Guns on campus OK'd by Arizona Senate
By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
Published: Saturday, June 27, 2009 2:16 AM MST
PHOENIX — Saying it will make people safer, state senators voted Friday to let people with concealed weapons permits carry them onto college and university campuses where they are now forbidden.
The 15-6 vote on the provision in HB 2439 came after backers said they believe that having people who are licensed by the state to have weapons should cut down on the number of massacres that occur on campuses. And Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler, said that has happened in Arizona.
He did not refer by name to the 2002 incident at the University of Arizona where three instructors at the College of Nursing were slain by student Robert S. Flores Jr. who then turned the gun on himself.
But Huppenthal said the evidence shows that it makes sense, from a safety standpoint, to let people carry guns.
“The states that have concealed carry (laws) have statistically significant smaller mass shootings,’’ he said.
Huppenthal said he would not support guns on public school campuses, saying Arizona has no history of massacres on those campuses.
“The situation is different in our universities,’’ he said.
“We’ve had a mass shooting in our universities,’’ Huppenthal continued. “We sort of have a track record of not being safe in our universities.’’
And he said that, based on the research, allowing those who have concealed weapons permits to bring them onto campuses would mean “our universities would be safer.’’
University of Arizona lobbyist Greg Fahey said his school opposes allowing anyone to have guns on campus. And Fahey said he’s not convinced that rule should be waived for those with permits to carry concealed weapons even though they have undergone background checks, training in state laws and been shown to be proficient in the use of the gun.
“Our chief of police and the police of all three universities have consistently said that their experience is that having people with guns is just more of an invitation to have accidents, to have problems,’’ Fahey said. “And they don’t want anyone who’s not a sworn officer being armed on campus.’’
But Huppenthal said he’s not convinced that students and faculty are safer with gun-free campuses.
The senator said his requests for information from universities shows “they haven’t done any careful analysis’’ of the crimes. And what they have done, he said, only involves those crimes on campus.
“But the truth is, there’s a large number of rapes of coeds as they leave campus and they go to their home,’’ Huppenthal said. He said these women are forced to leave any guns at home — and leave themselves vulnerable while walking to class — because current rules prohibit weapons on campus.
It would still allow people to get a CCW permit if they choose to in order to gain certain additional benefits such as reciprocity granted by other States that don't yet have constitutional carry laws, or to carry in current restricted areas under specific conditions, such as to carry onto school grounds while dropping off or picking up a child.
If this is correct and it did indeed pass then a person should be able to carry concealed (with permit) when pickiing up and dropping off on school grounds?
Right. Wait until after the corpses pile up. Good call.
“Our chief of police and the police of all three universities have consistently said that their experience is that having people with guns is just more of an invitation to have accidents, to have problems,’’ Fahey said.
1. Where exactly did they accumulate all this experience working with legally armed students?
2. So disarming officers would reduce accidents and problems?
Well, it's definitely a step in the right direction. College "kids" are the same age as the men and women we send abroad with rifles and rucksacks. And, no matter where a person goes, he or she should not be stripped of self-protection.
Don't get excited just yet. The bill died this morning. Six republicans who said they would vote for it decided not to show up, so it failed by 1 stinkin' vote! The legislative year is up now in AZ, so we'll have to try again next time. I have already contacted my representative to inform him how displeased I am with his failure to show.
More info...The Republicans missing during the final vote were Nancy Barto (R7), Rich Crandall (R19), Adam Driggs (R11), Bill Konopnicki (R5), Lucy Mason (R1), and Doug Quelland (R10).
It's not all about the massacres. Admittedly, the likelihood of a massacre is low, but still needs to be defended against.
At any rate, a major reason for this is because college campuses aren't immune from regular crime. In fact, they're pretty high up on robbery, assault, etc. And the areas surrounding a campus are always quite run down and full of unsavory types.
University of Arizona lobbyist Greg Fahey said his school opposes allowing anyone to have guns on campus. And Fahey said he’s not convinced that rule should be waived for those with permits to carry concealed weapons even though they have undergone background checks, training in state laws and been shown to be proficient in the use of the gun.
Shut up....you work for the state. Don't like it? Go somewhere else. Fortunately you don't make decisions Mr Lobbyist...that's what adults are for. Why not protect students, staff and faculty? Disarming them hasn't worked on other campuses--and that has been proven time and again.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Defensive Carry
5.4M posts
117.5K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to defensive firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about everyday carry, optics, holsters, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!