By Marc Schollett
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 12:43 p.m.
Read more: Local, State, Concealed Weapons, Campus, Guns, Marc, Schollett, Fact Finder, Schmidt, Firearms, Northwestern Michigan College, U of m, Ann Arbor, School, Violence, Guns on Campus, Fact Finder
If you read the signs, it's pretty obvious; there are some things you just can't do in some places at Northwestern Michigan College like smoking and skate boarding. But there won't be a sign prohibiting carry a concealed weapon on parts of campus if Michigan House Bill 5474 becomes law.
The bill has been introduced by State Representative Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) who explains, "The purpose of this law is 2 fold. One is to make sure that at all of our colleges and universities, public institutions, you have the same set of laws and regulations concerning concealed weapons and firearms. Two, it really puts it back to the state legislature that the state legislature should determine where you can and can not carry, not individual universities and colleges."
If House Bill 5474 becomes law a few things on all public colleges and universities will change when it comes to firearms but some things will stay the same. Representative Schmidt wanted to set the record straight after what he described as erroneous reports. He explains "The bill that I have introduced does not allow concealed weapons in classrooms. It does not allow concealed weapons in sports arenas, stadiums. It does not allow weapons in dormitories. None of that will change. None of the exempted zones, hospitals, courtrooms, police stations, none of that will change."
So what would change if Representative Schmidt's House Bill 5747 becomes law? Right now, public institutions of higher learning can set their own policies regarding carrying a concealed weapon and that means different rules for different campuses. The Michigan State University Police Force pointed it out to lawmakers, and Representative Schmidt says the entire situation can be hard to keep track of. As he explains, "that's the gray area right now we see that University of Michigan for example does not allow any firearm on its campuses. Michigan State University does allow firearms on concealed weapons in their parking lots and of the areas. So if you go to a game at Michigan or Michigan State , you are a concealed weapon license holder, you have been through all the course, you have all the proper licensing and training you know you are going to the stadium at Michigan State University, you know you can lock it in your trunk, secure it. At The University of Michigan you could be parking at the University parking deck or right next door at the Ann Arbor City deck, one, your in violation of their ordinances and could go to jail, the other you are not."
So, House Bill 5474's goal according to Schmidt is to clear up that confusion. His bill does not actually establish carry and non carry zones. Instead according to Representative Schmidt "it levels the playing field and it makes it clear where law abiding citizens know where and where not to carry."
So how would it do that? How would the passage of this bill into law make one statewide standard in terms of campus standards for carrying a concealed weapon? By taking the authority to make such policies away from individual institutions, and handing them over to the state legislature. Schmidt says "we don't allow cities or townships or other local units of government to do this, why should universities and colleges be above state law. We as the state representing the people of the state are best positioned to say where and where not you should be able to carry that's the issue."
As you might imagine, reaction to the bill has been swift, but Schmidt says, not entirely based on fact. "I am surprised…. we have had some good reaction and some bad reaction. What I have seen out there, are the press releases from the anti gun groups that are factually incorrect. The difficulty is that there are a lot of gun bills out there, and nobody takes the time to read them. This is I understand an emotional issue. I had a cousin who was at Virginia Tech during the massacre. The difficulty with that argument is that was a gun free zone and we still had the problem what I am addressing is for law abiding citizens to make sure they don't become criminal."
But colleges like NMC which has a no weapons on campus policy, say protecting gun owner's rights costs. They fear it's their students who would pay the price. Here is what Tim Nelson; the president of NMC had to say in an email response to me:
"NMC has a primary responsibility to provide a safe and secure learning environment. To aid in carrying out that responsibility, we have a "no weapons on campus" policy. While I understand Representative Schmidt's position, NMC believes it is important for us to retain the ability to develop and enforce policies that govern behavior on campus. We and the Michigan Community College Association are on record as being opposed to House Bill 5474. In addition, we are opposed to Senate Bill 0749 which would allow concealed weapons in classrooms and dormitories. We do not believe these bills will add to the safety or security of our learning environment and in fact could do just the opposite. "
So what do you think? Should gun owners who have been licensed to carry a concealed weapon be allowed to carry their firearms on campus? Should individual colleges and universities be allowed to determine their own rules and regulations?
Let me know. Please leave a comment below.
