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CU-Boulder allows guns in family housing units, CSU says no

As CU-Boulder continues to get attention for its new rule allowing concealed-carry-permit holders to have guns in some family housing units, Colorado State University in Fort Collins is sticking with a stricter policy. At CSU, guns aren't allowed in any dormitories or apartments, period. And officials say they have no...
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As CU-Boulder continues to get attention for its new rule allowing concealed-carry-permit holders to have guns in some family housing units, Colorado State University in Fort Collins is sticking with a stricter policy.

At CSU, guns aren't allowed in any dormitories or apartments, period. And officials say they have no plans at this time to change that, no matter what CU is doing.

In March, the University of Colorado was ordered to allow people with concealed-carry permits to possess guns on their campuses, just two years after CU-Boulder added Nerf guns to its banned weapons list.

Earlier this week, a CU-Boulder spokesman told us that CU has nixed guns at football games, concerts and other ticketed events, but will allow those with concealed-carry permits to keep weapons in a limited number of family housing units. (And even if professors really don't want guns in their classrooms, there's not much they can do to stop a student who legally has a right to bring a gun to class).

Over at CSU in Fort Collins, however, the rules are clear and won't be changing anytime soon. CSU spokesman Mike Hooker directs us to the written weapons policy, which says in part:

Individuals carrying concealed handguns must have a lawful Colorado concealed weapons permit issued by a Colorado sheriff in accordance with the Colorado Revised Statutes, section 18-12-206. However, concealed handguns may not be carried or stored in the residence halls or CSU apartments at any time, per the Mandatory Firearm Check-in and Storage policy.

In other words, no guns where people live.

"Weapons of all sorts, not just guns, are not allowed in residence halls or apartments," notes Hooker, adding that CSU will continue to comply with state law for concealed-carry-permit holders.

At CSU, Hooker explains, residents can check in guns with the CSU Police Department and have 24-7 access to them. "We try to make it as easy and accessible a system as possible...while also maintaining the rule that they are not allowed to have weapons in residence halls."

He says that CSU has kept an eye on policy changes at other universities and relevant court cases, but points out that the CSU policy will remain, since it reflects state law.

"Certainly you look at your policies in light of things that happen elsewhere, but at this point, we are comfortable with our policy," he says.

More from our Education archive: "CU-Boulder out of Princeton Review's party school top 20, but number 1 for reefer madness?"

Follow Sam Levin on Twitter at @SamTLevin. E-mail the author at [email protected].

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