Going to college, what to do with guns?

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wannabeagunsmith

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Hey guys so in the fall I am finally heading off to get my AA degree in aircraft maintenance and manufacturing.. I have a dorm there but as expected the stupid no guns allowed rules are in place. Being law abiding I plan to honor their wishes. Now the security office on campus does offer weapon storage but they say if you want your guns you must notify them 24 hours in advance to get them out. That isn't cool in my book as I often like to go on random and unannounced shooting adventurous or hiking trips. Plus they are my property and I would like control over them. Having my own apartment is not an option so what do you all suggest I do about this? Locking them in my vehicle seems like a not-so good idea for sure..
 
Unless you have a nearby friend or relative that could store them for you the security office is probably your only option. The 24hr rule might just be there to allow for the other duties of security, it may not be set in stone in actual practice depending on how busy and well staffed the office is. Might also depend on the individuals officers.

If you do have a nearby friend or relative it would be easiest if you were both residents of the same state and living in a state that allows for private transactions. If that is not the case you would need to in some way ensure that they cannot access the guns (like a lockbox only you have the key to).
 
I would go down to the security office and check out their storage first. When I go to the court house I have to carry one of my smaller guns as the lockers are too small.
 
Yah might recheck the regs as recently some have changed.
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How could you possibly know that whether or not regulations pretaining to this have changed, when he didn't mention what school , or even what state the the school was in? campus carry has generated some discussion as of late, we're talking storage and not carry. While being aware of of regulation changes is good advice for anyone, I'm not sure how you see it applying here, when its impossible to ascertain where he is even going to school from the information given. Insofar as guns on campus go, its decided on a minimum of a state by state basis(not a federal, or "universal" basis), with many schools each having their own rules. I lived about 2.5 hours from campus, and typically traveled home on the weekends. When I did have a shotgun in college, I kept it secured at a friend's house, which I found to be a better option than turning it over to security.
 
wannabeagunsmith said:
Hey guys so in the fall I am finally heading off to get my AA degree in aircraft maintenance and manufacturing.. I have a dorm there but as expected the stupid no guns allowed rules are in place. Being law abiding I plan to honor their wishes. Now the security office on campus does offer weapon storage but they say if you want your guns you must notify them 24 hours in advance to get them out. That isn't cool in my book as I often like to go on random and unannounced shooting adventurous or hiking trips. Plus they are my property and I would like control over them. Having my own apartment is not an option so what do you all suggest I do about this? Locking them in my vehicle seems like a not-so good idea for sure..
Click to expand...
Although the rules may change from state to state, generally having a weapon on campus, even in a privately owned vehicle, is a open invitation to being the lead story on the local news. There have been numerous instances of campuses being shut down and folks being told to shelter in place because of reports of weapons sightings on campus. Don't try and fudge the rules, a mistake here could be BIG trouble.

Also be very aware that ANY place there is a highly transitory population theft usually becomes a major problem. I can't count how many times folks I know that lived in dorms or apartments have had things of all sorts stolen from them. Storage locker's generally fall into this category as well. Plus if you watch any TV at all, you know what happens should you miss paying the rent.

Lastly, wherever you end up keeping a weapon, being "grey" or discrete about it is the best policy. I wouldn't take a long gun at all unless it breaks down. Toting an identifiable gun case will just make you a target for theft or possibly harassment, low profile avoids this. Think of all the "If you could only have ONE" gun forum posts you've read and take them to heart. The more weapons you take, the bigger the potential loss.

As much as the rules for keeping your gun(s) at the approved place may grate, and as inconvenient as it may be to give notice to get them out, it still may be your best option. Yeah it sucks, but unfortunately lots of things about life suck and sometimes you just have to take your best option. Check out the security office, they may not be as strict on the notification policy in practice. You may also work at befriending the personnel who work there. They're probably shooters too and may work to accommodate a buddy. Just a thought.
 
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When I was in school our campus police provided a secured arms room for storing students' weapons. It seemed to work fine for many students.

I'd go visit them and ask to see their storage facility (how the guns are stored/treated, who has access, etc.) and find out what the actual procedure is in practice. It may be that their official policy is 24-hours advance notice, but it is much more likely that they merely say that's the MAXIMUM notice they need. And that if you walk in on a Friday afternoon and say, "I want to check out my gun," you'll be on your way in 5 minutes.

That being said, I'd plan to take one or two guns at the most, and not my most irreplaceable ones. Keep it simple, focus on your studies and get through your first year. By then, you'll likely have made friends and more amenable plans for housing for the rest of your time at college.

