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Weapons, Ammunition, and Explosives

Chaminade University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all members of its campus community, including students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and visitors. This policy is established to protect the safety of all persons on University property by prohibiting the possession and use of weapons, firearms, ammunition, explosives, and related dangerous items on University premises and at University-sponsored events.

This policy applies to all University employees, students, volunteers, contractors, and any other third parties present on University-owned or controlled property, or attending any University-sponsored event, whether held on or off campus. It applies regardless of whether the individual holds a valid permit or license for the item in question.

For reasons of safety and prevention of harm, the possession, carrying, maintenance, storage, use, or distribution of firearms of any description is strictly prohibited on Chaminade University premises. This prohibition extends to fireworks and any other exploding devices, as well as any instruments that can be construed as dangerous weapons.

The University's employees, students, volunteers, or any other third party on University property or at University-sponsored events on or off campus are prohibited from carrying, maintaining, or storing weapons and dangerous items, including but not limited to:

  • Firearms of any type, including rifles and shotguns

  • Simulated or replica firearms

  • Pellet guns, BB guns, paintball guns, Airsoft devices, air rifles, and air pistols

  • Knives (other than cooking utensils or pocket knives with a blade of less than 3 inches as long as they are not brandished as a weapon)

  • Switchblade knives of any blade length

  • Swords and other bladed weapons

  • Martial arts weapons

  • Ammunition and gunpowder (live or inert)

  • Hunting arrows, crossbow bolts, bows and arrows

  • Explosives, fireworks, and firecrackers

  • Incendiary or highly flammable materials

  • Dangerous chemicals

  • Mace, stun guns, and tasers

  • Potentially injurious war souvenirs

  • Other devices capable of expelling a projectile with force of air pressure or spring action (e.g. potato guns, blow guns, spear guns, sling shots, any other form of weapon, sporting instrument, self-defense instrument

  • Any other device, object, or material designed, modified, or generally used to cause serious bodily injury

  • Imitations, facsimiles, or replicas of any of the above

This prohibition applies regardless of whether the individual possesses a valid concealed carry permit, firearms license, or any other authorization issued by a governmental authority.

The use, possession, carrying, storage, distribution, or implied threat of use of any weapon or prohibited item on University-owned or controlled property, or at any University-sponsored function or event, is a violation of this policy and is subject to disciplinary action. Any implied possession or threatened use of a weapon will also constitute a violation.

The following limited exceptions to this policy are recognized. Exceptions are strictly construed and do not extend beyond the circumstances expressly described below.

  1. Active Duty Law Enforcement Officers. Active duty sworn and certified local, state, or federal law enforcement officers who are required by their employer to be armed at all times and who carry proper agency identification are exempt from this policy. Any firearm or weapon must be concealed at all times while on University property.

  2. Contractors and Authorized Tradespeople. Contractors and other individuals on campus whose job duties require possession and use of construction equipment—including but not limited to pneumatic nail guns, power tools, and similar instruments—may possess and use such equipment solely in the performance of their job duties and only through a valid contractual or legal relationship with the University.

  3. Scope of Employment or Academic Program. Objects or materials that would otherwise fall within this policy’s definition of prohibited items may be permitted to the extent their use, possession, or storage is within the scope of a person’s employment (e.g., laboratory chemicals used in research, knives used in food preparation) or is an integral component of an authorized University educational, recreational, or training program (e.g., props in theatrical performances, ROTC training).

Any individual who is reported or discovered to be in possession of a firearm, weapon, or other prohibited item in violation of this policy may be required to leave University property immediately. Failure to comply with such a directive may result in the following consequences:

Student disciplinary action, up to and including immediate expulsion from the University.

  • Employee disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination of employment.

  • Referral to Human Resources and/or the Office of Student Conduct as appropriate.

  • Confiscation of the weapon or prohibited item.

  • Referral to law enforcement authorities for criminal prosecution under applicable state and federal law.

All members of the University community are encouraged to report known or suspected violations of this policy to the Department of Campus Security immediately. Reports may be made in person, by telephone, or through the University’s anonymous reporting system. Retaliation against any individual who, in good faith, reports a suspected violation of this policy is prohibited and will itself constitute grounds for disciplinary action.

This policy is intended to supplement, and not replace, all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the possession, use, and storage of weapons and dangerous items. Compliance with this policy does not relieve any individual of the obligation to comply with applicable law. Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Department of Campus Security or the Office of Human Resources.