Both undergraduate and graduate student governments are partnering to present an open forum addressing proposed gun legislation at the Old Main Fountain on Wednesday.
The forum dubbed “”Learn Without Concern: Public Non-Partisan Forum on Concealed Weapons on Campus,”” will be held from noon until 1 p.m. The forum seeks to provide an open and non-partisan environment for proponents and opponents of the legislation to voice their opinions to student government officials.
An on-campus group, Students Against Guns in Education, helped motivate the creation of the forum, according to Emily Connally, the president of the Graduate and Professional Student Council. Connally will be moderating the forum.
Speakers at the event will include Associated Students of the University of Arizona President Emily Fritze, Provost Meredith Hay, UA head softball coach Mike Candrea, Anthony Daykin, the chief of the University of Arizona Police Department and Lynn Nadel, a regents professor in the of psychology department.
There are several bills in the state Legislature that would allow concealed carry of firearms on college and university campuses. UA President Robert Shelton responded to one of these, Senate Bill 1467, in a statement released on Feb. 28.
“”The University of Arizona is unambiguously opposed to having guns on campus,”” Shelton wrote. “”The notion that having faculty, staff or students toting weapons across campus would somehow make everyone safer is staggeringly naive.””
The UA Faculty Senate and UAPD have also spoken out against the bill, which proponents say will make campuses safer.
The forum will also include open calls to the audience and all students and faculty are encouraged to attend.
Proposed gun legislation in Arizona
Senate Bill 1467: Prohibits the governing board of an educational institution from adopting or enforcing any policy or rule prohibiting the possession of a concealed weapon, if that person has a proper permit.
Senate Bill 1201: Firearms omnibus bill, places additional criteria on when and where guns cannot be carried in public buildings.
House Bill 2001: Would allow faculty members to carry concealed weapons on community college and university campuses, provided they have a valid permit.
House Bill 2014: Forbids the governing body or administration of a community college or university from enforcing or adopting policies that limit possession of a concealed weapon on campuses.
House Bill 2479: Would enforce the same provisions as in House Bill 2014.
If you go
What: “”Learn Without Concern”” gun legislation forum
Where: Old Main Fountain
When: Wednesday, noon-1 p.m.
For more information on the forum, visit:
www.gpsc.arizona.edu/learn-without-concern or contact GPSC President Emily Connally at gpsc@email.arizona.edu.
