Spring Break
Guns on campus?
Proposed gun legislation causes stir at UA
By: Cody Calamaio
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted Monday to support legislation to let students and staff at community colleges and state universities carry permitted guns for protection.
The committee voted 4-3 and the bill will now go to the Senate floor for debate between all members.
The bill originally included a K-12 provision, but was removed because the bill was unable to get the amount of votes needed to get through, said Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, and the primary sponsor of SB 1214.
Sgt. Eugene Mejia, spokesman for the University of Arizona Police Department, said weapons on campus would cause confusion for police officers on campuses.
"It would make our job more difficult," Mejia said. "If the legislation approved the carrying of weapons by many people on campus it could be disruptive because right now if we get a report of a weapon on campus, we respond in force."
He said more weapons on campus could be unsettling to the educational setting because of more reports of weapons.
Johnson, however, said the bill is important.
"All of the officers think they are more than capable of handling the situations, but in every situation we've had they have always been there after the fact," Johnson said.
Mejia said there are potential flaws in the proposal, such as not requiring the person carrying the weapon to have any recurrent training or recertification in the use of the weapon.
"You obtain a permit after eight hours of training and you're allowed to carry a concealed weapon for five years," Mejia said. "Our offices go through extensive training in weapons use."
He said even police officers lose accuracy over time in stressful situations, and there could be devastating results if a person who obtained a permit after only eight hours was in the same situation.
"There are a lot of potential negative unknowns," Mejia said.
UAPD police chief Anthony Daykin went before the Senate committee and testified against legislature along with the police chiefs from Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University.
The committee voted 4-3 and the bill will now go to the Senate floor for debate between all members.
The bill originally included a K-12 provision, but was removed because the bill was unable to get the amount of votes needed to get through, said Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, and the primary sponsor of SB 1214.
Sgt. Eugene Mejia, spokesman for the University of Arizona Police Department, said weapons on campus would cause confusion for police officers on campuses.
"It would make our job more difficult," Mejia said. "If the legislation approved the carrying of weapons by many people on campus it could be disruptive because right now if we get a report of a weapon on campus, we respond in force."
He said more weapons on campus could be unsettling to the educational setting because of more reports of weapons.
Johnson, however, said the bill is important.
"All of the officers think they are more than capable of handling the situations, but in every situation we've had they have always been there after the fact," Johnson said.
Mejia said there are potential flaws in the proposal, such as not requiring the person carrying the weapon to have any recurrent training or recertification in the use of the weapon.
"You obtain a permit after eight hours of training and you're allowed to carry a concealed weapon for five years," Mejia said. "Our offices go through extensive training in weapons use."
He said even police officers lose accuracy over time in stressful situations, and there could be devastating results if a person who obtained a permit after only eight hours was in the same situation.
"There are a lot of potential negative unknowns," Mejia said.
UAPD police chief Anthony Daykin went before the Senate committee and testified against legislature along with the police chiefs from Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Ben Kalafut
posted 2/27/08 @ 1:10 AM PST
We've been hearing this for decades, that concealed-carry will result in all sorts of trouble. It hasn't yet, not even in Oregon and Utah where it's legal at colleges. (Continued…)
Seriously?
posted 2/27/08 @ 8:26 AM PST
This is the most retarded argument I've ever heard. What, you need to go to Greek Myth strapped dude? Really? Sooo glad I don't live in AZ anymore. (Continued…)
NBlackwell
Nate Blackwell
posted 2/27/08 @ 10:53 AM PST
By obtaining a concealed weapons permit a person is taking a proactive step to protect themselves and the people around them. By issuing restrictions on a persons inherit right to self preservation, the body imposing the restriction is assuming responsibility to provide adequate compensation for protection. (Continued…)
Debi
posted 2/27/08 @ 11:05 AM PST
Have they lost their minds? Have any of those law makers ever been to a college campus? How many non-stressed out students do you know? Who the hell voted for these fools. (Continued…)
John
posted 2/27/08 @ 4:18 PM PST
I also think this is the most retarded idea ever. If everyone has the right to bear arms, students will be more uptight and more stressed out with a prevailing sense of violence on campus. (Continued…)
Ben Kalafut
posted 2/27/08 @ 5:33 PM PST
Come on now, "John" (no surname given), in Arizona everyone does have the right to bear arms, and permit-holders (issued permits pursuant to a shall-issue policy) can carry concealed. (Continued…)
jay
posted 3/04/08 @ 1:22 PM PST
John get a clue my boy, Everybody does have the right to Bear arms, and it shall not be infringed. Creating "Gun-Free Zones" infringes on the right to keep and bear arms. (Continued…)
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