Living on Campus: UF

[MuddyGator]

Hey everyone i have read on here and also in the Florida Firearms Law, Use, and Owership book about on campus legalities but still cant really find a hard answer. I will be living in a fraternity house next year on campus at UF. i have a concealed weapons permit, so whats the deal on where i can and cant have a gun or if i can have one at all. i most likely would just have one handgun that if i could would ideally live (hidden) in my car, a frat house is no place for a handgun. I also regularly hunt and fish so i was also wondering about possession in those kind of instances in regards to campus. if anyone could shed some light on the whole situation that would be great thanks.

[Steve48]

Normally, you cannot have a gun on campus. However, you can legally have a gun securely encased in your car. Unfortunately, the school can waive this exemption for the purpose of student and campus parking privileges. You need to check with UF and find out what the policy is. If all this seems unclear, it's because it is. Unfortunately, the way the law was written leaves things unclear, and case law hasn't yet clarified things. Or so says Gutmacher.

[brboyer]

Hey everyone i have read on here and also in the Florida Firearms Law, Use, and Owership book about on campus legalities but still cant really find a hard answer. I will be living in a fraternity house next year on campus at UF. i have a concealed weapons permit, so whats the deal on where i can and cant have a gun or if i can have one at all. i most likely would just have one handgun that if i could would ideally live (hidden) in my car, a frat house is no place for a handgun. I also regularly hunt and fish so i was also wondering about possession in those kind of instances in regards to campus. if anyone could shed some light on the whole situation that would be great thanks.

You may only have your firearm in you car stored in accordance with 790.25(5), nowhere else on campus unless it's at a firearm related event, nowhere else. Some campus PD's will store firearms for students.

POSSESSION IN PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.--Notwithstanding subsection (2), it is lawful and is not a violation of s. 790.01 for a person 18 years of age or older to possess a concealed firearm or other weapon for self-defense or other lawful purpose within the interior of a private conveyance, without a license, if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Nothing herein contained prohibits the carrying of a legal firearm other than a handgun anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the carrying of a concealed firearm or other weapon on the person. This subsection shall be liberally construed in favor of the lawful use, ownership, and possession of firearms and other weapons, including lawful self-defense as provided in s. 776.012.

"Readily accessible for immediate use" means that a firearm or other weapon is carried on the person or within such close proximity and in such a manner that it can be retrieved and used as easily and quickly as if carried on the person.

"Securely encased" means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access.

[Airwolf84]

I'll speak from experience and extreme LUCK. I understand that UF is a public university, but this comes from experience on a private university.

No, I wouldn't recommend it at all. If you know someone off campus, keep it in a secure case locked (Not the plastic clam shell case it came in) where you have the keys and no one else.

Some how Chief of Security found out I had mine on campus. I was at work in the bookstore and he came in and confronted me there. Since he knew me well and by first name bases, plus he knew I carried my blades with me on a daily basis, we were pretty cool on that part (Student handbook said you couldn't carry a knife/knives either). I was 2 months from graduating and he said, "You've got 24 hrs to get whatever you have, OFF campus. I will be stopping by your on campus apartment at this time tomorrow."

Needless to say after I regained color, I left work early due to being "sick" did as he asked, and had my place ready to inspect when he arrived.



You may not be so lucky since UF is much larger than my college, plus prolly has their own police force, you'll be up s**t's creek w/o a paddle. A skinning/fillet knife in the car is easy to explain. You fish and need to fillet the fish. A skinning knife can be explained that you're a trapper (emphasizing no guns) and you trap rabbits for meat.

Also, depending on what parties happen at the fraternity house and how controlled/uncontrolled they are, even in your car (if you still decide to do keep it there) is no place for a gun.

Just speaking from experience, luck, knowledge, and life in a fraternity.

Kev

[hhdorcy]

You may only have your firearm in you car stored in accordance with 790.25(5), nowhere else on campus unless it's at a firearm related event, nowhere else. Some campus PD's will store firearms for students.

But being legal won't stop UF from kicking you out of school. Following Brboyer's and Airwolf's advice: (1) speak with UFPD and see if they will store it for you, (2) keep it locked away at a friend's house off-campus, or (3) leave it back at home with the family. And listen closely to Airwolf's story... there's no such thing as "secret" or "hidden" at college, let alone at a fraternity.

- hhdorcy

[Aielman]

You also might want to consider the fact that your fraternity may also very well have a policy on firearms and you may jeapordize your membership by breaking it. Certainly a lesser thought than legal implications with the school, but something to think about none-the-less.

[Endangered Species]

Keep it at a safe deposit box at your favorite bank.

[Glock33]

I would keep it in a lock box secured beneath my seat in my truck like I did everyday at USF and not advertise it to the World, and you should be good to go.

The only way they will find out is if you 1.) tell someone, 2.) do something stupid, 3.) need to defend your life while on campus and in the rare event you have time to get back to your vehicle to get to your firearm. I am guessing you shouldn't have a problem with the first two being a responsible carrier, and the third well who cares as long as you are alive.

Do remember this though, I was also in a fraternity and although close to a lot of people in the house, I still wouldnt tell anyone of them about it, as people act stupid in general, let alone while drunk.

[themightytimmah]

IIRC UF's police department will store firearms for you. You do not want to mess with a gun on campus - a buddy of mine is fighting a 3rd degree felony charge for that right now, and the state's attorney is trying to throw the book at him even though he has a CWP. 25k+ to mount a defense and a plea bargain would mean he could never own a gun or have a real job again.

[BobMcT]

IIRC UF's police department will store firearms for you. You do not want to mess with a gun on campus - a buddy of mine is fighting a 3rd degree felony charge for that right now, and the state's attorney is trying to throw the book at him even though he has a CWP. 25k+ to mount a defense and a plea bargain would mean he could never own a gun or have a real job again.

YOW! I think I'd lock it in my car and find a place to park off campus. I would like the fact that I would have it when I left there and went home or anywhere else.