Colonnade

Americans interpret the Second Amendment in several different ways. Some prefer the strict interpretation, which implies that citizens only have the right to arm and maintain a militia. Some others extend the interpretation to provide access and ownership of firearms with a few limitations. Still, others believe Americans have a Constitutional right to own and carry firearms as they please.

Senators in the Student Government Association are having their own discussion about the right to bear arms. The argument is between those who believe people who have licenses for concealed weapons should be able to carry arms on campus and those who disagree. SGA hopes to reach a census and gather opinions from both for and against the issue to recommend to the Georgia Legislature.

The debate was sparked by Georgia House Bill 89, which regards carrying concealed arms in extended public places but does not yet extend to college campuses. The council is still considering adding a provision allowing those licensed individuals to carry concealed arms on campuses.

"I did not hear any discussion on this topic until after the events at Virginia Tech," said Casey Sullivan, a senior Senator in SGA.

Indeed, gun lobbies pushed for change in gun reform laws mere days after 33 died and 23 were injured on the Virginia Tech campus, inspiring the other currently discussed national reforms.

Proponents for extending the bill to college campuses argue that a student who is already qualified to carry a concealed firearm can be trusted to use their weapons for safety and protection in an event such as what took place at Virginia Tech. Others believe that if students were allowed to carry concealed arms at Virginia Tech, they might have been able to shoot the killer.

"The fact is," as SGA Attorney General Michael George said, "none of the shooters involved with the Virginia Tech or Columbine shootings had a concealed gun permit."

If killers can obtain illegal weapons and become a danger to society, this side of the argument would claim, then the law-abiding citizens should be allowed to protect themselves.

Georgia law currently allows concealed gun permits to individuals age 21 or older with a clean judicial record, deemed mentally fit, and who obtain a judge's approval to carry the firearm.

However, the opposition would claim that carrying weapons would do nothing to promote a positive college environment.

"Having guns on campus creates an atmosphere of fear," said Sullivan.

Indeed, the concealed weapon must not be completely hidden by clothing or other methods, according to Georgia law, but instead only be contained in some sort of holster.

"Milledgeville is bored and prepared to deal with problems dealing with violence," Senator Will Dardon said.

If Public Safety, or the Milledgeville Police, cannot handle a violent situation, how should a common college student react?

Many Georgia SGA presidents did not like the idea of allowing the weapons on campus. SGA President Ryan Greene remembers from the convention he attended last month.

"There were only one or two [out of 25-30 SGA Presidents present] who were in favor of allowing the provision," Greene said.

In addition, the Georgia Board of Education has taken a strong stance against adding Universities to the list of acceptable public locations.

Senator Joel Graham remembers how things used to be a year ago.

"Public Safety had a safe for students to check in and out guns," Graham said. "(I) would like to see that reinstated, and hope the laws of the state could allow for that."

Most other senators share this view because the common weekend activity of hunting could be safely and easily provided for.

This argument may find its final compromise or it may fade into the forgotten as other issues come to the forefront of discussion.

"Law abiding citizens will continue to follow the laws," Senator Evan Karanovich said., "and those who choose not to follow the law will continue to break them."

What is Georgia House Bill 89?

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the carrying and possession of firearms, so as to change certain provisions regarding the transportation of certain firearms; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
www.legis.state.ga.us

Georgia law currently allows concealed gun permits to individuals age 21 or older with a clean judicial record, deemed mentally fit, who obtain a judge's approval to carry the firearm.