SGA, student groups opposed gun bill
Students' opinions vary on campus security, support of dead gun bills
Wayne Grayson
Assistant Student Life Editor
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: News
In light of the recent increase in violence on campuses across the nation, campus security has become a hot topic in many college towns.
Alabama Sen. Hank Erwin's solution to the problem was spelled out in a pair of bills he offered for consideration in the state legislative session starting Feb. 5, which called for state colleges and universities to allow professors and qualified students to carry concealed weapons.
"The college campus has always been considered to be a bubble of security where students can come and grow into adulthood," Erwin said. "But Virginia Tech smashed that to smithereens. I say it's time to let the law-abiding students defend themselves."
On March 26, Erwin's bills were put to rest when they were voted down by the Senate Education Committee.
Though some UA officials and students will be glad to see the bills go, there was some support of Erwin's bills on campus.
Chad Haynie, a sophomore majoring in political science, is the campus leader of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.
Haynie said students who own guns are allowed to carry them everywhere they go, except on campus.
"[Students] want their rights to extend onto campus, which is state and public property," he said.
What stops students from carrying a gun on campus is the UA Code of Student Conduct. According to the document, illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on University premises is prohibited.
Haynie said he believes the definition in the code of unauthorized possession is unclear and needs to be addressed by the University.
"What we're going to look into is whether they can legally do that, because they're sitting on the fence," Haynie said. "If the University does not clarify, we probably will look at our legal options to see if we can make the University make a stand."
On Feb. 28, the SGA unanimously passed a bill discouraging the passing of Erwin's bill.
"[The] student body supports [the] current safety procedures of the University, but we encourage research of other ways to keep us safe," said SGA Vice President Madeline Barter.
However, Barter said the bill is not to imply that the SGA is against guns on campus - it is only against Erwin's particular legislation, which the SGA found to be flawed.
Barter, on the other hand, said she is against students being allowed to carry on campus. She said she feels the pressures of college life, along with the emotional changes many college students are going through, do not make a good environment when guns are thrown in the mix.
"Guns in that atmosphere does not sound like a good idea," she said.
SGA President R.B. Walker said he believes the current security precautions on campus are suitable to handle an emergency situation should it occur.
"I appreciate Sen. Erwin's concern for student safety, but, as a student on this campus, I have enough faith in the [University of Alabama Police Department] and other forms of local law enforcement to protect students and I have faith in this administration to get students ready for the unthinkable," Walker said.
The bills didn't find support with University police either.
According to an e-mail from UA spokeswoman Cathy Andreen, the UAPD thinks students are ill-equipped to make the life or death situations carrying a firearm bring about.
"While the bill is well-intentioned, it is ill-advised for students to be allowed to carry firearms on campus," the e-mail said. "Preparation for safe operation of firearms in an emergency situation requires extensive training that most students would not have had nor would the University be able to provide that training in a timely manner."
Phillip Martin, a junior majoring in business, said he wasn't surprised the bills were voted down and doesn't think the bills were a good idea, because they put a lot of responsibility into unprepared hands.
"[The bill] was just dumb," he said. "I'm all for the right to bear arms and I love to shoot [guns], but it's just dumb to allow them to be carried on campus. You're letting people make decisions that they don't need to be making."
Russell Howard, a senior majoring in political science, is a member of the NRA. However, he said he feels the bills were unsound.
He said campus security should be left in the hands of UAPD alone.
"When I'm on campus, I put my security in the hands of UAPD, not Billy down the street with a gun in his truck," Howard said. "There are some very stupid people in the world who can get a gun permit and carry [a gun]."
Though Erwin heard a lot of opposition outside the state Senate to his bill, he said he believed there was a lot of quiet support within the legislative walls in Montgomery.
"The university officials are going to fear massive lawsuits and liabilities," he said. "At the same time, there is the support of giving law abiding students the right to defend themselves. We're living in a brave new world that requires bold new laws."
Erwin said he thought the bill had a fifty-fifty chance of passing.
"Everybody down here in Montgomery is a father and grandfather and we don't want to see our kids the victim of a homicidal maniac," he said.
Staff reporter Dave Folk also contributed to this report.
Alabama Sen. Hank Erwin's solution to the problem was spelled out in a pair of bills he offered for consideration in the state legislative session starting Feb. 5, which called for state colleges and universities to allow professors and qualified students to carry concealed weapons.
