One piece of legislation coming from members of the Georgia House of Representatives could have bearing on students’ right to bear arms.
State Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica), has been working on a piece of legislation that could affect students’ ability to carry a concealed weapon on campus.
If passed, House Bill 615 would legalize the carrying of concealed weapons in all areas of the state – including college campuses – with the exception of courtrooms, jails and prisons.
“It’s not like we want it to be like the Old West, with everyone wearing guns on their hips,” said bill sponsor Bobby Reese (R-Sugar Hill). “But the Second Amendment strictly speaks to the rights of individuals to protect themselves.”
After the bill was introduced to the Georgia General Assembly last March, it never came to a vote. However, Bearden said it will receive another chance in January’s congressional session.
Though the bill has yet to receive the support needed to be passed, supporters say it’s a matter of common sense.
“You can write all the laws you want, but the bad guys are going to carry guns,” Reese said. “Washington, D.C., banned all handguns, and then the crime rate quadrupled. Law-abiding citizens just must be able to defend themselves.”
University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said legality doesn’t seem to be a concern for people carrying guns.
“Right now we come in contact with people with weapons,” he said. “And I think those people would have them no matter what.”
Opponents of the bill argue that allowing guns on campus would lead to an increase in crime.
“Gun rights are something that keeps coming up,” said Bobby Andres, president of Young Democrats. “And it’s not just on college campuses. It’s everywhere. But I remain adamantly opposed. It sounds great in theory, but logistics don’t lie. Studies have shown a household with a gun is statistically more likely to have a gun-related injury. And on a college campus, when students are super stressed during finals, it would worry me to have guns around.”
Though debate continues, Williamson said he must remain objective.
“As police chief, I don’t take a position on what the law should be,” he said. “I just enforce whatever laws the legislatures pass.”
But he said the new law could cause some unique challenges on a college campus, especially when determining who the “bad guy” is when police arrive at the scene.
“I would also be concerned with this environment where young adults like to participate in alcohol and illegal drugs,” Williamson said. “Accidental shootings could happen. But I just really don’t think there’s any black or white on this issue. It’s gray all the way around.”