Appendix U: Campus Carry Policy

Reason for Policy
1. The 84th Legislature enacted Senate Bill 11 commonly known as campus carry, which added Section 411.2013 to the Texas Government Code authorizing the concealed carrying of handguns by license holders at public two and four year institutions of higher education.
2. This policy applies to the concealed carry of firearms on campus(s). The open carry of firearms is prohibited on college campus(s)
Application of Policy
1. The policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, guests, visitors and organizations. Those individuals who lawfully hold a license to carry (LTC) may carry a concealed handgun unless prohibited by law or this policy.
2. License to carry holders will not be subject to prejudice for lawfully expressing the right to carry.
3. License to carry holders must follow applicable state laws and Vernon College policy and procedures.
4. In accordance with state law, license to carry holders may be asked to show proof of license to a commissioned peace officer. No other employee may ask for the license.
5. This policy does not apply to Commissioned Peace Officers.
Definitions
1. Campus: all land, buildings, and portions of buildings owned or leased by Vernon College.
2. Campus Housing: a residential facility owned or leased and operated by Vernon College.
3. Collegiate Sports: intercollegiate, club, and intramural athletic activities occurring on the campus premises.
4. Concealed Handgun: a handgun, which is not openly noticeable to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person.
5. Handgun: any firearm that is designed, made or adapted to be fired with one hand.
6. Interscholastic Event: a function or program involving elementary or secondary Schools.
7. License Holder: means a person licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Texas Government Code.
  Notice: has the meaning assigned by Texas Penal Code 30.06, which will include the following language prominently posted;
  1. “Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun”.
  2. The sign will be posted both in English and Spanish.
8. Secure Gun Storage: a safe, gun safe, gun case, lock box, or other device that is designed to be or can be used to store a firearm and that is designed to be unlocked only by means of a key, a combination or other similar means (18U.S.C. ⸹ 921(a)(34)(c)).
9. Store: to take steps that a reasonable person would take to prevent the access to a firearm, including but not limited to placing a firearm in a secure gun storage.
Open Carry Prohibited
1. All persons, including license holders are prohibited from openly carrying on any campus or center premises, including all public driveway, street sidewalk or parking area.
Prohibited Areas
1. At a location where a high school or collegiate sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place as prohibited by section 46.035(b)(2) of the Texas Penal Code. Vernon College shall provide notice where handguns are prohibited. The language for such notice is set out in section 30.06 of the Texas Penal Code.
2. Areas where minors are present at the discretion of the college president or their designee.
3. Any location where law enforcement or correctional training is conducted, unless expressly authorized by the Director of Protective Services for training purposes. In no circumstance will live ammunition be allowed in these areas.
4. Vernon College testing center locations.
5. Skills Training Center Welding Lab
6. Locker Rooms
  1. While not expressly prohibited by this policy license holders should be aware of current laws and regulations prohibiting open carry on college campuses.
7. The President or their designee may prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns in order to promote safety at any campus or center premises when appropriate.
Request for Exemption
1. Individuals may request that an event is temporarily exempt from campus carry in writing to the president or their designee. Individuals requesting an exemption should include specific safety issues that would exclude the event from concealed carry. The president or their designee will respond to the request within five (5) working days.
2. A license holder may request review of the decision to temporarily prohibit the carry of a concealed handgun at an event. The request must be made in writing to the president of the college or their designee. The president or their designee will respond to the request within five (5) working days.
Campus Housing
1. Residents
  1. License to carry (LTC) holders must either carry the weapon concealed on their person or store the weapon in secure gun storage provided by the resident that has been approved by the Vernon College Police Department. The weapon should only be visible during the time it takes to transfer the weapon from their person to the locked container.
2. Non-Residents
  1. Non-Resident LTC holders must carry the weapon on their persons at all times and may not store the weapon in a campus housing room.
Responsibility for Personal Injury or Damage
1. A person whose possession, use, or storage of a handgun results in personal injury or property damage is personally liable for the injury or damage.
2. Employees whose possession, use, or storage of a handgun outside of their duties as employees results in personal injury or property damage is personally liable for the injury or damage.
Storage
1. Vernon College will not provide general storage for firearms. Individuals are expected to lawfully store the handgun when going to a place on campus where concealed carry is prohibited.
Obligation to Provide Notice Where Concealed Handguns are Prohibited
1. Vernon College shall provide notice where handguns are prohibited. The language for such notice is set out in section 30.06 of the Texas Penal Code.
Sanctions for Violating this Policy
1. Any individual who violates this policy is subject to disciplinary action which may include sanctions found in the Vernon College Student Handbook and/or the Vernon College Employee Handbook.
2. Individuals that violate these rules and that are also violations of state law, may be prosecuted criminally.
Training
1. The campus police and/or the Director of Protective Services will provide safe campus training as directed by the President.
Report to legislature
1. The Vernon College President or his/her designee will submit a report to the Texas Legislature describing the campus rules adopted that regulate concealed handguns on campus and the reason for the rules. The report will be submitted to the board of directors prior to submission to the legislature. The report should be submitted no later than September 1, 2017 and then every even numbered years thereafter.

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Section L Appendices