Issued:January 25, 2000
Responsible Office:Division of Public Safety
Policy Contact: Executive Director of the Division of Public Safety
It is a violation of the Illinois revised statute to possess or store weapons on university property unless the following procedures are adhered to.
720 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/21-6 makes it a class A misdemeanor to possess or store on property "supported in whole or in part with State funds or Federal funds administered through State agencies or in any building on such land" any weapons "without prior written permission from the Chief Security Officer for such land or building." Under this statute, weapon is defined as including
"a handgun, sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, any other firearm small enough to be concealed upon the person, semiautomatic firearm, or machine gun…any other rifle, shotgun, spring gun, other firearm, stun gun or taser as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 24-1 of this Code, knife with a blade of at least 3 inches in length, dagger, dirk, switchblade knife, stiletto, ax, hatchet, or other deadly or dangerous weapon or instrument of like character…a bludgeon, black-jack, slingshot, sand-bag, sand-club, metal knuckles, billy or other dangerous weapon of like character."
The University considers souvenirs and weapons which have been rendered permanently inoperative to fall within this law, as well as any bomb, bombshell, grenade, bottle or other container containing an explosive or noxious substance.
For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this statute, the Chief Security Officer for the Urbana-Champaign campus and all properties administered under the auspices of the Urbana-Champaign campus has issued a statement of regulations and procedures. Inquiries about the weapons policy should be directed to the Chief Security Officer.
Possession Regulations
Before written permission is granted, the registration procedures outlined by the Chief Security Officer must be complied with. The weapon must be shown to the Chief Security Officer's designee (the University Police) and described in detail in the written permit issued.
Permission will not be granted to possess or store any weapon where possession would be in violation of the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Illinois or the regulations of the University of Illinois. Generally, permission will not be granted to possess or store any bludgeon, black-jack, slung-shot, sand-club, sand-bag, metal knuckles, throwing star, any knife (commonly referred to as a switchblade knife) which has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife or that opens by operation of inertia, gravity, or both, any device (commonly referred to as a ballistic knife) that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile by means of a coil spring, elastic material, or compressed gas, any dagger, dirk, billy, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto, broken bottle, stun gun or taser or any other dangerous or deadly weapon of like character, any machine gun, semiautomatic assault weapon, armor piercing bullet, explosive bullet, large capacity ammunition feeding device, any tear gas gun projector or bomb or any object containing noxious liquid gas or substance, other than an object containing a non-lethal noxious liquid gas or substance designed solely for personal defense carried by a person 18 years of age or older. Permission to possess guns will be restricted generally to those used only for hunting or for practice or competition on a firing range. Hence, the permission to possess or store guns would generally be restricted to shotguns, .22 caliber rifles, and .38 caliber or smaller handguns with a 4-inch minimum barrel length. Exceptions may be made on an individual basis for special match quality firearms.
Permission to store or possess any firearm will generally be granted only for possession and storage in the specific area designated by the University as a weapon storage area, the firing range, or in the living quarters of families maintaining households on University property and for the necessary travel to and from any such area. Permission generally will not be granted to possess or store any firearm in any dormitory, classroom building, or recreation facility of the University (except the Armory).
Registration in any course where weapons are used in connection with the course shall constitute written permission for students to use any University-owned or -controlled weapon in connection with the course.
Employees or agents of the University who are required by the University to possess or control weapons owned by the University are authorized to possess or store such weapons in the performance of their duties provided such weapons are registered with the University Police.
Local, State, and Federal peace officers authorized to possess weapons under the laws of the State of Illinois, members of the armed services and reserve forces of the United States, and members of the Illinois National Guard are authorized to possess and store weapons used in the performance of their official duties.
Further questions concerning this policy statement should be directed to the Executive Director of the Division of Public Safety, (217) 333-1216.
Also refer to Business and Financial Policies and Procedures
Section 7.3 Purchase Orders
Section 12 Determine the Value of Equipment or Property
Section 12 Property Accounting, specifically Acquisition, Transfer and Disposal of Equipment