Wisconsin’s concealed carry law goes into effect today. At the University of Wisconsin, however, there are some restrictions. Last month, the school blocked concealed carry for university employees, and when the law goes into effect today, it will not extend to campus buildings. The Badger Herald reports:
(UW Assistant Chief of Police Brian) Bridges said the possession of weapons will be allowed in both parking lots and on campus grounds. Under the state statue, Bridges said firearms will also be permitted on the grounds surrounding Camp Randall, but the stadium itself is considered a campus building and concealed carry will be prohibited there.
“It’s a complex law, and it’s a significant change from how it’s been for 150 years,” Bridges said. “There might be some confusion at the start, but the signs are in place, it’s been covered in the media and we’ll work with whatever comes our way to make sure that people’s constitutional and statutory rights are observed and community safety is maintained.”
UW System spokesperson David Giroux said prior to the approval of the concealed carry law, the UW System had an administrative rule that banned all weapons from campus grounds.
Giroux said with the passage of the new law, universities are unable to prohibit concealed weapons on campus grounds because the law overrides provisions of the administrative rule.
The school estimates 12,000 signs have been posted on campus about prohibiting guns in buildings.
The split between campus buildings and campus grounds resembles George Mason University’s gun law, which also prohibits guns inside campus buildings. GMU’s law was challenged but upheld earlier this year in the Virginia Supreme Court.
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