UIS Police Chief Don Mitchell said the University will implement Illinois’ new statewide concealed carry law, with a few modifications.

These modifications, according to Mitchell, include that the policy “won’t allow someone with a permit to legally carry a gun outside of their vehicle on university property.” Senior, Brandon Hungerford said, “It’s about time.” He added, “It’s great. Awesome.”

The concealed carry law comes with a few restricted areas, including colleges and universities. UIS policy on concealed carry states the gun must be stored inside a permit-holder’s concealed case in their vehicle and not in public view. In addition to not being allowed to carry the weapon outside of the vehicle, the weapon must be unloaded while in the vehicle.

The Illinois Government legislation on concealed carry states that, a concealed firearm is a “loaded or unloaded handgun carried on or about a person completely or mostly concealed from view of the public or on or about a person within a vehicle.”

Senior, Jen Quertermous and junior, Robert Wilson agree that the university is taking the necessary precautions when it comes to gun policy on campus. “It’s not the people that follow the gun laws and concealed carry laws that we have to worry about, it’s the people who are not permit holders, who are not following the law,” said Wilson.

“I [would] have to run out to my car and get my gun,” he added, in opposition to the policy if the school were to come under attack. To some students this doesn’t seem reasonable or practical.

Those seeking to store weapons on campus are required to gain permission from Mitchell at the UIS police department, this includes concealed carry handguns.

According to the weapons policy found on the UIS police department’s website, “persons seeking permission to possess or store any weapon in or on University buildings or land shall direct such request to the Chief of Police of the University campus on which such building or land is located.” The policy applies to all three University of Illinois campuses.

The newly instated law also states that the licensee, or permit-holding person, “shall possess a license at all times” with exceptions if the licensee is on their own land or the handgun is broken down to a non-functioning state. Neither of which apply for students or visitors of UIS since the change to campus policy does not allow the firearm to be removed from the vehicle while on university property.

Mitchell states that as a part of the policy, “law enforcement personnel are exempt.”

Signs have been placed across each campus entry door and outside of university buildings. Larger signs will soon be placed at university entrances.

Mitchell will conduct an open presentation on UIS’ concealed carry policies Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. in PAC G.

Visit http://www.uis.edu/police/ for the full weapons policy.