Campus Carry Information | University Police | University of Houston-Clear Lake

Campus Carry Information | University Police | University of Houston-Clear Lake
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Campus Carry Information
Campus Carry Information
In this section
Campus Carry
Access Control Conditions
Shelter or Lockdown
On September 1, 2021, Texas House Bill No. 1927 goes into effect. H.B. 1927 is titled
the Firearm Carry Act of 2021, and is sometimes referred to as the "Permitless Carry"
law or the "Constitutional Carry" law. H.B. 1927 amends Texas Penal Code to allow
persons to carry handguns without a license in certain places and under certain circumstances.
HB 1927
does not allow "constitutional carry" on university campuses
with valid Campus Carry policies, such as UHCL and the UH-System. Universities CAN
maintain a policy stating that individuals who do not possess a valid License To Carry
a handgun currently are and will continue to be prohibited from carrying handguns
on campus.
We are developing additional campus signage for campus buildings in addition to current
"Campus Carry" signs. The verbiage reads as follows:
Pursuant to Section 30.05, Penal Code (criminal trespass), a person may not enter
this property with a firearm. This prohibition does not apply to license holders carrying
concealed handguns under subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing
law)."
Links to the latest UHCL Campus Carry Policy, Exclusion Zone List and Exclusion Zone
Request form are available at the links below.
UHCL Campus Carry Policy
UHCL Campus Carry Exclusion Zones
UHCL Exclusion Zone Request Form
These FAQs are intended to provide Campus Carry guidance in a helpful format, and
are not meant to supplant UHCL MAPP 01.C.20, which is the exclusive UHCL policy regarding
Campus Carry.
Campus Carry Policy Frequently Asked Questions
What is the law for carrying handguns on campus?
The Texas "Campus Carry Law" allows persons with a state mandated license to carry
(LTC) to carry a concealed handgun in certain areas on campus so long as the area
has not been designated by the University as an exclusion zone. In compliance with
state law and University policy, individuals who do not possess a valid license to
carry a handgun are prohibited from carrying handguns on campus.
The University's campus carry policy that lists the areas designated as exclusion
zones can be found here:
UHCL Campus Carry Policy
UHCL Campus Carry Exclusion Zones
What is the "campus carry" law?
Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code
(the Campus Carry law) allows the carrying of handguns by license holders on college
campuses. While the University President may not generally prohibit license holders
from carrying concealed weapons on the campus, the law gives public universities some
discretion to regulate campus carry including designating certain areas on campus
where concealed handguns are prohibited. The University's campus carry policy that
lists the areas designated as exclusion zones can be found here:
UHCL Campus Carry Policy
UHCL Campus Carry Exclusion Zones
What does "concealed handgun" mean?
A handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation
of a reasonable person.
Can a person without an LTC carry a handgun on campus?
No. In compliance with state law and University policy, individuals who do not possess
a valid license to carry a handgun are and will continue to be prohibited from carrying
handguns on campus.
This prohibition is in compliance with Texas House Bill No. 1927 (H.B. 1927), which
is titled the Firearm Carry Act of 2021, and is sometimes referred to as the "Permitless
Carry" law or the "Constitutional Carry" law. H.B. 1927 amends Texas Penal Code 46.02
and 46.03 to allow persons to carry handguns without a license in certain places and
under certain circumstances; University campuses are listed as locations that are
exceptions under the Firearm Carry Act of 2021.
Can I bring a gun other than a handgun on campus?
Texas law only makes it legal for individuals with a license to carry (LTC) to carry
handguns on campus. Since LTCs do not permit rifles and other weapons, those items
remain prohibited. All other weapons besides handguns are strictly prohibited for
students, faculty, staff, and visitors, including long guns, knives with blades longer
than 5.5 inches, brass knuckles, clubs, and explosives. Their possession on campus
is grounds for immediate criminal and disciplinary action.
Does Texas law allow for open carry on campus?
No, the Campus Carry law addresses only concealed handgun carry on college campuses,
and does NOT allow open carry. Thus, under Texas law, it will continue to be illegal
to display a firearm inside campus buildings or on campus streets, parking lots, sidewalks,
walkways, etc.
