Spring Break
OSU firearms policy defined after tragedy
Tragedy at Virginia Tech has students questioning policies
The Daily Barometer
Issue date: 5/24/07 Section: News
OSU gun policy strictly prohibits firearms on campus regardless of a concealed weapons permit. Only a few organizations such as the ROTC, the OSU Pistol club and Rifle club, are exempt from policy OAR 576-065-000.
"A lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of guns on campus, since the incident at Virginia Tech," said Jack Rogers, director of campus public safety.
Individual universities have the discretion to make any rule deemed necessary in regards to fire arms, even if the rules come in conflict with state law.
Under no circumstance are individuals with concealed weapons permits allowed to carry firearms on university owned or controlled property.
"Worst case scenario for us would be someone having a weapon in a residence hall, and while cleaning that weapon accidently pulling on a trigger and having a few rounds go off into neighboring rooms," Rogers said.
Violators of OSU's gun policy will be asked to leave campus, however possessing a firearm on campus with a concealed weapons permit is not a crime. OSU does not have the jurisdiction to define criminal behavior in such a context.
"I remember a few years back, there was an incident with a man carrying a concealed weapon at Arnold dining center," Rogers said. "He was a private investigator and needed the weapon for his job, but I still had to take him aside and ask him to leave."
OSU's rules for firearms are determined through an administrative process, which includes a public hearing where the rules are voted on, after which a decision is made. Disregard of Oregon Administrative rules and a refusal to comply with exclusion from campus property, can result in a person's arrest for Second Degree Criminal Trespass.
"A lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of guns on campus, since the incident at Virginia Tech," said Jack Rogers, director of campus public safety.
Individual universities have the discretion to make any rule deemed necessary in regards to fire arms, even if the rules come in conflict with state law.
Under no circumstance are individuals with concealed weapons permits allowed to carry firearms on university owned or controlled property.
"Worst case scenario for us would be someone having a weapon in a residence hall, and while cleaning that weapon accidently pulling on a trigger and having a few rounds go off into neighboring rooms," Rogers said.
Violators of OSU's gun policy will be asked to leave campus, however possessing a firearm on campus with a concealed weapons permit is not a crime. OSU does not have the jurisdiction to define criminal behavior in such a context.
"I remember a few years back, there was an incident with a man carrying a concealed weapon at Arnold dining center," Rogers said. "He was a private investigator and needed the weapon for his job, but I still had to take him aside and ask him to leave."
OSU's rules for firearms are determined through an administrative process, which includes a public hearing where the rules are voted on, after which a decision is made. Disregard of Oregon Administrative rules and a refusal to comply with exclusion from campus property, can result in a person's arrest for Second Degree Criminal Trespass.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 30
Kevin Starrett
posted 5/24/07 @ 12:49 PM PST
This is illegal nonsense. OSU has NO, ZERO, authority to make a rule of this kind. Oregon law specifically forbids it. License holders MAY carry on campus period. (Continued…)
Brett
posted 5/24/07 @ 4:30 PM PST
The article even stated that it's not a crime for concealed handguns license holders to carry on campus (unless you refuse to leave, then it's trespassing). (Continued…)
Kevin Hollinger
posted 5/24/07 @ 7:53 PM PST
This article is complete fallacy. The State of Oregon specifically states that a person licensed under ORS 166.291 or 166.292 (concealed handgun licenses) may carry a concealed weapon on university property. (Continued…)
Chris Hendricks
posted 5/24/07 @ 8:00 PM PST
I just can't believe this nonsense. EVERY human being, in EVERY walk of life, has a RIGHT endowed to them by their creator, to defend themselves. Corporations and private businesses think that they're making their property safe by disallowing weapons, but even a cursory glance of such policies show that they do far more harm than good. (Continued…)
Don
posted 5/24/07 @ 8:42 PM PST
"Worst case scenario for us would be someone having a weapon in a residence hall, and while cleaning that weapon accidently pulling on a trigger and having a few rounds go off into neighboring rooms," Rogers said. (Continued…)
Kirk Freeman
posted 5/25/07 @ 4:28 AM PST
Virginia Tech is a gun free paradise. The only person that had a gun was a murderer. We killed unarmed victims while fat, bloated cops we saw waddled to the scene of the crimes so they could take photos and write reports. (Continued…)
Ned
posted 5/25/07 @ 7:33 AM PST
I thought the problem with Virginia tech wasn't with their liberal gun policy but, to the contrary, their restrictive gun policy. 30 students weren't killed because someone accidentally discharged his weapon while cleaning it, they were killed because they were trapped, unarmed, in rooms with no escape. (Continued…)
Matthew Galli
posted 5/25/07 @ 7:58 AM PST
Dear Jack Rogers:
Please inform the Director of Alumni Relations to not bother sending me a pledge card for the donation solicited over the phone this week. (Continued…)
Dennis
posted 5/25/07 @ 8:56 AM PST
I'm always amazed at the inability of pro-gun commenters to actually read the articles that send them into a frothing rage...
What part of "...even if the rules come in conflict with state law" do you not understand? The article made it clear that even if Oregon law gives people the right to carry concealed, that right does not extend to college campuses - and that the state of Oregon is OK with that. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 5/25/07 @ 9:05 AM PST
I know where my son won't be going to school in 5 years.
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