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 Massachusetts, the possession of guns, knives, and other weapons on school grounds is strictly regulated by both state and federal laws, as well as by individual school policies. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269, Section 10(j), carrying firearms, rifles, shotguns, or ammunition on school grounds without proper authorization is prohibited, with certain exceptions for law enforcement and other authorized personnel. This law applies to all educational institutions, from elementary schools to universities. While older students at colleges may be eligible for a concealed carry permit (CCP), Massachusetts does not generally allow the carrying of concealed weapons on college campuses. The state's gun laws are among the strictest in the country, and any exception to carrying a weapon on school property would be narrowly defined and strictly controlled. Additionally, federal law under the Gun-Free School Zones Act prohibits unauthorized individuals from knowingly possessing a firearm in a school zone, which is defined as in or on the grounds of a public, parochial or private school, or within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of the school.