, as determined by a physician, clinical psychologist, qualified examiner, school administrator (ISU Laboratory School principal and/or designated University official), or law enforcement official. 

Concealed firearm 

A loaded or unloaded handgun carried on or about a person completely or mostly concealed from view of the public or on or about a person within a vehicle. 

Handgun

Any device which is designed to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosion, expansion of gas, or escape of gas, that is designed to be held and fires by the use of a single hand. "Handgun" does not include:

1. a stun gun or taser;
2. a machine gun as defined in item (i) of paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012;
3. a short-barreled rifle or shotgun as defined in item (ii) of paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 21-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012; or 
4. any pneumatic gun, spring gun, paintball gun, or BB gun which expels a single globular projectile not exceeding .18 inch in diameter, or which has a maximum muzzle velocity of less than 700 feet per second, or which expels breakable paint balls containing washable marking colors. 

University property

Any building, classroom, laboratory, medical clinic, hospital, artistic venue, athletic venue, entertainment venue, officially recognized university-related organization property, whether owned, leased, or controlled by the University, and /or where University programs, activities, and classes are held. This includes but is not limited to any University owned or leased vehicles, real property, including parking areas, sidewalks, any buildings, real property and parking areas used by or for Laboratory Schools, and common areas owned, leased, or under control of the University.