What is the difference between "campus carry" and "open carry"?
"Campus Carry" refers to Texas legislation which allows individuals with a valid license
to carry a handgun (LTC) to carry concealed handguns on a University campus so long
as the area has not been designated by the University as an exclusion zone.
"Open Carry" refers to Texas legislation which allows an individual to visibly, or
"openly" carry a holstered handgun in public places. The Open Carry legislation has
some exceptions, including university campuses. Open Carry is prohibited on the University
campus and any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot,
parking garage or other parking area of the University.
What limitations can universities place on concealed license holders?
The Campus Carry Law gives universities the ability to determine when and where carrying
a concealed firearm is and is not appropriate on their campus. In accordance with
Texas Government Code 411.2031
, those determinations had to be made with feedback from the university community.
Texas public higher education institutions may prohibit concealed handgun license
holders from carrying handguns by creating exclusion zones on certain areas of campus.
View Designated Exclusion Zones
What are the criteria of establishing an exclusion zone?
As indicated in the Campus Carry policy, the criteria to establish an exclusion zone
include:
Campus areas used for day care and school activities, including areas frequently used
by minor children.
Health care facilities similar to hospitals used for patient care, counseling and
mental health services.
Areas used for sporting or interscholastic events.
Established places of religious worship.
Polling places.
Laboratory areas where dangerous materials and equipment or research animals are present.
University housing.
Spaces used for discussions of grievances or disciplinary hearings or meetings. (These
exclusions may be permanent or temporary based on usage of the spaces.)
Areas containing critical university infrastructure.
Areas where contractual or licensing obligations require the exclusion of firearms.
An assigned employee office for which the employee has demonstrated that the carrying
of a concealed handgun by a license holder in the office presents a Significant Risk
of Substantial Harm due to a negligent discharge of the handgun, and the president
or president’s designee has approved the employee's request that the office be designated
as an area where licensed concealed carry of a handgun is not permitted.
Large-scale performance or sports venues during ticketed events, if a temporary exclusion
is obtained pursuant one of the provisions of the following paragraph.
Areas where there are Reasonably Justified Safety Concerns on a Temporary Basis.  These
exclusions are limited to the following circumstances:
Where the requestor provides credible evidence that a concealed handgun on the particular
premise creates a special danger;
For dignitary protection of public officials, judges, candidates, or public figures,
upon a showing of credible evidence that there is a particular threat to security;
For activities which have a demonstrated history of violence;
For large-scale activities where the presence of alcohol, specific safety considerations,
the uniqueness of the campus environment, or the specific threat of violence in conjunction
with the activity, present a reasonable threat to health or safety.
Other areas prohibited by state or federal law.
Which areas on campus are exclusion zones?
The link to UHCL exclusion zones can be found here:
UHCL Exclusion Zones
How will I know if an area has been designated as an exclusion zone?
Specific Exclusion Zones can be found here.
In compliance with Texas Penal Code 30.06,the University provides notice to the University
community of exclusion zone locations through any of the following methods:
Posting a sign on or near entrances to buildings where the entire building is excluded
Placing notices on doors or other areas inside or outside buildings where some, but
not all of the building is an exclusion zone
Providing cards to individuals
Additionally, the University ensures that the University community is informed of
exclusion zones even prior to arriving on campus by maintaining a list of
Exclusion Zones by Building Number and Name
, and by providing information in the student handbook, student life materials, ticketed
events materials, flyers for events, e-mail communications to the University community,
as well as via training provided to University faculty, staff, and students.
May an individual member of the university community post a sign or notice that prohibits
handguns in their offices, classrooms, or other workspaces?
No. In accordance with Texas law, only the University President by policy can designate
areas as exclusion zones. University community members cannot designate their own
exclusion zones. The University does not authorize any member of the University community
to post their own signs or notices or individually choose an area to post signs or
notices.
Will University faculty and staff be allowed to a carry concealed handgun? Can I tell
my employees that they cannot carry a concealed handgun?
The campus carry law permits individuals with a license to carry, including university
faculty and staff, to carry a concealed handgun so long as it is done consistent with
the University's campus carry policy. A supervisor cannot prohibit an individual,
including an employee that they supervise, from carrying a concealed handgun so long
as it is done consistent with the University's campus carry policy.
