Free Republic

SAF, SCCC Hosting ‘Supporting Campus Concealed Carry Forum August 8th 2011 BELLEVUE, WA --(Ammoland.com)- The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), in cooperation with Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), is hosting a forum “Supporting Concealed Carry on Campus” on Monday, August 8th at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Noon to 5 p.m. The forum is free and open to the public. This event will feature a Gun Free Zones debate between Colin Goddard of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and John Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime. An academic panel that includes Prof. Nelson Lund...

Military.com is reporting that Ensign Sean Barner, from Stone Mountain, Ga., was recently awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his actions on May 3, 2009. Barner protected at least ten lives when he intervened and stopped two armed assailants during an attempted robbery and then provided immediate medical assistance by applying tourniquets to one of the gun shot wounded victims. The incident made national headlines, and sparked calls for legalizing concealed carry on college campuses. A BuckeyeFirearms.org article about Barner's actions, and lamenting the fact that Ohio's college students are not allowed to exercise their Second Amendment rights,...

We’ve talked here before about the “guns on campus” issue. Adults in the higher education environment do so (or want to) primarily for two reasons: a hedge against “school shooting” horrors, and for routine protection against muggers, rapists, etc. who consider “gun free zones” to be safe game preserves in which to hunt human victims. Here, however, is a third good reason. It comes verbatim from one of my graduates, who spends his days at a major institution of higher education as a grad student and researcher, in a letter he sent to a state senator: “I am a graduate...

As college students across the country prepare to convene in the nation’s capitol to discuss college gun bans on August 8th, two more states have expanded the right to carry concealed weapons on campus. Wisconsin became the 49th state to decriminalize bearing arms for defense when Governor Scott Walker signed SB 93 into law on July 8. The law, which goes into effect in November, removes the state prohibition on concealed carry, limiting possession of firearms on K-12 institutions but excluding college campuses. “Carrying a concealed weapon for protection is no longer a criminal offense in Wisconsin,” said David Burnett,...

They always seem to ask, “If you think guns should be allowed on college campuses, do you think concealed carry should be allowed on planes, as well? Where does it end?” Those who advocate for gun rights on college campuses beg the same question, “Where does it end?” Where do restrictions on our basic freedoms end? Where does nanny state regulation and oversight end? Where does stripping the Constitution of its authenticity and integrity end? The argument for concealed carry on campus is not an argument for permitting guns on planes, in bars, or anywhere else. It is an argument...

“Legislation allowing concealed weapons on public university campuses thankfully was shot down again this week,” an editorial in TheNewsStar.com pronounces. The editors are expressing gratitude for the failure of House Bill 413 by Rep. Ernest Wooton to make it out of the Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice after the panel voted 8 – 3 on Wednesday to kill the bill. In other words, they are grateful the political overclass has told them and everyone else "No, you may not have a choice in matters pertaining to defending your own lives--we will mandate those decisions for you." “No college...

2theadvocate > Blogs > Louisiana Politics Guns on campus bill killed in committee Posted by Jordan Blum | Capitol News Bureau | on June 1, 2011 | 3:00 p.m. UPDATED 7:32 p.m. Travis Spradling/The Advocate State Rep. Ernest Wooton, No Party-Belle Chasse, testifies Wednesday for a bill that would permit allowing concealed handgun permit owners to carry concealed handguns on college campuses. The bill failed in the House committee Wooton chairs. Legislation that would have allowed handguns on college campuses died quickly Wednesday in a Louisiana House committee without any public testimony allowed because of a time crunch. House Bill...

CARSON CITY — Of all the problems facing the beleaguered Nevada System of Higher Education, which one seems so urgent that the Legislature would take it up? Perhaps it’s how to deal with deep budget cuts, which will be at least $200 million when you count the loss of federal stimulus money? Or access for underprivileged students? Or graduation rates? Or the division of resources between UNR and UNLV? Well, if you guessed any of those, you’d be wrong. The real pressing issue? We’ve got to make it easier for people to carry concealed firearms on campus. Hell yeah! Now,...

The Nevada Senate has voted 15-6 to allow anyone who has a permit to carry concealed weapons to bring them on college campuses.

