6450:13

Section: Business Operations

Effective: 7/15/91

 

 

SUBJECT: REGULATION OF FIREARM POSSESSION AND DISCHARGE

________________________________________________________________________

 

PURPOSE: To regulate the possession on, and discharge of firearms near, MCCS property.

________________________________________________________________________

 

A. Rationale

 

The Board of Trustees accepts the recommendation of law enforcement that ready access to firearms by a person in distress contributes significantly to the likelihood of violence. The Trustees also recognize the dangers posed by the accidental discharge of a firearm on or near property owned, operated or occupied by the MCCS. This Policy shall be enforced in good faith for the purpose of furthering safety on each campus.

 

B. Definitions

 

For purposes of this Policy, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

1. “Firearm” means any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, which is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive and includes any such weapon commonly referred to as a pistol, revolver, rifle, gun, semi-automatic gun, machine gun, shotgun or any other weapon that can be made into a firearm by the insertion of a firing pin, or other similar thing, or by repair;

 

2. “Possession” means ownership, care, custody or control whether concealed or in plain view; and

 

3. “Property” means all colleges, campuses, off-campus centers, buildings, parking lots and all other grounds owned, operated or occupied by an entity of the MCCS.

 

C. Regulation

 

Pursuant to P.L. 2007, ch. 67 §1, no person other than those specified below may possess a firearm on, or discharge a firearm within 500 feet of, property owned, operated or occupied by a college and/or the System. This includes motor vehicles parked on such property. Persons who violate this Policy may be subject to removal, discipline and/or other lawful remedies.

 

This regulation shall not apply to:

 

1. Law enforcement officials;

 

2. Supervised educational program personnel expressly approved in advance by a college president.

 

 

D. Use of Storage at Local Police Stations

 

A college or other MCCS location may not store firearms. Each college should determine whether firearm storage for persons attending or visiting an MCCS property is available at a local police station and advise accordingly those persons who seek such storage.

 

E. Notice

 

Each MCCS location shall provide at each location notice of this Policy by publications, website and/or signage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES: P.L. 2007, ch. 67, §1, 20-A MRSA §6552, §12706(1) and (13), 17-A MRSA §2 (12-A).

________________________________________________________________________

 

MCCS POLICIES: Governance and Organization, Section 217

REPLACES:

 

DATE EFFECTIVE: November 14, 2007