Pretend Gun-Free School Zones: A Deadly Legal Fiction

Most states issue permits to carry a concealed handgun for lawful protection to an applicant who is over twenty-one years of age, and who passes a fingerprint-based background check and a safety class. These permits allow the person to carry a concealed defensive handgun almost everywhere in the state. Should professors, school teachers, or adult college and graduate students who have such permits be allowed to carry firearms on campus? In the last two years, many state legislatures have debated this topic. School boards, regents, and administrators are likewise faced with decisions about whether to change campus firearms policies. This Article is the first to provide a thorough analysis of the empirical evidence and policy arguments regarding licensed campus carry. Whether a reader agrees or disagrees with the Article’s policy recommendations, the Article can lay the foundation for a better-informed debate, and a more realistic analysis of the issue