Supporters refute notion that concealed carry laws lead to higher gun violence BATON ROUGE, La. – In a legislative session filled with bills to heavily alter Louisiana’s higher education system, students of public universities and colleges may soon experience one more adjustment: concealed weapons on campus. HB 413, sponsored by Representative Ernest Wooton (I – Belle Chase), would allow licensed individuals to bring concealed firearms onto campuses of public universities, colleges, and post-secondary vocational schools. The bill was introduced to the House on April 25. The state’s 36,000 concealed handgun permit holders would have the same self-defense rights they possess...

Do you like this Article? “Campus carry passes Texas Senate,” attorney David Kopel reports at The Volokh Conspiracy.* Campus carry already passed the House as a stand-alone bill, so it seems likely that the House will concur with the Senate amendment. Texas Governor Rick Perry has repeatedly indicated his support for the measure. Jack Burch, CEO of Hill Country Shooting Sports Center and a politically involved right to keep and bear arms activist, offered a look at the political process via an email to Gun Rights Examiner: Today the second amendment was dealt a good hand. During a series of...

AUSTIN, Texas — AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas senators have voted to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons into public college classrooms.

Tennessee state Sen. Stacey Campfield has introduced legislation this year that would allow any full-time faculty member or staffer at a public university to have a concealed weapon on campus if they have a handgun-carry permit. Campfield, a Republican whose district includes the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, said he received a letter from a UT student with concerns about a troubled student in her class, according to a report in The Commercial Appeal. Gun violence on college campuses in recent years also factored into Campfield’s decision. He said he introduced the legislation as a “constitutionalist.” “Colleges are great about defending the...

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Texas College Republicans (TCR) call for Senator Steve Ogden (R- Bryan) to vote for SB 354 to be heard on the Senate floor, reversing his current position. TCR has been closely following this campus safety bill, which allows concealed carry on campus, and have declared it their top legislative priority for this session. The Texas Senate requires a two-thirds majority, or 21 votes, before a bill can be heard on the Senate Floor. Currently, 18 Republicans and two Democrats have promised to vote to hear the bill—one more vote is needed. Ogden is the only Republican Senator...

SB 1467, the AzCDL-requested Campus Carry bill, was vetoed by Governor Brewer on April 18, 2011. SB 1467 would simply have prevented the governing boards of colleges and universities from prohibiting the “lawful possession or carrying of a weapon on a public right-of-way.” That covers streets, sidewalks, etc. open to public use. Her press conference cited concerns about the lack of a definition of a “public right of way” that sounded suspiciously similar to the complaints of the anti-rights forces that have been bombarding the governor and urging her to veto the bill. Apparently, the fact that the term “public...

The week-long observance of "Second Amendment Week" at Oregon State University culminates today with a drawing for an AR-15 rifle and accessories. The annual observance is hosted by the College Republicans of OSU. The winner of the rifle will have to pass a background check, be at least 18 years old, have no felony convictions, be a legal resident of the State of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or Nevada or must prove residency within 90 days. The College Republicans will have a booth set up on the quad outside the Memorial Union, under a tent. Interested, eligible persons can stop by...

Students and teachers toting guns around campus could be a reality in the not too distant future. SB 1467 would allow guns to be carried on public right-of-ways, such as campus sidewalks. The bill originally allowed guns to be brought into the classrooms. That provision has been cut. "Every legislative session there are bills introduced to weaken Arizona gun laws … It is time that the public stands up and says no more, that we want Arizona's approach to be rational. That we want to be able to make sure our facilities are safe and allowing weapons in many of...

A measure to allow faculty and staff to carry handguns on the campuses of Tennessee's public colleges and universities cleared its first legislative committee on Wednesday.

It seems that this year more than ever, increasing numbers of state legislatures are considering expanding concealed carry rights. As firearms are a hot-button issue, the print medium in particular has noticeably increased its coverage. One tactic the media love to employ is to interview and quote individuals on both sides of the issue, and when it comes to firearms, more opponents tend to be interviewed. But this is really a blessing in disguise as it offers proponents like ourselves a glimpse into the mind of the other side. In a recent Oxford Press article regarding concealed handguns on college...

A Senate bill that would allow concealed guns on college campuses is one vote shy of the 21 yeas needed for passage, after two Democrats — state Sens. Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) and Eddie Lucio (D-Brownville) — pulled their support over concerns from police and colleges in their districts. Following Senate adjournment this afternoon, Gallegos said he polled professors and students at the University of Houston Downtown and Central campuses as well as Houston Community College and found an “overwhelming majority” of students opposed the measure. Gallegos also said he took into account the objection by university chancellors. State Sen. Jeff...