KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee said Thursday that despite an "AR-15 Giveaway" sign being displayed at a booth on campus, a student organization was not actually giving away guns. The sign also called for people to sign a petition to allow campus carry, a policy that effectively allows eligible students and staff to bring guns onto campus.
A UT spokesperson said the student organization was "practicing free expression activity." It said the University of Tennessee Police Department investigated the organization as soon as it learned about its presence and learned it was not selling raffle tickets or giving away a gun. The group also did not have a gun with it.
A spokesperson said the investigation was "followed up by multiple UT administrators as well as UTPD." Ultimately, the university said the organization was practicing free expression and was protected by its free speech policies.
The university is allowed to impose time, place and manner expressions on free expression activity. It is also allowed to cap the number of participants and can intervene if the activity isn't orderly or if it interferes with classes, events or meetings. UT's policy says restrictions need to be content-neutral and can limit demonstrations to specific areas of campus.
It bars expression that involves physical altercations, violence, the use of weapons or harassment and discrimination. Otherwise, most activities considered free speech can go on at UT.
Tennessee law also allows full-time university employees with a valid carry permit to bring a concealed handgun on UT property. The policy requires to employees to notify UTPD if they intend to carry a gun on campus, and does not extend to students.