Concealed Carry on College Campuses

[UTCArmyROTC]

As a student of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, concealed carry on college campuses is a topic that I try to keep up with as much as possible. I see that lately bills have gone to the State house and senate to make carrying on the campuses of postseconday institutions. My question is, how come everyone seems to focus soley on concealed carry in places that serve alcohol. I agree that concealed carry in bars should be legal and will be very happy to see the veto get overturned, but there are so many other places that I am still restricted. I am a member of the TN Army National Guard and a cadet of the UTC Army ROTC program. How come I am trusted to be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan with an M4 and M9, but I am not trusted to carry my weapons on campus? This really bothers me and I would like to see something done about it as soon as possible. Does anyone have any information on something I could do or possibly talk to? Im in the process of drafting a letter that I plan to send to all state legislators. Im hoping to have it ready before I leave for training at Ft. Knox this friday. I know there is a bill currently being discussed to give me this right, I just hope it comes soon enough so that I will be able to carry during the fall semester. Thanks in advacnce for any comments or help.

[backwoodsman]

there are any number of moderators that can answer your question more succintly, right now i think we're all focused on hb 0962 the bill vetoed by the governor, both the house and senate are currently in session, however your in the right place ,please bear with us for just a little bit, i think i know the answer but i yield to our moderators or our director

[UTCArmyROTC]

I watched today as the House passed HB0898 which says people with concealed carry permits will be allowed to carry at public postsecondary institutions. Now Im just worried that the schools will find some sort of loophole.

[falcon1]

[UTCArmyROTC]

what a surprise, the screw the law abiding carry permit holders over again.

[SomeGuy]

Welcome aboard UTC. I graduated from that college a month ago (May 3rd). Good luck in your studies.

[johnharris]

[UTCArmyROTC]

I agree that we need more people willing to do something about it, but the problem is that there are so few college students that have carry permits. Its not a very common thing. If there were more students with permits Im sure you would hear more about it, but there just arent. I only know about 5 people that I go to school with that have permits, and I know quite a few people. Thats one reason I think it would be a good idea to let us carry. If there are only 100 students(and thats pushing it) on a campus of 10000 what harm is going to be done. We have obviously followed the laws enough to go about carrying legally. I know of many incidents where people have been robbed at gun point on campus and once a few years ago a guy actually came in waving his gun in the air and yelling at people. Its ridiculous. I am expected to go to war and shoot a man if needed, but I cant have a gun on my side in my math class.

[KevinMcCauley]

I did 4 years at UTC. I love that town.

Get a group together on campus and get the word out. I know of a couple kids at MTSU that are active on campus and spreading the word. Sadly, most college kids are too obsessed with their Xboxes and doing keg stands than standing up for their liberties...

[johnharris]

I would really like to see a "student division" of TFA with chapters operating on campuses.

[benburke]

[UTCArmyROTC]

Im willing to try to get something going. I dont think it would be a whole lot of people, but anything is better than nothing. I wouldnt be able to really get anything started untill the fall either.

[johnharris]

Noah started with a small number of people and populated the Earth.

Next step, we need to get you face to face with someone nearby and experience. Perhaps SomeGuy?

[UTCArmyROTC]

I leave Friday for Ft. Knox and will not be back untill July. I would really like to get involved in this and hopefully see something done. Who knows, maybe I will get lucky and something will happen while Im gone, but Im not going to get my hopes up. However, like I said I would like to try and do something and this seems llike a good place to start. I am actually hoping to possibly get into some sort of politics some day after i get out of the Army, and one of the most interesting things to me is constitutional law.

[johnharris]

Have a safe summer at Ft. Knox. I hope/plan to be up that way for the fall Knob Creek shoot.

TFA and working with a local chapter can help with those objectives. You will start to develop working relationships with local and regional politicians, with news media, and with other politically interested individuals. Starting younger is something I wish I had had the ambition to do.

[pol mordreth]

i would recommend that you get in touch with Students for Concealed Carry on Campus: http://concealedcampus.org/ and see if they have a chapter where you are. If not, consider starting one. Be aware that you may have to deal with some negative encounters from faculty and staff. There have been several incidents lately of SCCC organizers being "interviewed" by police after a prof reported them as making threats for trying to talk about the cause. One girl in PA was threatened with expulsion for trying to start a SCCC chapter, the FIRE is taking her case.

Be safe,
Pol