"The college campus has always been considered to be a bubble of security where students can come and grow into adulthood," Erwin said. "But Virginia Tech smashed that to smithereens. I say it's time to let the law-abiding students defend themselves."
On March 26, Erwin's bills were put to rest when they were voted down by the Senate Education Committee.
Though some UA officials and students will be glad to see the bills go, there was some support of Erwin's bills on campus.
Chad Haynie, a sophomore majoring in political science, is the campus leader of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.
Haynie said students who own guns are allowed to carry them everywhere they go, except on campus.
"[Students] want their rights to extend onto campus, which is state and public property," he said.
What stops students from carrying a gun on campus is the UA Code of Student Conduct. According to the document, illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on University premises is prohibited.
Haynie said he believes the definition in the code of unauthorized possession is unclear and needs to be addressed by the University.
"What we're going to look into is whether they can legally do that, because they're sitting on the fence," Haynie said. "If the University does not clarify, we probably will look at our legal options to see if we can make the University make a stand."
On Feb. 28, the SGA unanimously passed a bill discouraging the passing of Erwin's bill.
"[The] student body supports [the] current safety procedures of the University, but we encourage research of other ways to keep us safe," said SGA Vice President Madeline Barter.
However, Barter said the bill is not to imply that the SGA is against guns on campus - it is only against Erwin's particular legislation, which the SGA found to be flawed.
Barter, on the other hand, said she is against students being allowed to carry on campus. She said she feels the pressures of college life, along with the emotional changes many college students are going through, do not make a good environment when guns are thrown in the mix.
"Guns in that atmosphere does not sound like a good idea," she said.
SGA President R.B. Walker said he believes the current security precautions on campus are suitable to handle an emergency situation should it occur.
"I appreciate Sen. Erwin's concern for student safety, but, as a student on this campus, I have enough faith in the [University of Alabama Police Department] and other forms of local law enforcement to protect students and I have faith in this administration to get students ready for the unthinkable," Walker said.
The bills didn't find support with University police either.
According to an e-mail from UA spokeswoman Cathy Andreen, the UAPD thinks students are ill-equipped to make the life or death situations carrying a firearm bring about.
"While the bill is well-intentioned, it is ill-advised for students to be allowed to carry firearms on campus," the e-mail said. "Preparation for safe operation of firearms in an emergency situation requires extensive training that most students would not have had nor would the University be able to provide that training in a timely manner."
Phillip Martin, a junior majoring in business, said he wasn't surprised the bills were voted down and doesn't think the bills were a good idea, because they put a lot of responsibility into unprepared hands.
"[The bill] was just dumb," he said. "I'm all for the right to bear arms and I love to shoot [guns], but it's just dumb to allow them to be carried on campus. You're letting people make decisions that they don't need to be making."
Russell Howard, a senior majoring in political science, is a member of the NRA. However, he said he feels the bills were unsound.
He said campus security should be left in the hands of UAPD alone.
"When I'm on campus, I put my security in the hands of UAPD, not Billy down the street with a gun in his truck," Howard said. "There are some very stupid people in the world who can get a gun permit and carry [a gun]."
Though Erwin heard a lot of opposition outside the state Senate to his bill, he said he believed there was a lot of quiet support within the legislative walls in Montgomery.
"The university officials are going to fear massive lawsuits and liabilities," he said. "At the same time, there is the support of giving law abiding students the right to defend themselves. We're living in a brave new world that requires bold new laws."
Erwin said he thought the bill had a fifty-fifty chance of passing.
"Everybody down here in Montgomery is a father and grandfather and we don't want to see our kids the victim of a homicidal maniac," he said.
Staff reporter Dave Folk also contributed to this report.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Lee McGee
posted 3/31/08 @ 8:34 AM CST
It would appear that your SGA President and Vice-President have little faith in the decision making capabilities of CWC Permit-carrying adult UA students, the AL legislature for passing shall-issue CWC legislation, the AL Governor for signing CWC legislation, nor the founding fathers for enumerating ". (Continued…)
Uncle Lar
posted 3/31/08 @ 8:41 AM CST
As a 1987 graduate of the UA system I can say that back then this wasn't an issue. I always had a firearm in my vehicle and might if I felt the need carry a handgun to an evening class. (Continued…)
Brian
posted 3/31/08 @ 11:52 AM CST
So the UAPD is against the right of students to defend themselves?
Remember: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
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