Firearms and Weapons on Campus

Firearms and Weapons on Campus
As defined under MGL Chapter 269, Section 10

“(j) For the purposes of this paragraph, ”firearm” shall mean any pistol, revolver, rifle or smoothbore arm from which a shot, bullet or pellet can be discharged

“Whoever, not being a law enforcement officer, and notwithstanding any license obtained by the person pursuant to chapter 140, carries on the person a firearm, loaded or unloaded or other dangerous weapon in any building or on the grounds of any elementary or secondary school, college or university without the written authorization of the board or officer in charge of the elementary or secondary school, college or university shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both. A law enforcement officer may arrest without a warrant and detain a person found carrying a firearm in violation of this paragraph”.

“Any officer in charge of an elementary or secondary school, college or university or any faculty member or administrative officer of an elementary or secondary school, college or university that fails to report a violation of this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of not more than $500.”

In addition to MGL Chapter 269, Section 10, a Massachusetts law restricting firearms and other weapons on campus, Framingham State University strictly prohibits the possession of dangerous weapons, including, but not limited to:

firearms or their replicas,
explosives,
ammunition,
hazardous chemicals,
highly flammable or lethal substances,
paintball guns, pellet guns, or Airsoft guns,
slingshots,
knives with blades in excess of three inches, double-edged knives, spring-loaded knives,
mace and/or pepper spray.

Any object that is used in a dangerous manner may be considered a weapon under this policy.

Except for those persons specifically exempted under this policy or otherwise explicitly authorized by the University’s Chief of Police to have a weapon, no one may possess, carry, use, transport, store, or otherwise have in their custody or control – however temporary – any weapon while on University owned or controlled property or at any University sanctioned event, wherever situated. No student will be allowed to bring a paint, pellet, Airsoft or B.B. gun for any reason to campus without the express written permission of the Framingham State University Chief of Police.

This prohibition applies even to those with a government-issued license to have a firearm, as well as to some weapons that are legal to possess.