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Roane State Community College

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  4. Handgun Carry Permit Policy Information
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Roane State Campus Carry FAQ

Q. Can I declare my office or classroom a “gun free zone”?

A. No.

Q. Is the library a “gun free zone”?

A. No.

Q. Are the athletic fields or multi-purpose fields gun free zones?

A. Only when an organized school-sponsored event such as a soccer match is in progress. Casual use and “pick-up” games do not qualify.

Q. If I elect to carry, may I lock my gun in my desk drawer, file cabinet or locker?

A. No, you must carry it at all times. If you choose to carry it in a purse or other bag instead of a holster, then you must keep it within arm’s reach at all times. You may lock your gun in the glove box, trunk or other locked container in your personal motor vehicle.

Q. The prohibition on carrying in stadiums, gymnasiums, and auditoriums is very specific. Does this mean that it would be okay to carry in the student center when a school-sponsored event is in progress?

A. If there is no auditorium or other large gathering space inside the student center where the event is being held, then yes, it does mean that you could carry in the student center when a school-sponsored event is in progress. For example, if the event is a recruiting event for student organizations and the various organizations have set up tables throughout the student center, that would be an event at which a properly permitted and registered employee could carry their concealed handgun.

Q. If a someone other than a recognized student organization is renting the gym, auditorium, or expo center for an event, would I be allowed to carry into the event, since it is not “school sponsored”?

A. That will depend on whether the sponsor of the event will allow handguns to be carried into the event. If they choose to, the non-school sponsor may prohibit weapons inside their event.

Q. Is an athletic team practice session considered a “school-sponsored event?

A. No.

Q. The law prohibits carrying a handgun in “Formal meetings regarding employee or student disciplinary matters.” What is a “formal meeting”?

A. A “formal meeting” is one that is scheduled in advance with the knowledge of all parties that the subject will be a disciplinary matter.

Q. The law prohibits carrying a handgun in a hospital, or an office where medical or mental health services are the primary services provided, such as a clinic, student health center or a mental health counseling center. What about educational clinics such as massage therapy labs, dental clinic labs, or optical clinic?

A. As long as the clinic provides health care or mental health care, guns are prohibited within. These fields are all regulated by the Department of Health and, therefore, the clinics or labs would be considered to provide health care services for purposes of the prohibition.

Q. The law prohibits carrying a handgun in “buildings or parts of buildings that are dedicated to use by a campus K-12 school, middle college, etc.” What is meant by “dedicated”

A. A dedicated building or space within a building is one that is set aside for use only by K-12 students. For example, if an entire building on a campus houses an elementary school or middle college, that building is dedicated to that purpose and guns are prohibited within. If a wing of a building is set aside for dual enrollment students, that wing is dedicated to a K-12 use and guns are prohibited within that wing. The same applies to buildings or parts of buildings housing child care facilities, such as a campus-run daycare center.

Q. The policy gives the school the right to search for illegally possessed weapons in any area on the institution’s premises, including, but not limited to, lockers, furniture, containers, drawers, equipment or other facilities, lunch boxes, briefcases, personal bags, personal tool boxes or tool kits, parking lots, college vehicles and other vehicles parked on the institution’s premises, provided that such searches may only be conducted by law enforcement officers. Does there have to be probable cause before a search can be conducted?

A. Generally, searches will only be conducted based upon probable cause, but there may be exigent circumstances that will warrant a search. Law enforcement officers have been trained to make these determinations, which is why only they may conduct such a search.

Q. Is there anything in policy that would indicate athletic weight rooms are to be gun free even if the weight room is under the same roof as the gym?

A. No.

Q. Is weight lifting by athletes a “school-sponsored event”?

No.

Q. We have a fitness center that can be used by employees, students, and the general public. Is there anything in policy that make the fitness center a gun free zone?

A. No.

Q. Even if the fitness center is located under the same roof as the gym?

A. That doesn’t make any difference in this case.

Q. Employees and the general public often exercise by walking around the concourse of our gym. Is there anything that would make this area a gun free zone assuming there is no school-sponsored ball game going on in the gym?

A. No.

Q. We have an outdoor walking track that is used by employees, the general public, and students for general exercise. Is there a situation where the track would be considered a gun free zone?

A. It would be a gun free zone if a school sponsored track meet were in progress. It would not be a gun free zone during the recreational use you have described.

Q. We have all-purpose fields. If a college sponsored event is in progress is this field a gun free zone during the event?

A. Yes, it would be a gun free zone during the school sponsored event. Your all-purpose field would be considered the equivalent of a stadium.

Q. We have an outdoor volley ball court on some of our campuses that are used for student recreation. Is there a situation where the volley ball court area would be considered a gun free zone?

A. If the students were merely engaging in a recreational game, it would not be a gun free zone. If there were a school-sponsored volley ball tournament or regularly scheduled intramural league play in progress, then it would be a gun free zone.

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