Rep. to propose gun carry bill

If Stacey Campfield has his way, UT faculty and staff could carry firearms on campus this summer.

The Tennessee state representative is proposing a bill allowing full-time faculty and staff to carry handguns at all times on college campuses. According to Campfield, the bill would allow licensed concealed weapon holders to carry their weapons as self-protection on campus. However, those who wish to carry weapons must complete annual firearm training and be a full-time employee of the university.

Campfield said recent shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University happened because the campuses were “kill easy zones.”

“They don’t stop the killer from carrying a gun,” Campfield said. “Basically, this creates a bunch of victims who are shot like fish in a barrel.”

Keith Lambert, special operations captain for the UT Police Department, said the UTPD is opposed to any bill that would allow civilians to carry firearms on campus.

“Obviously if there’s a change in the law, we’ll abide by it,” he said. “But there is definitely some potential for serious consequences.”

Campfield disagreed, saying concealed weapons permit-holders end up saving more lives than are lost.

“Actually, if you look at the statistics, everywhere guns are allowed, the violent crime has dropped dramatically,” Campfield said.

Lambert said, instead of resorting to carrying firearms, faculty and students can familiarize themselves with an evacuation route in campus buildings.

“There are so many potential problems with having staff or students carrying guns on campus,” he said.

Suzanne Devan, sophomore in studio art, doesn’t think faculty should be allowed to carry concealed weapons. She said guns would make the campus less safe.

“It seems that some people may feel like carrying a gun on campus may make them more secure, especially with the increase in crime on college campuses lately,” she said. “But actually carrying a gun would make them more unsafe because the gun could be used against them.”

Kevin Kaspar, sophomore in finance, said he had no problem with faculty carrying weapons on campus.

“I would say I’d be fine with that in light of recent events,” he said.

Lambert said, although there are many views on the subject, the law currently says only a police officer can carry a gun on campus.

“Until there’s a change, we’ll continue to enforce that. There are no exceptions,” he said.

Campfield said people have a constitutional right to carry firearms as a self-protection. He said he “truly believes” the bill will protect students.

“I’m not saying this will be a cure-all,” he said. “What this will hopefully do is mitigate the damages and possibly make these crazies think twice before going on a shooting spree. I just hope my bill is a small step in the direction of allowing people to reasonably protect themselves.”

According to Campfield, the bill will be proposed to the state senate within the next week or so. A copy of the bill can be found on the legislature’s Web site: www.legislature.state.tn.us.