Unless an employee is required to carry a firearm as part of the employee's specific
job duties (i.e., Police Officer), any possession or use of a firearm by the employee
is not considered to be within the scope of employment with the University. As such,
any employee who chooses to use a firearm is acting in the employee’s individual capacity
and not as an agent of the University.
Additionally, employees who decide to carry a concealed handgun must be aware that
he or she must still be able to perform all assigned duties and responsibilities in
areas on campus and must plan appropriately for the legal storage of any handgun.
In other words, disciplinary action up to and including termination may result if
an employee is not able to perform their job duties and functions because the area
they are assigned to perform work (or the work that they are assigned to perform)
is in an exclusion zone and the employee is carrying a handgun.
What happens if someone violates the University's campus carry policy?
A person who fails to comply with the concealed handgun rules and regulations prescribed
by the University will be in violation of the Texas Penal Code, and criminal charges
will be brought against the violator. Additionally, disciplinary sanctions may be
imposed up to and including expulsion and termination of employment.
Does a police officer have the right to disarm me?
Yes. If a police officer reasonably believes a safety risk exists, or has other probably
cause to do so, he or she may disarm you. You should be courteous and non-confrontational
and follow the police officer's directions.
What responsibility does a license to carry a handgun (LTC) holder have to keep his
or her weapon concealed? Are LTC holders violating the terms of their permit if someone
gets a glimpse of their weapon?
A person with a concealed carry permit must conceal the weapon. A violation would
occur when a person knowingly and intentionally (rather than accidentally) displays
the handgun in plain view of another person.
Will I be able to find out which students have a concealed gun in my class? Will the
University publish a list of concealed handgun license holders or require students,
faculty and staff members who have a concealed handgun license to register with the
Police Department?
The University will not track or have a list of LTC holders at the university. Individuals
holding a valid LTC are not required to disclose their status. The only exception
to this rule is if police ask about concealed carry status for law enforcement purposes.
License holders are required to inform the police, if questioned, if they are carrying
a handgun. Importantly, if asked by someone other than a police officer, students,
faculty, and staff cannot be retaliated against in any way for failure to answer the
question or for answering in the affirmative or negative. In no way should faculty,
staff, and students be pressured or coerced into divulging their campus carry/LTC
status.
What do I do if I see someone with a gun and it is a non-threatening situation?
Be a good witness and avoid escalating the situation by confronting the individual.
Call the University of Houston-Clear Lake Police Department immediately at 281-283-2222.
If there is an active shooter on campus please see the links below for guidelines
of what to do.
What should I do if I suspect or know there is an active shooter on campus?
Please see links below for guidelines for what to do in the event of an active shooter
on campus:
UHCL PD Active Shooter Information
Washington Post Active Shooter Guide
Is a handgun license holder required to display identification if asked to by a police
officer?
Yes. The license holder shall display both the license holder's driver's license or
identification certificate issued by DPS, and the license holder's handgun license.
Texas Government Code § 411.205
Can I carry a concealed weapon at sporting events?
No. The Campus Carry Law, the Texas Penal Code, and university policy prohibit a license
holder from carrying a concealed weapon at any on campus sporting event.
Can I bring a gun into an apartment complex that is not owned by the University where
students reside?
The law covers concealed carry only on campus and the buildings owned or leased by
the University. The Campus Carry Law does not affect privately owned fraternity or
sorority houses or private residential facilities. The University is not authorized
to enact rules or regulations regarding concealed carry in any of these areas.
Why doesn't the University ban handguns from classrooms?
The Campus Carry Law authorizes a university president to enact "reasonable rules
and regulations" but the rules may not either "generally prohibit" or "have the effect
of generally prohibiting" license holders from carrying concealed handguns on campus.
Banning concealed handguns from classrooms would likely be considered a general prohibition
and so would violate the law.
What are the reciprocal carry agreements for concealed carry and license to carry
holders from other states?
A list of
reciprocity agreements
can be found on the website of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Contact
University Police
Email:
policechief@uhcl.edu
2700 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, TX 77058
Office Hours:
24/7
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