Following the killing of Charlie Kirk, a conservative influencer and Illinois native, who died after being shot in the neck at an event in Utah on Wednesday; people may be wondering how a firearm got onto campus as well as its legality.
Did you know that people are allowed to openly carry guns on Utah campuses?
Here’s a brief look at what law and policy in Utah, plus what law and policy at some Illinois unviersties.
More: Charlie Kirk shooting live updates: Rifle found, suspect still sought
The law in Utah
Utah Valley University, the public university where Kirk was killed, allows concealed firearm permit holders to carry their concealed firearm on campus, according to the UVU Police Department.
“As an institution, UVU respects the right of its students and others to legally carry a concealed firearm under those parameters, as outlined by state law,” a web page about concealed weapons read. The statement cited Utah Code 76-10-505.5 and Utah Code 76-10-501, (3)(a).
A separate univeristy, the University of Utah, noted in their rules that Utah has been an open or “constitutional carry” state since 2021.
HB128, that went into effect May 7, allows individuals who are 18 years old and older and who have a current Utah concealed permit to carry a weapon on campus, including in an “open” fashion, according to the UU’s Department of Public Safety.
The law in Illinois
The Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act allows qualified people to carry a concealed firearm in the state, but that the state’s concealed carry legislation prohibits the carrying of firearms on college campuses.
The Act specifically says guns are prohibited in “any building, classroom, laboratory, medical clinic, hospital, artistic venue, athletic venue, entertainment venue, officially recognized university-related organization property, whether owned or leased, and any real property, including parking areas, sidewalks, and common areas under the control of a public or private community college, college, or university.”
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University’s Department of Police and Public Safety says “concealed carry permit holders are not allowed to possess or carry a weapon or firearm while visiting, attending class, working or residing on NIU’s campuses in DeKalb, Naperville and Rockford.”
Only sworn law enforcement are allowed to possess a gun on any NIU campus, the department added. NIU students found carrying a gun on campus are subject to arrest, criminal prosecution, and possible expulsion from the university. Storage lockers are available on the NIU campus in DeKalb for concealed carry permit holders.
More: Pritzker: ‘Attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying’; Illinois officials react to Kirk’s death
Illinois State University
ISU created a Concealed Carry and Prohibited Weapons Policy to “establish restrictions on possession, storage, and/or concealed carry of firearms and weapons on University property”, which applies to employees, students, and visitors. It was created in accordance the 2013 Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
There are some exceptions, like instruction and curriculum of “officially recognized programs approved by the ISU Police Department” such as military science.
On duty law enforcement are allowed to carry a firearm if their job requires it.
People can store a concealed firearm in their vehicle in certain parking lots on campus with certain caveats, including that they need to have a valid conceal and carry permit.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
“The university complies with all state and federal regulations. Illinois law states that conceal carry license holders may not carry in a number of places, including university property and buildings. People who carry firearms on campus are subject to arrest,” according to the university’s Strategic Communications and Marketing department.
They added that the university Chief of Police is designated to receive, review and issue written permission to possess or store weapons on university property, in accordance with the Illinois state statutes.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Can you legally carry guns on college campuses in Illinois?
