Idaho University Law Opens Second Amendment Debate
By Harrison Golden
USA Today College
March 20, 2014
Alongside laptops, notebooks and reading materials, students at Idaho’s public universities can soon carry concealed firearms around campus.
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter signed legislation last Wednesday that lets permit-holding gun owners carry their weapons on public university campuses. The law, which exempts dormitories and facilities of over 1,000 people, will take effect July 1.
Supporters have touted the bill, claiming it would further protection in the event of a shooting.
“As elected officials, we have a sworn responsibility to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States — not only when doing so is easy, convenient or without cost, but especially when it is not,” Otter wrote in a statement Wednesday. “We all will be watching closely to ensure the interests of Idaho citizens are served while their constitutional freedoms are protected.”
But the law has won little interest across state campuses.
All eight of the state’s public university presidents — along with student and faculty senates — have fought the bill, arguing that it will threaten public safety, chase prospective students and undermine the universities’ longstanding concealed-carry laws.
“Who does this legislature represent?” Megan Greco, vice president of the Student Association of the College of Western Idaho, asks The [Spokane] Spokesman-Review. “The answer is clear: Lobbyists, and apparently, themselves.”
Many supporters of the law hold prominent government roles, with aims to retain their grip. The National Rifle Association, which drafted the law and presented it to the Idaho Senate, remains one of the state’s most powerful interest groups.
Otter’s support for the legislation will likely boost his chances of winning the May 20 gubernatorial primary, against staunch conservative Sen. Russ Fulcher.
Out of the state’s 70 representatives, 50 voted in support of the bill. At a legislative hearing for the bill last month, those against it — including Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson — were silenced.
“From reading the polls it looks like overwhelmingly people are against guns on campus,” Masterson said last week. “But the governor and his Legislature want to see it a law, so we will just start preparing for how we will respond to complaints of people carrying weapons on campus.”
Those opposing the law still intend to gain publicity.
Boise State University professor Greg Hampikian, whose satirical letter “When May I Shoot a Student?” appeared in The New York Times, went on NBC’s Today Show last Thursday to reiterate his concerns.
“I am sure that it has not escaped your attention that the library would make an excellent shooting range, and the bookstore could do with fewer books and more ammo choices,” writes Hampikian, who teaches forensic medicine and criminal justice. “I hope [Legislators] will consider my amendment for bulletproof office windows and faculty body armor in Boise State blue and orange.”
University administrators are seeking loopholes that would let them enforce current concealed-carry limits. The legislation does not specify the disciplinary actions taken if a public college were to continue gun bans. For now, the state can only punish violating schools through funding restraints.
“I understand the anxiety and concern many of you feel over this bill,” College of Southern Idaho President Jeff Fox wrote to faculty Thursday. “We are trying to craft policies in response to the public school issue.”
Idaho will be the seventh state to allow non-police weapons on public university campuses. The legislation follows last Thursday’s passage of an Indiana law that lets drivers parked in high school lots store guns in their cars.
(This article first appeared on USA Today College. Click here to read the original post.)
By Harrison Golden
USA Today College
March 20, 2014
Alongside laptops, notebooks and reading materials, students at Idaho’s public universities can soon carry concealed firearms around campus.
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter signed legislation last Wednesday that lets permit-holding gun owners carry their weapons on public university campuses. The law, which exempts dormitories and facilities of over 1,000 people, will take effect July 1.
Supporters have touted the bill, claiming it would further protection in the event of a shooting.
“As elected officials, we have a sworn responsibility to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States — not only when doing so is easy, convenient or without cost, but especially when it is not,” Otter wrote in a statement Wednesday. “We all will be watching closely to ensure the interests of Idaho citizens are served while their constitutional freedoms are protected.”
But the law has won little interest across state campuses.
All eight of the state’s public university presidents — along with student and faculty senates — have fought the bill, arguing that it will threaten public safety, chase prospective students and undermine the universities’ longstanding concealed-carry laws.
“Who does this legislature represent?” Megan Greco, vice president of the Student Association of the College of Western Idaho, asks The [Spokane] Spokesman-Review. “The answer is clear: Lobbyists, and apparently, themselves.”
Many supporters of the law hold prominent government roles, with aims to retain their grip. The National Rifle Association, which drafted the law and presented it to the Idaho Senate, remains one of the state’s most powerful interest groups.
Otter’s support for the legislation will likely boost his chances of winning the May 20 gubernatorial primary, against staunch conservative Sen. Russ Fulcher.
Out of the state’s 70 representatives, 50 voted in support of the bill. At a legislative hearing for the bill last month, those against it — including Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson — were silenced.
“From reading the polls it looks like overwhelmingly people are against guns on campus,” Masterson said last week. “But the governor and his Legislature want to see it a law, so we will just start preparing for how we will respond to complaints of people carrying weapons on campus.”
Those opposing the law still intend to gain publicity.
Boise State University professor Greg Hampikian, whose satirical letter “When May I Shoot a Student?” appeared in The New York Times, went on NBC’s Today Show last Thursday to reiterate his concerns.
“I am sure that it has not escaped your attention that the library would make an excellent shooting range, and the bookstore could do with fewer books and more ammo choices,” writes Hampikian, who teaches forensic medicine and criminal justice. “I hope [Legislators] will consider my amendment for bulletproof office windows and faculty body armor in Boise State blue and orange.”
University administrators are seeking loopholes that would let them enforce current concealed-carry limits. The legislation does not specify the disciplinary actions taken if a public college were to continue gun bans. For now, the state can only punish violating schools through funding restraints.
“I understand the anxiety and concern many of you feel over this bill,” College of Southern Idaho President Jeff Fox wrote to faculty Thursday. “We are trying to craft policies in response to the public school issue.”
Idaho will be the seventh state to allow non-police weapons on public university campuses. The legislation follows last Thursday’s passage of an Indiana law that lets drivers parked in high school lots store guns in their cars.
(This article first appeared on USA Today College. Click here to read the original post.)