The Georgia House of Representatives delayed voting on a bill on Feb. 20 that would allow guns on college campuses, a measure that the University System of Georgia chancellor as well as Kennesaw State University’s president both oppose.
The controversial bill, House Bill 280, would allow anyone with a Georgia weapons permit to carry a concealed handgun on public university campuses. Weapons would be banned at athletic events, in dormitories, and in fraternity and sorority houses.
The bill is nearly identical to one vetoed by Gov. Nathan Deal in 2016, with the exception that it prohibits carrying a weapon in on-campus preschool facilities. This provision was added in response to the governor’s concerns about bringing guns to on-campus childcare facilities, according to 11 Alive.
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee in the House of Representatives heard arguments both for and against the bill on Feb. 20 from constituents and officials from some of the state’s 28 public universities. University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley was among those who testified in opposition to the bill.
“With respect to campus carry, we feel strongly that current law strikes the right balance to create a safe environment on our campuses,” Wrigley said. “This position is supported by our presidents and campus public safety departments, who are closest to the day-to-day realities and operations of the state’s public colleges and universities. We therefore respectfully oppose any change to current law.”
KSU President Sam Olens voiced his approval of Wrigley’s testimony in an email sent to students, faculty and staff on Feb. 21.
“I support Chancellor Wrigley in his advocacy for maintaining Georgia’s existing law as it relates to campus carry,” Olens said in the email.
In response to questions about safety on college campuses, Wrigley cited several changes within the last year, including an increase in officers and the adoption of campus-wide crime alert apps.
“This fiscal year we are increasing the number of police officers system-wide by 6 percent,” Wrigely said. “We now employ 818 full-time, POST-certified officers across the system.”
He also pointed that campus police officers are trained for active shooter situations and that the USG has established public safety committees.
The bill’s author, Rep. Mandi Ballinger, is a Republican representing the Canton area. She asked the committee to delay the vote and said that a revised version of the bill will be introduced Monday, Feb. 27, according to committee Chairman Rep. Alan Powell.
“I do want to thank some of the folks who made some very pertinent comments about the governor’s rationale as to why [the bill] was vetoed last year, and I think those issues are being addressed,” Powell said.
When the bill passed both chambers of the Georgia legislature last year, KSU’s president at the time, Daniel Papp, also opposed campus carry legislation.
As a KSU student, and as a proud American, I fully support campus carry.
As a KSU graduate I fully support HB 280. Also, this article is misleading, the bill already passed the House Public Safety and Homeland Committee and has now been sent to the House of Representatives for a final vote later this week.