The U’s administration placed two U safety employees on paid leave after they publicly announced certain security protocols concerning firearms.

These are protocols that police use when they find themselves in a situation—protocols that are not publicly known.

The protocols in question are not university guidelines or rules but are instead internal procedures that officers use in given situations, said Remi Barron, spokesperson for the U. The U’s firearm policy is public and online, it’s the protocols that are kept private for safety reasons, he said.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the leaked guidelines state that a person carrying a firearm openly who has a concealed weapons permit will be asked by an officer to either conceal the weapon or to leave campus. If the person refuses, they can be cited or arrested for multiple violations.

According to the U’s firearms policy, “The University of Utah enforces state law regulating firearms on campus… the University will consider any violation of state law regulating firearms to be a violation of University Policy.”

It is not unlawful for someone with a concealed weapons permit to openly carry their firearm, as long they are not in a prohibited place—such as an airport or federal building—or they do not brandish the weapon in a threatening manner, said Lt. Doug Anderson, of the Bureau of Criminal Identification. “Open carry is not against the law.”

Rep. Curtis Oda-R of Clearfield, condemned U administration for its actions against the two employees and said that the administration is breaking the law with these protocols.

The men have a great chance for a lawsuit, he said. The U has angered a lot of legislators and will have possible consequences.

“Contrary to belief, permit holders are the most law-abiding group,” Oda said, “More law-abiding than U administration, apparently.”

Oda said he doesn’t want to see the school as a whole be punished, but just the certain administrators who are responsible for the protocol.

“If they continue this behavior than (reduced funding) could be an option,” he said, “but we don’t want to go that direction.”

Despite the alleged contradiction between the law and the leaked police protocol, Barron said the U is following state law. No arrests concerning the firearms policy or the protocol have been made, he said.

Barron declined to further comment on the disciplinary actions that will be taken on the employees.