Prohibition of Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) on College and University Campuses

Submitted by: University and College Police Section

UCPS.05.t16

Passed: November 2016

WHEREAS, our nation's colleges and universities are bastions of freedom of expression and learning, and must continue to address the most controversial subjects of the day. These environments continue to be safe havens for discovery and growth for our nation's young adults. Introducing concealed weapons on our nation's campuses jeopardizes those cherished values; and

WHEREAS, based on Mother Jones' Investigation: US Mass Shootings, 1982-2016, despite high-profile shootings, homicides at our nation's colleges and universities remain rare events. There is no credible evidence to suggest that armed students, faculty, staff and community users would make our nation's campuses safer; and

WHEREAS, in 2013, the homicide rate at our nation's colleges and universities was 0.1 per 100,000 of enrollment, and by comparison. the criminal homicide rate in the United States was 4.4 per 100,000. Further, the Department of Justice found that 93% of violent crimes that victimize college students occur off campus. In 2013, 21 million students were enrolled on our nation's colleges and universities, and only 24 were fatally victimized on campus; and

WHEREAS, in a 2013 poll at 15 colleges and universities, 94 percent of faculty members opposed concealed carry on campus and in a similar 2013 poll, 79 percent of students said that they would not feel safe if concealed guns were allowed on their campus, and

WHEREAS, research shows that approximately half of our nation's college students binge drink or abuse illegal or prescription drugs, and nearly 25 percent of college students suffer from substance abuse and dependence, therefore, leading to an increased danger by adding the availability of a firearm to persons with a reduced ability to use appropriate judgement, and

WHEREAS, suicide is the second leading cause of death for college age young adults. On average, 1,100 college students commit suicide each year while another 24,000 attempt suicide. The firearm suicide rate of 18 to 21 year-olds is nine times higher than the firearm suicide rate of people 17 and under. Suicide attempts with guns are fatal 90 percent of the time; and

WHEREAS, allowing concealed carry firearms upon our nation's campuses would have no positive effect on campus safety and would, inversely, decrease the actual and perceived safety of our students, staff, faculty and community users; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police promotes the prohibition of concealed carry weapons upon this nation's college and university campuses.