SELF-DEFENSE IN COLLEGE

Bill Would Allow Students,
Faculty to Carry Guns
Tuesday, 28 Dec 2010 09:38 AM


By John Lott

It looks like Texas, Florida, and possibly Idaho
have good chances of passing concealed carry
on campus this coming year. There is apparently
also some support in Arizona.

This article reports that Sen. Jack Harper is
crafting legislation that would permit students
and faculties to arm themselves:

Saying everyone but criminals will be safer,
a veteran legislator wants to let qualified faculty
carry guns on university and community college campuses.

Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, said Wednesday
there has been a history of situations where someone
with a grudge comes onto a campus, goes into a
classroom and starts shooting. He said the current
prohibition against weapons on campus — one
which the criminal has ignored — leaves the
teacher and student defenseless . . .

He is crafting a separate measure to allow
students with certain training to also arm themselves.
Not everyone would be eligible. Harper's legislation
would limit the right to those who have obtained a
state-issued license to carry a concealed weapon.

That license, which requires a background check
and training, is no longer required for individuals
to have weapons beneath a jacket or in a purse . . .

Harper's bill on faculty, HB 2001, and his yet-to-
be-filed measure on students would add to that list.

Similar measures have been attempted in the past,
including one by Harper himself this past session.
All have stalled among stiff opposition from the
police chiefs at state universities.

Harper said he expects a different outcome this
coming year for two political reasons.

"A couple of ‘country club Republicans' who were
opposed . . . will not return," he said. The 2010
election swept some of the more moderate
Republicans out of office . . .