U of U bans guns
There is currently not a gun policy at Utah State University, but the idea may be revisited now because of the recent ruling on the University of Utah’s gun policy.
U of U’s policy prohibits the students, faculty and staff on campus from carrying guns, even if they have a concealed weapons permit, according to a Deseret Morning News article. U of U President Bernie Machen said the policy is necessary for providing a safe learning environment.
Third District Court Judge Robert K. Hilder ruled in favor of U of U’s policy. He said state laws do not prohibit U of U from making regulations dealing with weapons on campus.
The ruling could eventually lead to USU re-evaluating whether or not they should have a gun policy. University Counsel Craig Simper said USU is watching the issue, but does not intend on making any decisions regarding a policy until court appeals are finished in the U of U case.
According to a Deseret Morning News article, USU President Kermit L. Hall said the university will re-examine its policy in light of the new development. He also commended U of U officials for sustaining the independence of academic institutions.
Craig Huntzinger, president of Students of the Second Amendment, said most members of his organization are against the
policy.
“It’s really an insult to students. Students here are adults,” he said.
Huntzinger said the guns are already on campus and they are not a problem. Most of the people carrying a gun are responsible individuals, he said.
Campuses are more dangerous without people having concealed weapons, Huntzinger said. Nobody is allowed to defend themselves if guns are not allowed on campus, he said.
“A more correct term for a gun free zone is ‘government guaranteed criminal safe zone,'” he said.
Huntzinger said he thinks Students of the Second Amendment will grow if any legislation does come about at USU.
Gabriel White, a senior in political science and the chairperson of the College Republicans, said he was disappointed with the ruling, but he doesn’t think the issue needs to be addressed at USU.
“You could wind up having a policy and having it stir up a bunch of opinions either way for nothing,” he said.
Sohrab Ahmari, organizer of the USU Socialists, said they feel gun safety is important, but fiscal responsibilities of USU are more important and pressing.
Michael Lyons, associate professor of political science and adviser of the College Democrats, said the club has not discussed having a gun policy and does not have an official stand on the issue.
Lyons said he personally thinks not having a policy is a good idea. He said whether or not a campus wants to allow guns, the campus needs to keep a good relationship with the legislature.
“It’s not wise politically to confront the state legislature needlessly,” he said. “If it’s not an issue, why make it an issue?”
Lyons said he feels evidence supporting guns is not very solid, when looking at it as a social scientist, because it can usually be explained away. He said the same thing is true for the other side of the issue.
“Speaking as a social scientist who is trained to look at data and facts, I don’t find anything [to support either side],” he said.
Lyons said oftentimes the second
amendment is misinterpreted. He said the amendment does not actually apply to individuals and their concealed weapons.
Medlir Mema, a senior in political science and the president of the College Democrats, said he thinks what USU is doing right now is just fine.
“You don’t have to change the things that work,” he said.
Mema said he felt the biggest issue is when people’s rights stated in the second amendment start infringing on the rights of others. In a democracy people are given rights, but there are responsibilities attached to those rights, he said.
Mema said the U of U policy will cause more people to look at gun issues and start analyzing them.
“It will definitely stir a debate,” he said.
Mema said he thinks the discussion is a good thing as long as all sides of the issue are heard.
– krasmus@cc.usu.edu