TITLE 8. EDUCATION

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY

Final Regulation

Title of Regulation: 8VAC5-10. Prohibition of Weapons on Campus (adding 8VAC5-10-10, 8VAC5-10-20, 8VAC5-10-30).

Statutory Authority: § 23.1-1301 of the Code of Virginia

Effective Date: August 11, 2025.

Agency Contact: Tom Kramer, Regulatory Coordinator, Christopher Newport University, One Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, VA 23606, telephone (757) 594-8671, or email tkramer@cnu.edu.

Summary:

The new regulation establishes requirements that (i) prohibit the possession or carrying of any weapon in or on all buildings and grounds owned, leased, operated, or controlled by Christopher Newport University (CNU), including in vehicles and (ii) provide exceptions for sworn police officers in the performance of their duties, visitors who are licensed to carry concealed firearms who may store their weapon in a personal vehicle, and persons given express permission by the CNU Police Department.

Chapter 10

Prohibition of Weapons on Campus

8VAC5-10-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Police officer" means law-enforcement officials authorized to make arrests pursuant to § 9.1-101 of the Code of Virginia and sworn federal law-enforcement officers.

"University property" means any land, buildings, vehicles, or property owned, leased, rented, or otherwise controlled by Christopher Newport University.

"Weapon" means (i) any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, air pistol, paintball gun, or any instrument intended to propel ammunition or other missile of any kind; (ii) any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, butterfly knife, retractable blade, sword, machete, or other bladed instrument longer than four inches that is not used to prepare or cook food within campus apartments with kitchens or for authorized university purposes through dining services; (iii) any nun chahka, nunchuck, nunchaku, fighting chain, or any flailing instrument with two parts joined together loosely; (iv) any disc having at least two points or blades that is designed to be thrown or propelled; or (v) any conducted energy device used to incapacitate or temporarily disable an individual, such as a taser or stun gun.

8VAC5-10-20. Possession of weapons prohibited.

Possession or carrying of any weapon by any person is prohibited in or on all buildings and grounds owned, leased, operated, or controlled by Christopher Newport University, wherever located and for whatever purpose used. This prohibition, which also includes any university-owned, university-operated, or university-contracted vessels or vehicles, exists even if the owner has a valid permit issued pursuant to § 18.2-308.01 of the Code of Virginia. Sworn police officers engaged in the performance of their duties or providing services to the university are exempted from this prohibition. The university's employees, students, volunteers, and visitors are prohibited from storing a firearm on university property without the expressed permission of the Christopher Newport University Chief of Police or the chief's designee. Visitors who are licensed carriers may store their weapon in their personal vehicle while on university property.

Entry upon university property in violation of this prohibition is expressly forbidden. Persons violating this prohibition will be asked to remove the weapon immediately from university property. Failure to comply with this request may result in arrest for trespass. Members of the university community are also subject to disciplinary action.

8VAC5-10-30. Person lawfully in charge.

In addition to individuals authorized by university policy, Christopher Newport University police officers are lawfully in charge for the purposes of forbidding entry upon or remaining upon university property while possessing or carrying weapons in violation of this chapter.