By Clark Corbin
Idaho Falls Post Register
BOISE — The Idaho House approved a bill Wednesday that would allow people to carry guns on college campuses despite concerns from university and state officials.
House members voted 41-28 to send House Bill 222 to the Senate.
The bill would prevent university officials from regulating guns in most campus settings, except undergraduate dormitories.
Rep. Erik Simpson of Idaho Falls, who sponsored the bill, said it’s intended to make universities safer and support the constitutional right to bear arms.
“It’s a basic right to be able to protect yourself from those who intend to do you harm,” Simpson said. “Those rights are being denied by colleges and universities who have created a false sense of security … by instituting bans on firearms.”
State college and university representatives spoke against that bill during a committee hearing earlier this month. Last week, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to oppose the proposal.
State board spokesman Mark Browning said increasing the number of guns on campus won’t create a safer environment for students, professors and visitors. The state’s colleges have excellent safety records, he said, and, as a result, there’s no need to change the rules regarding guns.
“We’re trying to legislate a problem that doesn’t exist,” Browning said. “We typically whine and moan when (federal lawmakers from) Washington come in and tell us what to do. So why is the state now trying to tell us what to do when we have policies in place that are already working?”
Idaho colleges and universities do not allow guns on campus, Browning said.
The bill would not apply to private institutions such as Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg.
If the bill is enacted, people would be able to carry guns in classrooms and elsewhere on campus, including at university sporting events.
Idaho State University junior Will Empey said he supports the bill.
Empey said students or professors who have completed training and obtained a concealed-weapons permit could help defuse a potential emergency or threat if police could not arrive in time.
“If something were to occur, although very unlikely, a student carrying a gun could end a situation before it gets to a traumatic point,” he said.
Kayla Snyder, a Boise State University freshman from Idaho Falls, said she would feel less safe at school if the guns bill passes. She’s worried about increasing the number of guns that could be accessed by students who are intoxicated and may not be in a position to make safe decisions.
“Why are we trying to add guns to a college campus, where there are already drug and alcohol influences?” Snyder said.
While Empey supports letting responsible people carry guns on his campus, he said he feels safe while at school.
“I still feel very safe,” said Empey, who takes most of his classes at University Place in Idaho Falls. “I know (police and campus security) have planned for this and train for this.”
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