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    Campus Carry Information

    The "Georgia campus carry" legislation (House Bill 280 [2017]) amended the Georgia law restricting weapons around school zones, functions, and transportation (O.C.G.A. §16-11-127.1), to authorize the possession of concealed handguns by weapons carry license holders in or on certain property of public institutions of postsecondary education with specific restrictions.

    This was later modified by the "Georgia Constitutional Carry Act" (Senate Bill 319 [2021]), which removed the license requirement while keeping all other detailed restrictions the same. The responsibility is on those who choose to carry handguns on campus to know the law and to understand where they can and can't go while carrying.

    Students, faculty and staff should not attempt to monitor or enforce compliance with the statute with those who do carry handguns. Only law enforcement personnel will be responsible for enforcing the law. If you have concerns or questions, contact the UNG Police.

    "Campus Carry Act" Summary Video

    Disclaimer: It is ultimately the responsibility of the individual to know the current laws applied to the specific locations they visit and functions in which they participate. This website is not an authoritative source of law, but is offered as a general invite for citizens to learn more of such laws at their authoritative source.

    Transcript

    USG HB 280 Campus Carry Video

    * Note: As the "Constitutional Carry Act" (SB319 of 2021) has been amended more recently, any specific mention of "weapons license requirements" in this video may no longer apply, however all other restrictions remain applicable.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Updated October 14, 2022

    General Information

    • How can a student see if there are high school students enrolled in their class?

      Students can see if there are high school students enrolled in their classes by viewing their Tranguid in Banner Web.

      To find your Tranguid in Banner Web, go to: Student › Student Records › Student Tranguid.

      In the class schedule section, the last column on the right, labeled "Dual Enrolled Students," will contain a "yes" if there are high school students enrolled in that class.

      Read the disclaimer after the class schedule section.

    • Where can handguns be carried?

      Any lawful weapons carrier may carry a concealed handgun in any building or on real property owned by or leased to any public technical school, vocational school, college, or university, or other public institution of postsecondary education, with the restrictions noted in the following sections.

    • Where can guns not be carried?

      A lawful weapons carrier may not carry guns in the following areas:

      • Buildings or property used for athletic sporting events or student housing, including, but not limited to, fraternity and sorority houses;
      • Any preschool or childcare space located within such buildings or real property;
      • Any room or space being used for classes related to a college and career academy or other specialized school as provided for under Code Section 20-4-37;
      • Any room or space during the times when they are being used for classes in which high school students are enrolled, either through a dual-enrollment program, such as ‘Move on When Ready Act’ as provided for under Code Section 20-2-161.3 or a college and career academy or other specialized school as provided for under Code Section 20-4-37;
      • Faculty, staff or administrative offices;
      • Rooms during the times when they are being used to conduct disciplinary proceedings of any kind, including those related to students, faculty or staff.
    • Are handguns prohibited from athletic sporting event facilities at all times or only during the events?

      Handguns are prohibited in buildings or property that are used for intercollegiate games at all times, not just during the events. Similarly, handguns are prohibited throughout the entire facility, not just those specific areas of the facility in which games are played. The same is true of student housing facilities; handguns are prohibited throughout the entire facilities, not only in the specific areas where students reside.

    • Can lawful weapons carriers carry concealed handguns in laboratories on campus?

      Laboratories are not specifically listed as one of the exceptions, however it could be prohibited if the particular space qualifies for any of the other specific exceptions, such as the lab having an "enrolled high school student" present.)

    • Can lawful weapons carriers carry concealed handguns at summer camps on campus?

      Summer camps are not specifically listed as one of the exceptions, however it could be prohibited if the particular space qualifies for any of the other specific exceptions, such as "childcare spaces", which include programs with children under 18 years of age located within an enclosed space limited to authorized people via a controlled access point (either monitored by personnel stationed at the door or controlled by an electronic mechanism.)

    • Can lawful weapons carriers carry concealed handguns in health centers and medical examination rooms on campus?

      Health centers and their examination rooms are not specifically excepted from the general rule that lawful weapons carriers may carry concealed handguns on campus. However, there may be specific areas of those health centers that are prohibited if the particular space qualifies for any of the other specific exceptions, such as "faculty, staff and administrative offices."

    • What weapons are still prohibited from carrying onto campus?

      Code Section 16-11-127.1 contains the definition of weapons that are prohibited on campus:

      “Weapon” means and includes any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife having a blade of two or more inches, straight-edge razor, razor blade, spring stick, knuckles, whether made from metal, thermoplastic, wood, or other similar material, blackjack, any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain, or any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, or any weapon of like kind, and any stun gun or taser as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-106. This paragraph excludes any of these instruments used for classroom work authorized by the teacher.

      Everything represented in the preceding statement, except stun guns (aka "Tasers") and concealed handguns, which are defined and exempted in a later portion of OCGA 16-11-127.1, is illegal to carry on any campus and USG property, whether owned or leased.

    • What do I do if I am a lawful weapon carrier and want to carry a weapon on campus?

