Firearms & Weapons Policy

Definitions

University Property

University property includes, but is not limited to, buildings (owned or leased), sidewalks, lawn areas, parking lots, athletic fields, etc. at any campus location. Additionally, property includes University owned vehicles and non-owned vehicles used in the course of conducting University business. Students, faculty and staff are not allowed to carry and/or possess weapons at any time while working or attending University-related events, whether or not on University property, including, but not limited to, driving University owned vehicles at any time or driving privately owned vehicles used in the course of conducting University business.

Possession

Possession includes, but is not limited to, storage lockers, desks, briefcases, purses, articles of clothing and personal vehicles parked on campus property.

Firearm

Any device that shoots a bullet, pellet, flare, tranquilizer, spear dart and other projectile, whether loaded or unloaded, including those powered by CO2 or any other means. This includes, but is not limited to: guns, air guns, dart guns, pistols, revolvers, smoothbore arm, rifles, shot guns, cannons, paintball guns, etc. and any ammunition for any such device.

Explosives

Any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that contains any oxidizing and combustible units and other ingredients, in such proportion, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion and detonator and any part of the compound or mixture, may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gasses that results in gaseous pressures capable of producing destructive efforts on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb. This includes, but is not limited to, firecrackers, black powder, dynamite, etc. as well as detonating devices such as detonators, blasting caps, timers, incendiary wire and the like.

Weapon

Any device that is designed to and traditionally used to, inflict harm. This includes, but is not limited to: firearms, knives, teargas, explosives, slingshots, switchblades, daggers, blackjacks, brass knuckles, bows and arrows, hand grenades, hunting knives, nun-chucks, throwing stars, plastic guns, etc. Additionally, any object that could be reasonably construed as a weapon and any object legally controlled as a weapon or treated as a weapon under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the University is located or conducts operations. Any item that is furnished as a weapon will be treated as a weapon: Items include, but are not limited to, use of a fake or toy gun or a hand held under clothing to simulate a weapon.

Policy

All members of the University Community including faculty, staff and students are prohibited from possessing firearms, explosives, or weapons as defined above, as well as replicas of any firearms, explosives, or weapons, on University property. This includes while in class, working, and/or conducting University business. This policy also carries over to all University-sponsored activities on or off campus property. Examples include, but are not limited to, University sponsored trips, business functions or events.

This restriction applies even if the bearer of a weapon holds a federal or state license to possess the weapon. 

Community members are responsible for the behavior of any guest(s) they have on University property or at University events. All guests should be made aware of this policy before the guest(s) arrive. Should a guest be found carrying a weapon, the University community member may be held liable for the actions of his/her guest(s).

Exceptions

The only exceptions to the above weapons policy are as follows: 

• Sworn law enforcement officers, to the extent they are legally permitted to possess weapons in the jurisdiction in which they are located, may do so on University property; 
• University sanctioned groups where a particular weapon(s) is a required part of the curriculum or activity, (i.e. classroom studies and/or research, martial arts classes/clubs; fencing clubs/classes; theatrical events, etc.). In such cases, written permission is required to be received from the administration prior to bringing said firearm/weapon on campus. 
• Members of the University Campus Public Safety Department, Facilities Department, and/or Information Technology Department who are required to use a tool/weapon such as small knives or box cutters in the performance of some employment tasks.
• Pepper spray, mace, or Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray is permissible on University property in Massachusetts for anyone who is 18 years old or older. Those under 18 years of age may also carry provided they comply with Mass General Law which includes possessing a Massachusetts Firearms Identification (FID) Card. Disciplinary action will be taken in the event mace, pepper spray or OC spray is discharged inappropriately on University property or at University-sponsored events.

Sanctions

Any student, faculty, staff, volunteer or visitor who possesses a weapon other than those in the exception categories above while on University Property or while attending a University event may be subject to immediate removal from campus, suspension, and potential expulsion or termination of employment.

Response may also include the arrest by local law enforcement which may lead to criminal prosecution, fines and/or imprisonment.

Community Obligations

All students, faculty, and staff who have knowledge of a weapon or weapons on campus must report that knowledge immediately to the appropriate campus safety department. In the absence of the ability to reach this department, local authorities shall be notified.  If there is an immediate threat to the safety of students, faculty, staff, volunteers, visitors or the general public, local police should be notified by calling 911 immediately, followed by the Campus Public Safety number for your campus location:

• Longmeadow & East Longmeadow Campuses
  • 413-565-1225 (call)
  • 413-313-4139 (call or text)
• Boston Campus
  • 617-873-0111 (Security Desk)
  • 413-657-3508 (Security Cell Phone
• Puerto Rico Campus
  • 787-641-0099 (Front Desk Security)

All reports of firearms on University property will result in immediate notification of the local authorities. Any administrator or any faculty member who knowingly fails to report to law enforcement that an unauthorized person carried a gun or weapon on campus is in violation to MGL c 269 s.10j and may be in violation of local laws at other campus locations outside of Massachusetts.