Office of Sen.

Mike Johnston
Colorado General Assembly | 200 E. Colfax Avenue | Denver, CO 80203 | 303.866.4864

FACT SHEET MEMORANDUM

HB 13-1226 No Concealed Carry at Colleges Reps. Levy, Fields, Fischer, Hullinghorst, McCann, Schafer & Sen. Heath Staff Name: Tammy Kelley What the Bill Does: HB 13-1226 creates a new restriction on the Concealed Weapons Permit stating that a concealed weapons permit does not authorize a permit holder to possess a concealed handgun: In any building used by a public institution of higher education; In any stadium or arena used by a public institution of higher education to host events; At an outdoor, institution-sponsored event on the campus of the institution. Colorado Context: In March 2012, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the University of Colorados policy banning guns from campus violates the states concealed carry law.1 Colorado now has a provision allowing the carrying of concealed weapons on public postsecondary campuses. Exceptions to where a concealed weapon may be carried include: Any place prohibited by federal law (e.g. federal offices or courthouse); Any property of public school grades kindergarten through 12, unless the firearm remains inside a container in a locked vehicle; Any public building that prohibits ALL weapons, which posts guards and permanent metal detectors at all entrances, and requires all entrants to surrender handguns to security personnel before entry. National Context2: In the United States, 49 out of 50 states have concealed carry weapons laws. Currently, there are 21 states that ban carrying a concealed weapon on a college campus: Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan,
1

National Conference of State Legislators, Guns on Campus: Overview, (August 2012), http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/guns-on-campus-overview.aspx 2 Id.

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For a complete list of fact sheets, visit www.mikejohnston.org/in-the-legislature.

Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. In 23 states the decision to ban or allow concealed carry weapons on campuses is made by each college or university individually: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Four states in addition to Colorado now have provisions allowing the carrying of concealed weapons on public postsecondary campuses. These states are Mississippi, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin. Bill Provisions: A permit issued pursuant to the Colorado Concealed Weapons Act, does not authorize a permit holder to possess a concealed handgun: In any building or structure, or any portion thereof, that is used by a public institution of higher education for any purpose; In any stadium or arena that is used by a public institution of higher education to host events, including but not limited to athletic and extracurricular events and graduation ceremonies; or At an outdoor, institution-sponsored event on the campus of the institution at which the chief administrator of the institution's campus, in consultation with the chief officer of the institution's campus safety agency, has elected to prohibit the carrying of firearms. Exemptions: A permit holder employed by a public institution of higher education as a security officer is exempted from these prohibitions while on duty. Fiscal Impact: The Colorado Legislative Council estimates there will be a fiscal impact of $19,983 every five years due to an increase in convictions of unlawfully carrying a weapon on college or university grounds.

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For a complete list of fact sheets, visit www.mikejohnston.org/in-the-legislature.