Six months after a confrontation with campus police that seemed to validate the group's tactic, the USA chapter of Students for Concealed Carry plans another empty holster protest at the university.

Via the University of South Alabama student group's Facebook page, Students for Concealed Carry describes the protest as its "signature attention-getter." Participants wear empty holsters as "a token symbolizing that disarming all law-abiding citizens creates defense-free zones which are attractive targets for criminals."

The group has indicated that it plans to conduct its activities during the week of Oct. 3-7.

In an April incident, student D.J. Parten, then the acting president of Students for Concealed Carry, was confronted by USA campus police officers while wearing a holster. Speaking afterward, Parten said that he was taking part in the spring empty holster protest, but was participating in another group's activities at the time and said he had "totally forgot I even had the holster on."

Parten was given a disciplinary citation. A University spokesman said campus police had initially responded to a report that someone might have been carrying a gun, but that the citation should not have been given for the empty holster.

The university later reported that both officers involved had apologized to the students, and that the one who cited Parten had received a five-day suspension without pay.

USA has issued a statement saying that "The University of South Alabama complies with state law regarding firearms. USA supports the rights of our students to express their opinions, however, the University does not support an expansion of the presence of firearms on campus."

Campus policy prohibits firearms as well as air guns, paintball guns and replicas, as well as other items such as bows, swords and martial arts weapons.