Concealed Carry Policy

I. Statement of Purpose

Black Hawk College (hereafter referred to as “BHC” or “College”) hereby establishes the BHC Concealed Carry Guideline pursuant to the 2013 Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) and its enabling regulations. BHC is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for the BHC community and its guests. In support of this commitment, BHC establishes restrictions on the ability to carry firearms or weapons on the BHC campus in accordance with the Board of Trustees’ authority to promulgate rules and regulations and the 2013 Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

This Guideline has the following purposes:

1. To Reaffirm the Board’s commitment to provide a safe and secure learning environment.
2. To recognize that the Act affords certain limited rights to individuals possessing a valid license to carry a concealed firearm (such qualified individual is referred to in the Guideline as a “Licensee”).
3. To clearly delineate the rights and responsibilities of Licensees on College property.
4. To set forth consequences and penalties for a violation of the Guideline on the part of Licensees and non-Licensees alike.

II. Persons Covered by this Guideline

This Guideline applies to all employees, students, persons conducting business, or individuals visiting the BHC campus locations, as “Campus” is defined in this Guideline. Visitors include, but are not limited to, prospective students, former students and their respective families.

III. Prohibited Activities

A. Weapons or Firearms

“Campus” includes, but is not limited to, the BHC campus in Moline; regional campuses in Moline, East Moline, Rock Island, Galva and Kewanee; and sites, whether owned, leased or controlled by BHC, where BHC programs, activities and classes are held. No person covered by this Guideline, unless authorized by law or specifically exempted by federal or state law or BHC regulation, is authorized to possess a weapon or firearm while engaged in BHC-related business or activities.

It is the intent of BHC to prohibit:

1. Any person covered by this Guideline from possessing a weapon or firearm on property owned, leased or controlled by BHC, even if that person has a valid federal or state license to possess a weapon or firearm.
2. Any person covered by this Guideline from displaying, brandishing, discharging or otherwise using any and all weapons or firearms, including concealed weapons or firearms.

B. Other Prohibited Activities

It is the intent of BHC to prohibit all persons covered by this Guideline from making threats, intimidating or engaging in acts of violence. Such behavior or actions will not be tolerated and may result in discipline, up to and including but not limited to, immediate discharge, expulsion, and/or banishment from Campus.

C. Exceptions

1. The provisions of this Guideline do not apply to the possession of weapons or firearms in BHC vehicles, BHC buildings, on BHC grounds, or at any BHC-sponsored activity if the possession of weapons or firearms is related to one of the following exceptions:
2. The weapon or firearm is used in connection with a weapons safety or training course offered in the regular course of business or approved and authorized by BHC.
3. The weapon or firearm is carried by an on duty law enforcement officer required to carry a weapon or firearm as a condition of their employment; the weapon or firearm is carried by a law enforcement officer from an external agency conducting official business at BHC; the weapon or firearm is carried by an off duty law enforcement officer visiting, attending classes, or other training; the weapon or firearm is carried by an armed security guard servicing Automated Teller Machines (ATM); or any other exception is deemed necessary as determined by the BHC Chief of Police. Off-duty officers not in uniform and carrying a concealed firearm on campus must register with the Black Hawk College Police Department. 
4. The use of simulated weapons or firearms in connection with BHC-related theatrical productions.

IV. Locations at Where Guideline Applies

For purposes of this Guideline, “property of BHC” includes any location, including college owned vehicles, whether owned, leased or operated by BHC, and any real property, sidewalks and common areas under the control of BHC.

A. Parking

A weapon or firearm may be transported into an unrestricted parking area within a vehicle if the weapon or firearm and its ammunition remain locked in a case out of plain view within the parked vehicle. Persons with concealed carry permits may park in all public lots within the campus as long as they adhere to all provisions of the Concealed Carry Act. The weapon or firearm may only be removed for the limited purpose of storage or retrieval from within the trunk of the vehicle.  A weapon or firearm must first be unloaded before removal from the vehicle.

B. Storage of Weapons or Firearms

The primary place of storage for a weapon or firearm is within a locked case out of plain view within a parked vehicle in an unrestricted parking area.

V. Enforcement

Individuals, students or employees found in possession of a firearm while on campus may be subject to arrest and criminal prosecution, as well as possible expulsion from the college and/or termination from employment according to established college rules and procedures. If you believe a person is in violation of this guideline, please call the BHC Police Department.