I'll also do a little talking to a brick wall (if you're anything like I was ;)): Your courses are your JOB, and it's nearly a 24/7 gig. If you're out playing with your guns, you're wasting the precious time and money you (and/or others) have invested in being able to buy more guns (and food, diapers, car insurance...etc.) for the future. A little shooting can be a welcome stress reliever, but hit your stress relievers sparingly.

All that to say, if you take your guns, and find out that at the end of a couple semesters you've only checked them out 3-4 times, you're probably doing ok. If the campus police check-out procedure has been a constant thorn in your side day to day and week to week, you probably need to adjust your proprieties. :)
 
I lived in dorms my first 2 years in college, but school was only about 45min drive from my parents house so that worked out for me. If thats an option, or as stated a friend / relative nearby, that maybe your best bet.

My jr & sr year I lived in an apt with a very trustworthy roommate and stored guns in my room, locked in cases. Obviously situations vary and you may or may not be able to work this when the time comes.

One of the local ranges, where I shot skeet and trap during the school year did have a safe that they offered for students, but I dont know if anyone ever took them up on it. It probably would have been an ok option for a cheap, easy to replace gun (similar to the security on your campus), so you might check into that, especially if the school has an established trap, skeet or other team/club that uses the local range's facilities.

Good luck, and I am definitely a fan of using shooting as a release during your studies. I shot more during my college years (usually 2-3 times weekly) than I did any time before or since while working ~30hrs a week, taking a full course load, and graduating with honors. Its all about priorities, and using your time efficiently. Decide whats important, and make time for those things.
 
Much will depend on the gun culture where you go to school. I went to a school that, in theory, had gun storage at the campus PD--in practice, they didn't want to deal with gun owning students at all (full disclosure--this was NIU here in Illinois). I left my weapons at home while in the dorms and only brought a couple to stay with me when off campus in shared houses and apartments. I'd take the advice of others already offered and stick to bringing weapons you're not afraid of getting handled by others. Rental lockers at a u-store-it type facility are common in college towns. Also, if not prohibited, get an airgun or slingshot to plink with when you get the urge--even the most antigunified on a college campus can tollerate a slingshot. At any rate, good luck in your studies!
 
kept em at my parents during my ten long years of schooling...they're on a farm out in the country, so when I wanted to go shooting i just had to go home.
 
^
I second this. Find a small apartment or something you can live in off campus. If you need help paying for it get a friend or two to be a roommate. When it comes to living on campus, the school thinks it knows what's best for you and does its best to enforce it.
 
some colleges require freshmen to live on campus. the OP stated that living off campus was not an option.
 
Yah might recheck the regs as recently some have changed.
Click to expand...
How could you possibly know that whether or not regulations pretaining to this have changed, when he didn't mention what school , or even what state the the school was in?...
Click to expand...

Hence the word "some". Some states have changed regs regarding guns on campus. Some schools in those, and other states, have changed storage requirements. Others have clarified regulations, as is the case with a school near me. UPD had been interpreting the reg as "no guns on campus, even in your car" ever since the Virginia Tech incident. The student rifle group and a group of sportsmen threatened legislative action and got the school to concede "OK, locked in car and out of sight, but not in your dorm". This is one example of the several (e.g "some") regs which have recently changed.

Is there a problem with mentioning this to the OP?
 
I always lived off campus and always just had my guns in my apartment. If you that isn't possible, I'd probably take a couple utilitarian pieces and store them with campus safety and leave the rest stored at home.
 
rent a storage unit, if you have the money and you are inclined to do so. does your campus charge to have your weapon stored with them? if it does their maybe a cheaper and more conineint option in a rented storage.
 
Hey guys yeah thanks for the tips. So this is a new campus carry state I will be going to college in but I am not yet 21 so I can't CC. But I believe (will have to check) that it is legal to store in vehicles. But like I said theft and rust would keep me from doing that. I suppose I will have to go and see what the weapon storage facility is like and decide from there. I do also like the idea of storing at a shop though!
 
If you store at a gun shop, will they have to run your guns in and out of their bound books every time you take them to the range? Seems like at least as much trouble as storing them on campus. I have a friend who stored his deer rifle with campus safety as an undergrad and he had no complaints.
 
RE vehicle storage: What about sealed containers with desiccant and oxygen absorbers? Might be a challenge with long guns but for handguns inexpensive metal ammo boxes would work.
 
I lived in dorms for 3.5 years. The smallest storage unit I could find had 2 outlets and enough room to bolt down a safe with a mini fridge next to it. It was also climate controlled. Since campus was no guns, no alcohol, no fun my storage unit was well worth the $20/month. They insured the contents as well to a certain dollar point. That storage place got pretty busy right before opening morning of deer season
 
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