Student Handbook

Policy Statement

Weapons and ammunition are potential safety hazards. Possession, use, or display of weapons or ammunition are inappropriate in an academic community for any reason other than protection of University employees, faculty, students, and members of the public invited on campus as allowed by law, Board of Trustees policies, and policies of the University of Maine.

Definitions of Weapons and Ammunition: A weapon is defined as an instrument of offensive or defensive combat, something to fight with, and is generally any device capable of projecting a ball, pellet, arrow, bullet, missile, shell, or other material. This shall include, but not be limited to, firearms, bows, rockets, barbs, and slingshots. Ammunition is any material capable of being projected by a weapon and makes the weapon operational.

This policy does not apply to the possession and/or use of disabling chemical sprays when used for self-defense. This policy also does not apply to the possession and/or use of a disabling stun gun when used for self-defense (Training in the use of defensive sprays is strongly encouraged. Vendors should be able to provide this training and Material Safety Data Sheets.)

Weapons and Ammunition Prohibition:

• No weapon or ammunition shall be worn, displayed, used, or possessed on campus.
• Personal Weapons will not be stored at the University of Maine Police Department.
• The Chief of the University Police Department may grant permission in writing to an individual to possess a weapon or ammunition on campus for instructional purposes and in other special circumstances and under conditions as approved by the Chief prior to the weapon or ammunition being brought on campus.

Violation

Any employee, faculty, student, or other representative of the University who violates this policy shall be notified of the violation and subject to disciplinary sanctions under the applicable discipline process.

Any member of the public who violates this policy shall be notified of the violation and asked to comply. If the public member will not comply, the individual shall be removed from campus and subject to all legal penalties, including the criminal trespass provisions under Maine law.

Exemption

All currently licensed law enforcement officers are exempt from this policy. (4/96).

Law enforcement officers should notify UMPD when coming on campus with their weapons.

Revised August 2025