Steve,
Right now it is absolutely legal to carry on the college campuses, you can't be charged with a gun crime. It merely violates their policy with the only punishment being suspension or expulsion.
Like the library or Sullivan arena or anywhere else that's posted in town, all they can do is ask you to leave if they find out you're carrying and, if you refuse, charge you with trespassing, not Misconduct involving Weapons. Changing state law to allow carry on K-12 property won't change that unless it is written to actively make bans unlawful.
I'm starting out by trying to get UAA to voluntarily change its policy, thinking a state institution in particular shouldn't be able to abrogate a defined right (self-defense) per state law and the state Constitution.
If they refuse I will go to the Legislature to get it explicitly stated in statute that Universities, public or private, cannot prevent carry per state law.
Since state law allows for permitless open and concealed carry, that's what I'm starting with, with the idea of negotiating away open carry if absolutely necessary to get it passed. Not fond of throwing open carry under the bus but with CCW requiring no expense or permit and no penalty for flashing or accidental exposure it is really a semantic issue in this state. Just untuck your shirt while on campus and, voila, you are home free.
Steve,
Something I ran into in a thread online. I think my reasoning is correct.
Alaska doesn't require a permit to carry a loaded weapon concealed or openly, on the body or in a vehicle.
Federal law only allows for carry of loaded weapons, on the body or in a vehicle, within 1000 feet of a K-12 school with a state permit.
My AK CHL expired a few years back, I am now breaking federal law multiple times every time I drive through town. Folks who open carry or carry in their car, for which a permit was never required, are also Federal scofflaws. In a small town I assume it gets more ridiculous.
I am going to write a letter to the local Federal prosecutor and get his opinion on that.
Given that many more states allow permitless carry (usually openly) now than in '86 when the Gun-free School Zone Act passed, it might be time to get our and Vermont's legislators angling to at least remove the 1000' nonsense and restrict "school zone" to mean "school property".