The same week Colorado State University voted to ban concealed firearms on campus, students at the University of Colorado found their school taking gun rights to a whole new level. Notices appeared warning students that Nerf-gun sightings will be treated like real-gun sightings, according to a statement issued by Joe E. Roy, chief of police at the University of Colorado Police Department.
This came as a result of campus security officials discovering that the colourful toys would be used for an upcoming game of humans vs. zombies.
Similar to tag, the popular college game involves “zombie” students shooting “human” students with Nerf guns. If a human is hit, he or she then becomes a zombie and has to wear a bandana around the head.
Although students co-operated fully with the school by promptly using rolled-up socks to replace simulated guns, there have still been cries of protest across the Internet.
CU junior Trevor Doner said he thinks it is not worth it rebelling against the policy.
“I’m just going to shed my dignity and bring a balled-up sock to chemistry class,” Doner said.
On the website for Denver television station KUSA, a forum page participant noted that “with the past history of binge drinking and violence at CU, I would think school officials would be happy that students have decided to take up a harmless kids game! Grow up . . . and let the kids have some fun.”
In his statement, Roy said Nerf guns can look real to passers-by at a distance. He referred to a website that advocates painting Nerf guns black to achieve an authentic look.
Roy also pointed out that the Board of Regents banned simulated weapons from campus years ago.
“No guns of any kind, real or toy, from air rifles to paintball guns to Nerf guns, are allowed on campus under the laws of the regents," said Roy. “We are simply enforcing a longstanding policy, not inventing a new category of enforcement.”
Concerns over Nerf guns being mistaken for real ones have existed since the game first caught on at Goucher College in Towson, Md., in 2005. Two years ago, Alfred University in New York went on a two-hour lockdown after a faculty member reported a student carrying a weapon that turned out to be a Nerf gun.
The no-Nerf policy put in place assures that those caught will be charged with violations to the student conduct policy or even arrested on charges of unlawful conduct.
CU junior Trevor Doner said he thinks it is not worth it rebelling against the policy.
“I’m just going to shed my dignity and bring a balled-up sock to chemistry class,” Doner said.