      It is the responsibility of lawful weapons carriers who choose to carry handguns on campus to know the law and to understand where they can go while carrying.  According to the USG guidance, student lawful weapons carriers, “who want to carry handguns to class will need to visit the UNG Registrar, Steven Stubbs, located in the Price Memorial Hall on the Dahlonega Campus, who after verifying their enrollment status will tell them which of their classes, if any, have high school students enrolled.”

    • Will the university post signage?

      No. The USG guidance indicates that signage is not to be posted. It is the responsibility of lawful weapons carriers who choose to carry handguns on campus to know the law and to understand where they can go while carrying.  

    • What do I do if I have questions about where I can carry?

      Email University Police at greg.williams@ung.edu or UNG’s General Counsel at jenna.colvin@ung.edu. 

    • Can cadets carry personal weapons on campus?

      No. The Department of the Army has prohibited cadets from carrying personally-owned weapons while in uniform, as noted in Policy Letter 22 from the U.S. Army Cadet Command (USACC). USACC Cadre, not University Police, are responsible for enforcing this policy. 

    • Can we ask students or visitors if they are carrying, and, if so, do they have to legally answer?

      No. According to the USG guidance on the campus carry, “students, faculty, and staff should not attempt themselves to monitor or to enforce compliance with the statute by those who do carry handguns.”

    • Can non-law enforcement personnel inquire about whether an individual is a lawful weapon carrier?

      No. According to the USG guidance on the campus carry, “students, faculty, and staff should not attempt themselves to monitor or to enforce compliance with the statute by those who do carry handguns.”

    • What should I do if I see someone on campus with a handgun or other weapon?

      Call the University Police ( 706-864-1500 ), or report the incident through either the UNG Mobile app or LiveSafe app on your smartphone.

      Remember: USG guidance advises that students, faculty and staff should not attempt to monitor or enforce compliance with the statute.

    • Can students switch classes if they feel threatened because of a fellow student in one of their classes carrying a gun?

      Only if it is during the add/drop period and only if space is available may students change a class. Students should adjust schedules using the Nighthawks registration system.

    • Is there training available for us?

      Yes. University Police's Emergency Action Plan training addresses many emergency scenarios, including active shooters. University Police hold multiple Emergency Action Plan training sessions each semester and provide notification of these sessions via email.

    • Do campus carry laws apply to off-campus field trips or work trips?

      No. Campus carry related laws only apply “in any building or on real property owned by or leased to any public . . . college, or university . . . or other public institution of postsecondary education.” When students, faculty or staff leave campus for school-related activities, they will be governed by the weapons laws for those locations.

    • Do campus carry laws apply to property owned by USG institutions outside of Georgia?

      No. The Georgia laws related to campus carry only apply within the state of Georgia. Locations that are owned or leased by USG colleges and/or universities that are outside of Georgia jurisdiction will be governed by the local laws of the city, county, state and/or country in which those facilities stand.

    • If USG institutions will not be providing storage lockers, where can lawful weapons carriers store their handguns while they go to places on campus where handguns are prohibited?

      It is the responsibility of those who choose to carry guns on campus to make arrangements for the proper and safe storage of those guns. Current law already allows for the securing of guns in parked cars. Lawful weapons carriers can also make arrangements for storage off-campus.

    Guidance About Dual-enrolled Students

    • Does the law prohibit firearms anywhere a dual-enrollment student may be present?

      No. It applies only to “rooms and other spaces during the times when they are being used for classes in which high school students are enrolled, whether through dual-enrollment and programs such as Move on When Ready or through college and career academies or other specialized programs such as Early College.” It does not apply to general areas, such as the library, student center or dining areas.

    • Should faculty attempt to enforce the statue in classes where dual enrollment students may be present?

      No. The burden is on the lawful weapons carrier to determine where they can lawfully carry, and they must present their schedule to the Registrar or designated individual to know if there are any dual-enrolled students in any of their courses. Faculty members should not indicate or identify any dual-enrolled students in their course.

    • What happens if there are no dual-enrolled students in the class when the lawful weapons carrier asks, but a dual-enrolled student enrolls later (i.e. during the drop/add period)?

      It is the responsibility of lawful weapons carrier who choose to carry handguns on campus to know the law and to understand where they can go while carrying.  

    • Can faculty members and students other than lawful weapons carriers ask the registrar whether high school students are enrolled in their classes?

      Yes.

    Enforcement Information

    • Who will enforce violations of this law?

      Law enforcement officials, including University Police, will be responsible for enforcement. Concerns should be reported to University Police. USG guidance states that “students, faculty, and staff should not attempt themselves to monitor or to enforce compliance with the statute by those who do carry handguns.”

    • Will campus police require registration of lawful weapons carriers?

      No. According to the USG guidance on the campus carry, the law does not give “individual institutions discretion to bar or further limit handguns on their campuses.”

    • Will the lawful weapons carriers have to have training to carry on campus?

      No. The current state law does not require a lawful weapons carrier to complete training to receive a permit.

