Guns, knives, and weapons are generally prohibited on school grounds, as provided by school policies and state and federal laws.

Although children in grades 1-12 are generally not eligible for a concealed carry weapon permit, older students on college campuses may be eligible for a concealed carry permit (CCP) in some states—also known as a concealed handgun license (CHL), license to carry (LTC), concealed carry license (CCL), or concealed carry weapon (CCW).

A student’s right to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds may be governed by state and federal laws, as well as school policies.

In Alabama, the possession of guns, knives, and other weapons on school grounds is strictly regulated by both state statutes and federal law. Under Alabama law, it is generally illegal to carry a firearm on school property, which includes K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. This prohibition applies to everyone, including those with a concealed carry permit, with certain exceptions for authorized security personnel and other specific circumstances. Federal law also reinforces this through the Gun-Free School Zones Act, which makes it unlawful to knowingly possess a firearm in a school zone, with specific exceptions. While students in grades 1-12 are not eligible for a concealed carry permit, those attending college may be eligible, depending on their age and other legal requirements. However, even if a college student obtains a concealed carry permit, they are typically not allowed to carry their weapon on school grounds due to state law and school policies. Each educational institution may have its own additional regulations regarding weapons on campus, which can further restrict or clarify the conditions under which weapons are prohibited.