Campus Carry
BLINN COLLEGE ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS MANUAL
SUBJECT: Campus Carry
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 1, 2017
BOARD POLICY REFERENCE: CHF
PURPOSE
A license holder may carry a concealed handgun, on or about the license holder’s person, on all Blinn College campuses or in a college vehicle, unless prohibited by state or federal law, college policy, or regulation.
This administrative regulation provides safety recommendations for license holders who wish to carry a concealed handgun on campus, guidelines for posting approved signage where concealed carry is prohibited, and processes for requesting the Chancellor’s approval of premises where concealed carry should be prohibited.
OBJECTIVES
License Holder Responsibilities
A license holder is responsible for complying with the applicable federal and state law prohibitions. Texas law allows license holders to carry a handgun on campus, but the handgun must be concealed. To “break concealment” is to knowingly or intentionally allow a handgun to be seen by others. Breaking concealment on campus is a criminal offense and a violation of Blinn College policy and regulation.
License Holders who live in campus residential facilities must acquire an approved storage device to secure the handgun. The Blinn College Police Department shall create a list of approved safes, and students will be responsible for acquiring, at their own expense, an approved safe prior to moving into on-campus housing.
Disclosure of License
Only a peace officer or magistrate has the authority to require a license holder to display his or her handgun license. A license holder is not required by law to disclose the existence of the license to any other college employees. Therefore, college administrators, faculty, staff, and students should not request individuals to indicate whether they have a license.
Gun-Free Designated Areas
Areas designated as gun-free can be found in Blinn College Board policy CHF (LOCAL). Areas designated in Blinn College Board policy or otherwise approved by the Chancellor as areas on which licensed carry is prohibited are specific to the room or rooms for which approval has been received. No individual is authorized to expand that area to encompass adjacent hallways, common areas, etc. without the review and approval of the Chancellor.
Requesting Approval for Prohibition of Licensed Carry
The approval of the Chancellor is required to prohibit licensed carry in locations provided for in Blinn College Board Policy CHF (LOCAL), i.e., single-occupant offices and other events and programs.
A requestor must complete a Request for Prohibition of Licensed Carry form and provide all required information in order to have a request considered. Justification for each room or area is critically important and must demonstrate that the carrying of a concealed handgun by a license holder in the area presents a significant danger.
The completed request form must be printed, signed, and submitted to the appropriate dean/director. The dean/director shall make a recommendation to support or decline the request and forward to the appropriate vice chancellor. The vice chancellor shall make a recommendation to support or decline the request and forward to the Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel. The Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel shall also make a recommendation to support or decline the request and forward to the Chancellor. The Chancellor shall review the request and render a decision.
The Chancellor’s decision on a request is final and not subject to further review or appeal.
The Office of the Chancellor shall send a fully executed copy of the request form to the requestor and return the original to the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel. If approval is received and 30.06 signage is necessary, the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel will forward a copy of the approved form to the Blinn College Police Department.
Signage Prohibiting Licensed Carry
Signage prohibiting licensed carry on campus property (“30.06 Notice”) will be posted at areas designated as gun-free in Blinn College Board policy CHF (LOCAL) and must meet the requirements of Section 30.06 of the Texas Penal Code. 30.06 notices may only be produced and posted by the Blinn College Police Department. Such notices must be posted in a conspicuous manner, clearly visible to the public. Costs for signage and installation shall be borne by the departments or campus entities responsible for those activities that are the basis for the prohibition of licensed carry.
Locations or events that have been approved for temporary 30.06 signage shall have the signs posted at least two hours prior to the beginning of the event or other program and shall remain in place no more than two hours after the conclusion of the event or program.
Any department or event organizer with authorization under Blinn College Board Policy CHF (LOCAL) or approval of the Chancellor for areas where licensed carry is prohibited shall submit a Request for 30.06 Signage to the Blinn College Police Department at least five business days prior to the event or program requiring 30.06 signage. If the signage request is the result of an approved special request for prohibition of licensed carry, a copy of the approved form must be submitted with the Request for 30.06 Signage.
The Blinn College Police Department shall keep accurate records of posted signage and the corresponding authorization.