    • Can the university impose extra training requirements not established by state law?

      No. According to the USG guidance on the campus carry, the law does not give “individual institutions discretion to bar or further limit handguns on their campuses.”

    • What are the repercussions if a concealed carry lawful weapons carrier leaves their weapon unattended?

      They will have violated the law and appropriate law enforcement action will be taken. 

    • Will the university impose other penalties?

      Individuals who violate the law may also be subject to penalties under the student code of conduct.

    • If a student or employee violates the provisions of HB 280, may the institution treat that conduct as a violation of its student code of conduct or personnel rules?

      Yes. The immediate situation should be handled by law enforcement, but afterwards the conduct may be treated as a violation of the student code of conduct or the personnel rules. That process should then be handled in the same manner as any other student or employee misconduct case would be handled.

    Electroshock Weapons

    • What does the law say about stun guns (aka "Tasers")?

      House Bill 792 [2016] permits possession of certain electroshock weapons on university property (emphasis added):

      (19) Any person who is 18 years of age or older or currently enrolled in classes on the campus in question and carrying, possessing, or having under such person's control an electroshock weapon while in or on any building or real property owned by or leased to such public technical school, vocational school, college or university or other public institution of postsecondary education; provided, however, that, if such person makes use of such electroshock weapon, such use shall be in defense of self or others. The exemption under this paragraph shall apply only to such person in regard to such electroshock weapon. As used in this paragraph, the term 'electroshock weapon' means any commercially available device that is powered by electrical charging units and designed exclusively to be capable of incapacitating a person by electrical charge, including, but not limited to, a stun gun or taser as defined in subsection (a) of Code 26 Section § 16-11-106.
    • Can faculty and staff carry electroshock weapons on campus?

      Yes, as long as they are 18 years of age or older (or currently enrolled in classes on the campus.)

    • May the university create policies to prohibit electroshock weapons on campus?

      No. The law's current terminology states that it covers any property owned by (or leased to) a public institution of postsecondary education.

    • Is a weapons permit required for carrying an electroshock weapon?

      No.

    • Does an electroshock weapon need to be concealed?

      No, the code section does not specify requirements on carrying methods.

    • What are the usage restrictions on electroshock weapons?

      Defensive purposes only (to protect self or others.)

    • Can on-campus residents possess an electroshock device in their dormitory?

      Yes, the law indicates that they are permitted "in or on any building or real property owned by or leased to ... public institution[s] of postsecondary education" under these conditions:

      1. The individual is either "18 years of age or older or currently enrolled in classes on the campus."
      2. The electroshock weapon is a "commercially available device designed exclusively to incapacitate a person by electrical charge", and
      3. Its use is only for the "defense of self or others."

      Legal and academic consequences will likely result in the event an electroshock device is activated for any purpose other than defense against clear and present danger.

    Faculty/Staff Information

    • Given that students may carry weapons into our classrooms, will faculty have the power to set rules about acceptable behavior with firearms and the consequences of unacceptable behavior with firearms?

      No. According to the USG guidance on the campus carry, the law does not give “individual institutions discretion to bar or further limit handguns on their campuses.”

    • Are faculty allowed to announce that someone in their classrooms might be armed?

      No. According to the USG guidance on the campus carry, the law does not give “individual institutions discretion to bar or further limit handguns on their campuses.”

    • Are faculty members responsible for announcing to their classes that guns are (or are not) prohibited because high school students are (or are not) enrolled?

      No. It is the responsibility of those who choose to carry handguns on campus to make themselves aware of where and when they can do so. They can learn which of their classes include high school students by asking the registrar, as can faculty members and their classmates. In fact, the USG does not recommend that faculty members make announcements in class because it may lead to confusion among students resulting from inconsistencies between different professors and different classes.

    • Can faculty members ask students to identify themselves if they are carrying handguns or ask students who carry handguns to take different classes?

      No. State law grants lawful weapons carriers the ability to carry handguns to public college and university classes (except those in which high school students are enrolled), and faculty members may not ask lawful weapons carriers to reveal that they are carrying concealed handguns or in any way discourage them from doing what they are legally allowed to do.

    • Can faculty or staff ask students to leave their book bags or other large bags outside their classrooms or offices?

      No. According to the USG guidance on the campus carry, the law does not give “individual institutions discretion to bar or further limit handguns on their campuses.”

    • Will faculty or staff be able to ask a gun carrier to leave their gun in their car if they are emotionally distraught?

      No. According to the USG guidance on the campus carry, the law does not give “individual institutions discretion to bar or further limit handguns on their campuses.” In any situation, if you have concerns about someone who is emotionally distraught potentially harming themselves or others, contact University Police.

    • Are faculty "mandated reporters" for violations of the Campus Carry law?

      No, however any concerns about suspicious or unlawful behavior should be reported to University Police.

    • Should supervisors conduct additional training for their staff?

      We recommend that supervisors guide their employees to ung.edu/campuscarry for information. If additional resources are needed, please contact UNG Police Chief Greg Williams at greg.williams@ung.edu.

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