Weapons Policy

Regulations: All use and possession of weapons must conform with all applicable state, federal and local laws.

Possession and storage of weapons in on-campus residences is prohibited. Persons residing in permanent farm residences of the University are exempt from this prohibition and may maintain weapons at these locations. No person shall store any weapon in a vehicle on campus.
At University Park, storage facilities are available at University Police for the lawfully possessed personal weapons of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Weapons may be stored and/or removed on a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week basis.
Persons may carry or transport weapons to and from University Police for storage purposes. Persons who have been authorized to use weapons for educational, instructional, occupational, or recreational purposes, as authorized in paragraph seven below, may carry or transport such weapons to and from the authorized activity. Firearms are to be unloaded during such transport and while in storage.
Weapons authorized by the Pennsylvania Game Law may be used and possessed for hunting during hunting season by licensed hunters on non-developed wooded and farm areas of University property, and then when not otherwise posted.
Possession of commercially available aerosol dispensers of nonlethal chemical irritants for the purpose of self-protection is permitted. Any such use of such devices must be justifiable in accordance with the laws governing the use of force.
Educational use, including instructional, research and authorized recreational use and possession of weapons is permitted under the supervision of appropriate faculty members.
Occupational use and possession of weapons by employees of the University is permitted where authorized by appropriate supervision.
Heads of those departments which have need for weapons and/or their use for educational, instructional, occupational, or recreational purposes must provide specific information pertaining to their individual needs to University Police at the University Park Campus, or to the Director of Business Services or Chief Executive Officer at non-University Park locations. University Police or the Director of Business Services or Chief Executive Officer of the non-University Park location will then issue appropriate written authorization which can be implemented by Department Heads as necessary. The safe use and security of weapons for such authorized purposes shall be the responsibility of the Department involved, subject to any conditions as required in the authorization.
Club sports teams and student organizations which utilize weapons in their organizational activities must have approval to maintain and use any implements defined as weapons in this policy. The authorization for club sports teams shall be granted by the Director of Recreational Services, Office of Intercollegiate Athletics. The authorization for student organizations shall be granted by the Director of Union and Student Activities. Approval will be granted only after the sports club team or student organization has provided information describing how the weapons are to be used, the qualifications of those who will be instructing and/or overseeing the activities involving weapons, and the established procedures to insure the safe use and storage of any weapons. Annually during September of each year, club sports teams and student organizations must submit a request for renewal of their authorization to maintain and use weapons. Any sports club teams or student organization whose activities involve the use of firearms must also have their request for authorization reviewed and approved by the University Police before initial approval may be granted. Any significant changes in the procedures for maintaining and using firearms must be approved by the University Police. Club sports teams and student organizations utilizing weapons other than firearms may be required to have their procedures reviewed by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety prior to receiving approval.
Conferences having a need to use or store weapons for educational, instructional, research or authorized recreational activities may store weapons at suitable facilities on the campus when such storage is limited to the duration of the conference and the storage facility and storage procedures have been approved by the University Police.
The possession and storage of paintball guns or paintball markers is prohibited in residences halls and student apartments.
No person may carry a paintball gun or a paintball marker in a vehicle on a highway including any campus roadways unless one of the following apply:
- the paintball gun or paintball marker is disassembled so that the propellant canister is separate from the rest of the device and the device is empty of encapsulated gelatin paintballs;
- the propellant canister of the paintball gun or paintball marker has been emptied of its gas or air propellant and the device is empty of encapsulated gelatin paintballs.
Any questions concerning the interpretations of these regulations should be forwarded to University Police.