imported post
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=11215324
Sep 28, 2009 11:03 PM MS[/i]
By Mark Stine -
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Tucson, AZ (KOLD) - "What good is a gun in a car? You're never going to bring it on campus to use it, so you might as well leave it at home," U of A sophomore Monterris Goshay said.
Students at the University of Arizona sound off on the new law allowing concealed weapons permit holders to bring their gun to campus with them.
"It's a little alarming seeing as how many school shootings have gone on in the past, not even five years," Charlie Lotzar told KOLD.
The guns won't be headed to class, they must stay inside a locked vehicle or in a locked case on a motorcycle.
University of Arizona campus police are aware of the changes and say they don't expect any problems.
Sergeant Juan Alvarez explained, "We're just going to be cognizant that they are allowed to bring weapons on campus, but its really not going to change the day to day operations on how we do things."
Jim Stover's the Director of Education at the Marksman Pistol Institute in Tucson. He says this new law is simply a convenience for concealed weapons permit holders.
"Allowing them to carry to the area, lock it up in the vehicle or if they're riding a motorcycle, in a lockable case on the motorcycle, go out do what they're doing and then be able to safely drive home," Stover said.
Stover adds, the concealed weapons permit holders got finger printed and a background checks when they applied for their permits. They also went through training in a classroom and on the range.
"I think that will extend and help us do our job in keeping everyone safe," Sgt. Alvarez said.
But no matter what training the permit holders go through, the University of Arizona still doesn't like the idea of guns on campus. They're just seven years removed from the U of A College of Nursing shooting, where three nursing professors were killed by a disgruntled student.
"We don't see any real redeeming qualities in allowing guns to come closer to our buildings, our faculty, our staff, but it's the state law now," UA spokesman Paul Allvin explained.
It's a law, Paul Allvin says, the University would like to see change soon. "I think there's a real enthusiasm to see about getting an exception for educational institutions written into the law in the near future."
Mine was one of only two responses:
The entire story is misleading. Bearing arms in Arizona is a 'Right' as enumerated in Sec 2 Art 26 of the AZ Constitution. Such arms may be born openly by anyone 18 years or older not otherwise prohibited (18 USC Gun Control Act of 1969) within the state of Arizona. Concealed carry was not even an option until 1994.
Concealed carry requires a state issued Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) and the bearer must be 21 years of age and not otherwise prohibited. The story, as written gives the impresion that only CWP holders may keep firearms in their motor vehicles. Not so. 'Anyone' may keep loaded firearms in their vehicles or wear them holstered on their person openly. The CWP 'permit' is to carry concealed... NOT to carry. Anyone may bear arms openly in Arizona.
Note the ignorance of the student comments. Critical thinking is NOT one of their strong suites. If you're gonna leave your gun in your vehicle... Itdoesn't matter (legally) if you have a CWP or not. I watched this on the news (ha) last night 'n apparently none of these Tucson news weenies have a clue either.