House Lawmakers Vote to End Gun Restrictions on College Campuses, with Strings Attached
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: February 15, 2013
College campuses are one place in Arkansas where you are forbidden to take a gun, but that could change soon.
Lawmakers in the house on Friday voted to end restricting guns on college campuses, but not without some strings attached.
The bill allows faculty and staff with conceal carry permits to bring their guns into the classroom, but it also allows public and private universities to "opt-out" by holding a vote every year.
That made it easier to pass, but some still weren't happy with the annual vote requirement.
"I know for a lot of reasons many of you can not or do not feel comfortable with a 'no' vote on any sort of gun legislation," Rep. David Whitaker (D) Fayetteville said. "So what I'll ask you to do on this bad little law is take a walk on this one. Get a cup of coffee, start your weekend early."
Rep. John Burris (R) of Harrison said, "I would encourage you to support the bill and I would encourage you to vote, because as Representative Leding pointed out, we're elected to come here and make decisions."
And 81 representatives made that decision.
With 70 'yes' votes, guns on college campuses moves to the senate next week.
Lawmakers in the house on Friday voted to end restricting guns on college campuses, but not without some strings attached.
The bill allows faculty and staff with conceal carry permits to bring their guns into the classroom, but it also allows public and private universities to "opt-out" by holding a vote every year.
That made it easier to pass, but some still weren't happy with the annual vote requirement.
"I know for a lot of reasons many of you can not or do not feel comfortable with a 'no' vote on any sort of gun legislation," Rep. David Whitaker (D) Fayetteville said. "So what I'll ask you to do on this bad little law is take a walk on this one. Get a cup of coffee, start your weekend early."
Rep. John Burris (R) of Harrison said, "I would encourage you to support the bill and I would encourage you to vote, because as Representative Leding pointed out, we're elected to come here and make decisions."
And 81 representatives made that decision.
With 70 'yes' votes, guns on college campuses moves to the senate next week.
Comments
Perhaps some in the Senate will remember thier college days as I do...the faculty and staff are the LAST people who should have had guns in my day (prehistoric...we did math on the cave walls)...just sayin'.
Peter D.
February 15, 2013 at 6:39 pm
