VCU news

The Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors has adopted a regulation prohibiting the possession of weapons on campus to include concealed weapons. This is similar to regulations adopted at other Virginia institutions that have been approved by the Attorney General's office and the Virginia Supreme Court.

The new policy is not a significant change in practical effect from what was already in place at VCU. The difference is that the new policy brings VCU into compliance with legal interpretation and provides clarity for the VCU police, who currently face uncertainty about their power with regard to gun possession by non-VCU students and staff. The previous regulation was considered too broad. In order to meet legal requirements and to be enforceable, a regulation must be a university level regulation adopted by the Board.

The new regulation governs the possession of firearms as follows: "Possession or carrying of any weapon by any person, except a police officer, is prohibited on university property in academic buildings, administrative office buildings, medical venues, clinics, laboratories, research facilities, student residence buildings, dining facilities, or while attending sporting, entertainment or educational events. Entry upon the aforementioned university property in violation of this prohibition is expressly forbidden."

The previous language is as follows: "...no person, either singly or in concert with others, shall willfully: have in his or her possession any fire arm, other weapon, or explosive, regardless of whether a license to possess same has been issued, without authorization of the President of the University." Persons whose official duty is to possess a weapon are exempted."