Should Guns be Allowed on Campuses?
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Recently, there have been shootings on several American university campuses. The one most pointed to by anti-gun groups is the deadly killings in 2007 at Virginia Tech University.
Incidents like these have prompted states to consider legislation banning concealed carry guns on campuses. Anti-gun groups state that mass shootings signal a need to ban handguns. On the other hand pro-gun groups argue that these events emphasize a need to ease the existing firearm regulations. They insist that concealed carry weapons should be allowed on all campuses for student safety.
In 2017, two states passed legislation that permitted students and faculty to concealed carry guns on college campuses. Arkansas and Georgia joined Texas which had passed similar legislation two years earlier.
Campus safety is a hot button issue all over North America.
Tennessee passed a bill in 2016 and Texas in 2015. Both allowed concealed carry by students and staff over twenty-one with a concealed carry permit to carry weapon on public universities.
On the other hand, recent shootings also have encouraged some legislators to strengthen existing firearm regulations. In 2014, five states introduced legislation to prohibit concealed carry weapons on campus. None of these bills passed.
But, because of recent shootings, rules have changed both ways. Every American state allows its citizens to carry concealed weapons under specified state requirements.
Sixteen states have banned carrying a concealed weapon on a college campus. These include: California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Wyoming.
The decision to ban or allow concealed carry weapons on campuses in states like: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia is made at the individual educational facility level.
Ten states have provisions which allow concealed carry on public postsecondary campuses. The states are: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi,
Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.
Tennessee lets faculty members who have concealed carry weapons permits to allow students or the public concealed carry.
Utah is the only state where specifically named public colleges and universities do not have the authority to ban concealed carry. In all 10 Utah
In Kansas, there is a provision that colleges and universities cannot prohibit concealed carry. These institutions may request an exemption for up to four years.
In Wisconsin, there is a provision that colleges and universities must allow concealed carry on campus grounds. However, campuses can prohibit weapons from campus buildings as long as signs are posted at each entrance stating weapons are prohibited. In all universities, campuses, and technical community colleges signs are in place.
In Mississippi, an exception to allow concealed carry on college campuses exists for people who have successfully completed an approved course on safe handling and use of firearms.
University of Colorado’s policy which bans guns on campuses has been contested as violating Colorado’s concealed carry laws.
In Oregon, a court of appeals overturned Oregon University’s ban on guns. The court allowed people with permits to carry concealed guns on the grounds of these public postsecondary educational institutions.
Debates still rage over the issue of whether students should be allowed to carry concealed handguns on university and college campuses.
