Gun Policy
The College District prohibits the use, possession, or display of a firearm on College District property or at a College District sponsored or related activity in violation of law and College District regulations.
The open carry of firearms is prohibited on any College District campus or center premises, including all public driveway, street sidewalk or parking area.
The following definitions apply to the concealed carry of handguns on College District property:
- Campus: all land, buildings, and portions of buildings owned or leased by the College District.
- Campus Housing: a residential facility owned or leased and operated by the College District.
- Collegiate Sports: intercollegiate, club, and intramural athletic activities occurring on the campus premises.
Concealed Handgun: a handgun, which is not openly noticeable to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person.
Handgun: any firearm that is designed made or adapted to be fired with one hand. Interscholastic Event: a function or program involving elementary or secondary schools.
License Holder: means a person licensed to carry a handgun in accordance with law. Notice: has the meaning assigned by law.
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.
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.
Those individuals who lawfully hold a license to carry may carry a concealed handgun on College District property unless otherwise prohibited by law or this policy. This policy does not apply to commissioned peace officers.
License holders must follow applicable state laws and College District policy and procedures.
License holders may be asked to show proof of license to a commissioned peace officer in accordance with law. No other College District employee may ask to see a license to carry.
License holders shall not be subject to prejudice for lawfully expressing the right to carry.
A person, including employees acting outside their duties, whose possession, use, or storage of a handgun results in personal injury or property damage shall be personally liable for the injury or damage.
The College District shall not provide general storage for firearms. Individuals shall lawfully store the handgun when going to a place on campus where concealed carry is prohibited.
License holders shall either carry the concealed weapon on their person or store the weapon insecure gun storage provided by the resident that has been approved by the College District’s police department. The weapon should only be visible during the time it takes to transfer the weapon from their person to the locked container.
Non-resident license holders shall carry the weapon on their persons at all times and may not store the weapon in campus housing.
The College President or designee may prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns in order to promote safety at any campus or center premises when appropriate. The following areas are prohibited from concealed carry:
1. At a location where a high school or collegiate sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place in accordance with law.
2. Areas where minors are present at the discretion of the College President or 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. All College District testing center locations.
5. The Skills Training Center Welding Lab.
6. All locker rooms.
Individuals may request that an event is temporarily exempt from campus carry in writing to the College President or designee. Individuals requesting an exemption should include specific safety issues that would exclude the event from concealed carry. The College President or designee shall respond to the request within five working days. 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 College President or designee. The College President or designee shall respond to the request within five working days.
The College District shall provide notice where handguns are prohibited in accordance with law. The College District police and/or the director of protective services shall provide safe campus training as directed by the College President. The College President or designee shall submit a report to the Texas Legislature describing the College District’s adopted rules that regulate concealed handguns on campus and the reason for the rules. The report shall be submitted to the board of directors prior to submission to the legislature. The report shall submitted no later than September 1, 2018 and then every even numbered years thereafter.
The College District prohibits the use, possession, or display of any illegal knife, club, or prohibited weapon, as defined by law, on College District property or at a College District sponsored or related activity, unless written authorization is granted in advance by the College President or designee. Additionally, the following weapons are prohibited on College District property or at any
College District sponsored or related activity:
1. Fireworks of any kind;
2. Incendiary devices;
3. Instruments designed to expel a projectile with the use of pressurized air, like a BB gun;
4. Razors;
5. Chains; or
6. Martial arts throwing stars.
The possession or use of articles not generally considered to be weapons may be prohibited when the College President or designee determines that a danger exists for any student, College District employee, or College District property by virtue of possession or use. Employees and students found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action. [See DH, FM, and FMA] Violations of College District rules that are also violations of state law may be prosecuted criminally.