Illinois State Statute provides as follows:

7201LCS 5/21-6

Unauthorized possession or storage of weapons

a. Whoever possesses or stores any weapon enumerated in Section 33A-1 in any building or on land supported in whole or in part with public funds or in any building on such land without prior written permission from the chief security officer for such land or building commits a Class A misdemeanor. (Class A misdemeanors are punishable by 6 to 12 months in jail or up to two years probation, and a fine up to $2,500.00).

b. The chief security officer must grant any reasonable request for permission under paragraph (a).

720 ILCS 5/33A-1

Definitions

c. “Armed with a dangerous weapon”. A person is considered armed with a dangerous weapon for the purposes of this Article, when he or she carries on or about his or her person or is otherwise armed with a Category I, Category II, or Category III weapon.

d. A Category I weapon is a handgun, sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, any other firearm small enough to be concealed upon the person, semiautomatic firearm, or machine gun. A Category II weapon is any other rifle, shotgun, spring gun, other firearm, stun gun or taser as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 24-1 of this Code, knife with a blade of at least 3 inches in length, dagger, dirk, switchblade knife, stiletto, axe, hatchet, or other deadly or dangerous weapon or instrument of like character. As used in this subsection (b) “semiautomatic firearm” means a repeating firearm that utilizes a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber the next round and that requires a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge.

e. A Category III weapon is a bludgeon, black jack, slungshot, sand-bag, sand-club, metal knuckles, billy or other dangerous weapon of like character.

For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Statute for the University of Illinois campuses and all properties administered under the auspices of the University of Illinois the following regulations and procedures are hereby established.

The University of Illinois hereby designates the Chiefs of Police of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) as the Chief Security Officer, pursuant to 720 TLCS 5/21-6, to receive, review and issue written permissions to possess or store weapons on University property, in accordance with the provisions contained herein.

Persons seeking permission to possess or store any weapon in or on University buildings or land shall direct such request to the Chief of Police of the University campus on which such building or land is located. If the University building or land is not located within one of the three specified campuses the requestor shall direct such request to the Chief of Police of the campus that is responsible for the management of the University building or land for which the request is being made.

A request for permission to possess or store a weapon must be submitted in writing to the appropriate Chief of Police. Said request shall contain the following:

  1. The name, address, and phone number of the requestor;
  2. A full and complete description of the weapon(s) involved, to include make, model, serial number and all other relevant descriptors;
  3. The relationship that the requestor has to the University building or land involved (student, faculty, employee, visitor, guest, etc.);
  4. A detailed description of the purpose of the request;
  5. Copies of all relevant weapon documentation (e.g. licenses, registrations, proof of ownership, etc.)
  6. Specific dates/period of time requested; and
  7. Complete description of the proposed mode of transportation to and from University building or land and secured storage of said weapon(s).

Any changes in the above information or permanent removal of the weapon(s) from campus buildings or land needs to be communicated in writing to the appropriate Chief of Police. There are separate requirements for purchasing, recording, and disposing of weapons acquired with University funds. Please refer to sections 7.3 (Cash Purchases), 12.2 (Capitalization and Valuation of Property and Equipment), and 12.4 (Acquisition, Transfer, and Disposal of Equipment) of the Business and Financial Policies and Procedures.

The Chief of Police receiving a request for permission to possess or store a weapon shall:

  1. Review each request for completeness and verify information contained therein;
  2. Ensure that the proposed possession/storage/ mode of transportation would not entail a violation of any Federal, State or local laws or ordinances;
  3. Ensure that the granting of such request would be in compliance with existing University regulations;
  4. Determine the reasonableness of the request.
  5. A denied request shall be in writing, directed to the requestor, outlining the reason(s) for such denial.
  6. An approved request shall be in writing, directed to the requestor, specifying that approval is contingent upon the requestor delivering the weapon(s) and specified original relevant documentation (licenses, registration, proof of ownership, etc.) for inspection to the Chief of Police, or his designee.
  7. Upon successful completion of 6 (above) the Chief of Police will provide the requestor with written instructions as to the possession/storage of the weapon(s) in question to include duration, location, restrictions, use and limitations.
  8. The Chief of Police shall ensure that appropriate storage facilities are available for the safe storage of any requested weapon(s). Lack of appropriate storage facilities at the requested location shall constitute sufficient reason for denial of such request.
  9. The Chief of Police can revoke approval for non-compliance of the requestor, change in circumstances, change in law or University regulations, or any other valid reason.

The following circumstances shall constitute written permission for the possession/storage of weapons:

  1. Registration in any course of study where weapons are used in connection with that course for such students to use any University owned or controlled weapons when such weapon is used in connection with that course of study;
  2. Employees or agents of the University who are required by the University to possess or control weapons are authorized to possess or store such weapons in the performance of their duties;
  3. Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States of America or the Illinois National Guard, who are authorized to possess weapons under the laws of the State of Illinois, while in the performance of their official duties;
  4. Sworn local, state or federal peace officers, who are authorized to possess weapons under the laws of the State of Illinois, while in the performance of their official duties as designated by their respective law enforcement agency;
  5. Wardens, superintendents and keepers of prisons, penitentiaries, jails and other institutions for the detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense, who are authorized to possess weapons under the laws of the State of Illinois, while in the performance of their official duty;
  6. Guards of armored car companies, who are authorized to possess weapons under the laws of the State of Illinois, while actually engaged in the performance of their duties as contracted by employees or agents of the University.
  7. Off-duty sworn local, state or federal peace officers, who are authorized to carry weapons off-duty both under the laws of the State of Illinois and by authority of their respective agency, while engaged in rendering services for the university. This provision will only be applicable if the University unit/agency engaging said services have first received approval from the Chief of Police. Said unit/agency will provide such information relating to the proposed activities of such officers as requested by the Chief of Police.
Responsible Unit
Office of the Chancellor
Unit Head
Kelsea Gurski