Any individual visiting or conducting business on the property of BHC found to have carried a weapon or firearm onto the property of BHC knowingly, or under circumstances in which the person should have known that they were in possession of a weapon or firearm, may be banned from the BHC Campus.

Any student found to have carried a weapon or firearm onto the property of BHC knowingly, or found to be carrying a weapon under circumstances in which the student should have known that they were in possession of a weapon or firearm, may be subject to discipline up to and including, but not limited to, expulsion from BHC.

Any employee found to have carried a weapon or firearm onto the property of BHC knowingly, or found to be carrying a weapon or firearm under circumstances in which the employee should have known that they were in possession of a weapon or firearm, may be subject to discipline up to and including, but not limited to, immediate termination of employment, subject to such other employment rules or regulations in place.

Any individual found to have carried a weapon or firearm onto the property of BHC knowingly, or found to be carrying a weapon or firearm under circumstances in which the individual should have known that they were in possession of a weapon or firearm, may be subject to  arrest and prosecution or referrals to external law enforcement agencies.

VI. Reporting Requirements

BHC’s Board of Trustees authorizes the President of BHC to promulgate protocols for the implementation of this Guideline including, but not limited to, delegating required reporting responsibilities and protocols related to storage and confiscation of weapons or firearms.

VII. Distribution of Information Regarding Guideline

BHC Public Relations and Marketing, in consultation with other relevant divisions of BHC and executive administration, shall be responsible for the development and distribution of information regarding this Guideline to the BHC campus community, BHC media outlets and external audiences.

VIII. Definitions

1. A “firearm” is defined as:  loaded or unloaded handgun. A “handgun” is defined as any device which is designed to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosion, expansion of gas, or escape of gas that is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand.
2. A “weapon” is defined as:  Any device, whether loaded or unloaded, that shoots a bullet, pellet, flare or any other projectile including those powered by CO2. This includes, but is not limited to, machine guns, rifles, shotguns, handguns or other firearm, BB/pellet gun, spring gun, paint ball gun, flare gun, stun gun, taser or dart gun and any ammunition for any such device. Any replica of the foregoing is also prohibited.
3. Any explosive device including, but not limited to, firecrackers and black powder.
4. Any device that is designed or traditionally used to inflict harm including, but not limited to, bows and arrows, any knife with a blade longer than three inches, hunting knife, fixed blade knife, throwing knives, dagger, razor or other cutting instrument the blade of which is exposed.
5. “Case” is defined as a glove compartment or console that completely encases the weapon or firearm and its ammunition, the trunk of the vehicle, or a weapons case or firearm carrying box, shipping box or other container.

IX. BHC Police Department

The BHC Police Department, in consultation with other relevant departments of BHC and executive administration, shall be responsible for the development and promulgation of procedures, protocols for storage and confiscation of weapons.

The BHC Chief of Police, in consultation with other relevant departments of BHC and executive administration, shall promulgate policies and procedures to be used in determining whether any exceptions to this Guideline are necessary.

X. Clear and Present Danger

The Vice President of Student Services and/or the Chief of Police shall be the designee of the President of BHC responsible for reporting to the Illinois State Police any student, or other named person who is determined to pose a clear and present danger in accordance with the provisions listed in 405 ILCS 5/6-103.3.

XI. BHC Facilities Department

The BHC Facilities Department, in consultation with the BHC Police Department, shall determine placement of clearly and conspicuously posted signs at all building area entrances stating that concealed firearms are prohibited. Signs shall be in accordance with the design approved by the Illinois State Police. The BHC Facilities Department shall be responsible for the maintenance of signage.

XII. BHC Public Relations and Marketing

BHC Public Relations and Marketing, in consultation with other relevant departments of BHC and executive administration, shall be responsible for the development and distribution of information regarding this Guideline to the BHC campus community, BHC media outlets and external audiences.

XIII. Delegation

BHC Board of Trustees delegates to the President of BHC the authority to promulgate additional policies, regulations and procedures related to and consistent with this Guideline, the 2013 Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act and other relevant laws and regulations.

The President of BHC shall from time to time, but not later than 30 days from the development of any additional procedures, report to BHC Board of Trustees of such additions, guidelines, regulations or procedures and the status of implementation of this Guideline.