Weapons and Firearms

Policy

Possession of any weapon, firearm or fireworks within facilities or on land owned, leased or under the control of Minnesota State University, Mankato is prohibited except as allowed by Minnesota Law, MnSCU Board of Trustees Policy or University Policy. This prohibition extends to any University sanctioned events on or off campus. Students, as well as employees that are acting within the scope and course of their employment, are prohibited from carrying firearms on University grounds or in any University building.

Licensed law enforcement officers and visitors with a valid permit to carry may possess pistols (handguns) on University grounds and in University buildings. All other firearms are prohibited.

The Children's House area of Wiecking Center is a school and possession of weapons by anyone is prohibited.

Lawful possession of firearms is permitted in University parking lots by Minnesota State Statute 624. 714, subd. 18( c ). Firearms in vehicles must be stored according to the provisions of Minnesota State Statute 97B.045.

Suspected violations of this University policy must be reported to University Security.

Definitions:

1. For the purposes of this policy, weapons are defined as any instruments or implements which are capable of inflicting serious bodily injury, and shall include but not be limited to:
   • rifle, shotgun, handgun, machine gun, or other firearm, or antique firearms suitable for use; any air gun, spring gun, B-B gun, or implement that is not a firearm which propels a pellet of any kind with a force that can reasonably be expected to cause bodily harm; any starter pistol, flare gun, tranquilizer gun, stun gun, zip gun, spear gun, dart gun, sling shot; or ammunition of any type for weapons governed by this policy.
   • Any knife with a blade larger than that of a folding pocketknife; dagger; razor or other cutting instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise.
   • Any striking instrument to include clubs, truncheons, blackjacks, sandbags, metal knuckles, or sap gloves.
   • Any martial arts weapons to include nunchakus, tonfas, staffs, and throwing stars.
   • Any bow and arrow combination.
   • Any device which discharges chemical irritant or tear gas and smoke grenades with the exception of small canisters possessed/carried for personal protection purposes.
   • Any incendiary device to include flammable liquids enclosed in readily breakable containers that can be equipped with an igniter of any type.
   • Any explosive device to include hand grenades, bombs, black powder, smokeless powder, percussion caps, friction primers, and pyrotechnic fuses.
   • Paintball guns and paintball markers - Paintball guns and paintball markers are devices designed and manufactured to propel, by gas or air, an encapsulated gelatin paintball.
2. Fireworks - Fireworks are defined as any combustible or explosive composition or any substance or combination of substances or any article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation and shall include:

Any blank cartridge or toy cannon in which explosives are used; the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel them; firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles, aerials or other fireworks of like construction; and any fireworks containing any explosive or flammable compound or any tablets or other device containing any explosive substance.

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Procedure

1. The University does not provide storage facilities for any weapons or firearms.
2. Use/possession of weapons, firearms, on campus property for academic or other purposes must be approved in writing by the President’s Office. Parties requesting to bring any weapons on campus for academic or other purposes should complete the proper “weapons request form at the University Security Office. The form will then be forwarded for approval to the College Dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and President in this order. If the request is for a non-academic purpose the form will be forwarded for approval to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and President in this order. After final approval is given by the President, the approved form will be returned to University Security for notification of the permission granted.
3. The Reserve Officer’s Training Corps program is exempted from having to seek permission to possess the “replica” firearms that they use as part of their training program. They should notify University Security when they will be using them on campus.
4. Businesses leasing property from the University can post only their leased space with “no firearms” signs in accordance with the Minnesota Citizen’s Personal Protection Act of 2003 (MCPPA).
5. A contract to use space by individuals not associated with the University should include the following statement: “Licensee agrees to honor and abide by all rules and regulations set forth by Licensor during its occupancy of the space, including complying with the University’s weapon policy.”
6. All contracts negotiated with outside vendors will state that the company prohibits their employees from carrying any weapons, including handguns for which employees may have a permit to carry while on MSU property. Contracts for work that includes the possession of a handgun as part of the employees’ duties, for which they are being hired by the University, are exempt from this provision.
7. Suspected violations by an employee that are reported to Security will be forwarded to the Department of Human Resources.
8. Suspected violations by a student that are reported to Security will be forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct.

Rationale

Minnesota State University, Mankato seeks a safe environment for individuals on University property. The University's statement on the possession or use of firearms and other weapons complies with Minnesota State Statute 624.714 subd. 18, entitled the "Minnesota Citizen's Personal Protection Act of 2003 (MCPPA)" and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees Policy 5.21 "Possession or Carry of Firearms" which provide guidance and authority for this policy.