Posted on 01/07/2014 7:19:22 AM PST by Iron Munro
TAMPA — The University of South Florida has lifted a ban on the storage of firearms in vehicles, falling in line with a court ruling that universities do not have the authority to regulate guns on campus.
The decision appeased gun rights activists who threatened to sue USF. Still, they say the university continued to overstep its bounds with some of the language in the new policy.
USF’s original policy prohibited weapons “located anywhere on a USF System campus or facility or at a USF System event, including on one’s person, in a motor vehicle, in an office, in a University residence hall, or other on-campus residence.”
The updated version of Policy 6-009, Weapons on USF System Property, removes the specifics and refers to state law regulating possession of weapons on university campuses.
“They appear to be operating in good faith; however, we do have some concerns regarding the language in the current policy we would like to see corrected,” said Eric Friday, lead council for Florida Carry Inc., a plaintiff in the original suit that overturned such a policy at the University of North Florida.
Friday said he would not file suit against USF, which he had threatened last week, but hoped to continue to work with university lawyers “to try and craft a policy that meets the needs of the school without infringing on the rights of students and visitors.”
The move stems from a lawsuit filed by Florida Carry and a UNF student in Duval Circuit Court. A judge threw out the suit, but an appellate court in Tallahassee took up the case and ruled that the state Legislature has exclusive responsibility for crafting gun policy.
State statute prohibits firearms on college campuses, but the appellate court ruled that individual campus policies banning the weapons in vehicles was a step too far.
USF joins UNF, Florida State University and others who have updated campus policies in the wake of the court ruling.
A policy change was dated Jan. 3 and announced Monday, but administrators continued to tinker with the language Monday.
Students aren’t likely to notice the change in campus policy, and it was “business as usual” as they returned for the spring semester on Monday, said USF Police Lt. Chris Daniel.
“I don’t think it’s going to change the way we do business,” Daniel said. “It’s one of those things we’re going to watch and we’ll just continue to enforce the statute as it is written, and as further changes come up, we’ll look at the policy and adapt to whatever is necessary.”
My son goes there. Its a very big, very open campus.
bump
Ah, good to know. Now I’m no longer in violation of their “rules...” Not that I was a student, just a frequent visitor.
I once talked to a man whose car kept getting broken into when he hiked in forest lands. The local sheriff told him to put an empty holster on his front dash. He did, and never had another problem.
Exactly; it’s time these college campuses stop trying to create little colonies where they are exempt from the wider law.
I live in the Tampa Bay area. The USF campus is very small compared to many larger colleges. That being said, they are an open-air campus and surrounded by the armpit of Tampa.
I’ve read that USF has the 9th largest college campus in the country but I cant find a current source to confirm.
But yes, the area around USF isn’t the nicest. A little better then south st pete.
My point was if you wanted to take a gun on campus it would not be difficult. There is nothing to stop someone willing to break the law.
LOL!!! That definitely sends a clear message, doesn’t it?
Especially one designed for a revolver with a 6.5” barrel ;)
I went to Florida State University. It took quite a while to walk from Tennessee Street to Pensacola and even longer from Copeland to Stadium. Hell, UF’s campus is a sprawling concrete jungle. USF is bordered by 4 major roadways in Tampa. I guess having driven that area so much it feels very small and confined. Florida State’s campus feels enormous and powerful. USF’s campus is very open and green. There’s more open area than buildings. I think that’s the point I’m getting at.
One made possible only by the organization that is the NRA currently the only organization large and strong enough to hold its ground even under this relentless assault by Obama and political lapdogs.
“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
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