UC Nature, a systemwide unit of the Division of Academic Affairs, comprises a network of predominantly undeveloped sites used for research, teaching, and public outreach. Some UC Nature reserves are located in remote areas such as the Mojave Desert or Mendocino County, and others are adjacent to UC campuses (e.g., Irvine and Santa Barbara) or within close proximity to urban areas. Each reserve is assigned to and administered by a specific campus. Certain reserves, particularly those that are isolated, have some resident staff. Firearm ownership, possession, and use by reserve staff and users varies among the reserves. The following paragraphs are intended to provide guidance on when it may be appropriate for a Chancellor to grant permission to a UC Nature staff employee to possess and/or use firearms in performance of his or her duties, or to any other person using a reserve property for other legitimate purposes. Law enforcement officers or security guards licensed to carry weapons do not need special permission.
Reserve staff
The following aspects of a UC Nature employee’s job description shall be examined as part of the determination whether to grant firearms privileges to a particular employee:
- Management of wildlife populations on the reserve (e.g., feral pigs, California ground squirrels)
- Research-related activities or collection of specimens for museum collections
- Personal protection
Non-reserve staff
There may be instances when a person who is not a reserve staff member may seek permission from the Chancellor to use a firearm on a reserve (for example, a researcher or a skilled hunter engaged by reserve staff to assist in wildlife population management projects). The first two factors above shall be considered when determining whether to grant this permission.
In all cases, the Chancellor’s decision to grant or deny permission may be based on such considerations as the remoteness of the site and the nature of the project. If a reserve staff member seeks permission based on personal protection, one factor the Chancellor may wish to consider is the availability of local law enforcement officers. Final approval of a request made by a UC Nature staff member or any other person may be conditioned on the fulfillment of certain requirements as, for example, fingerprinting, firearm registration, and safety training. Each campus shall be responsible for establishing safety procedures and ensuring that the applicant has fulfilled certain basic University requirements relating to firearm ownership, possession, and use.
Any delegation of the Chancellor’s authority to approve requests for possession and/or use of firearms on a UC Nature reserve under these guidelines shall be in writing with a copy to the Executive Director of UC Nature.