Keep Guns Off Campus - Campaign to keep our Colleges and Universities Safer and Gun Free

CROTON FALLS, NY - A Northern Illinois University student was shot by a fellow student in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 19, outside a student residence hall. The shooting occurred during an argument between the two. A handgun was involved. The victim's injuries are not considered life threatening. The alleged shooter was apprehended by NIU police and is in custody.

John Johnson, outreach coordinator for the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus issued the following statement in response to the shooting.

"This shooting is the perfect example of the concern with allowing persons to carry concealed handguns in public places - the unintended consequences. In this case, a shooting during an argument. It also reminds us of the potentially deadly consequences that can result when a gun is brought into a confrontational situation. It is fortunate that no one was killed in this incident."

Following mass shootings at Virginia Tech (2007) and Northern Illinois University (2008), the gun lobby is pushing legislation in several states to allow students to carry concealed weapons on college campuses - in classrooms, student centers, and at sporting events - and to keep guns in student residence halls and fraternity houses.

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is strongly opposed to such legislation. The college age years are among the most volatile periods in a person's life. These are the peak years for abusing alcohol and drugs, attempting suicide, and having mental health problems. If guns are readily available, it is more likely that these situations will result in serious injury or death.

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is urging colleges and universities to band together to fight the gun lobby's agenda to push guns into college campuses. To date, the American Associaton of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and more than 120 individual colleges and universities from 30 states have joined the Campaign by signing onto a resolution that opposes guns on campus.

Said Johnson, "America's colleges and universities are currently among the safest environments for students. We want to keep it that way."

Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus Statement: University of Alabama-Huntsville Shooting

February 15, 2010

CROTON FALLS, NY - A biology professor with a concealed handgun shot and killed three fellow biology professors and injured three others on February 12. The shooting occurred during a biology department staff meeting on the University of Alabama-Huntsville campus. The alleged shooter was upset because she had been denied tenure by the university. Among the victims was the chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences. No students were involved in the shooting.

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus issued the following statement in connection with this shooting.

"We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and the University of Alabama-Huntsville community.

"This incident shows us once again that any angry individual with a concealed handgun can commit mass murder wherever people gather - workplaces, shopping malls, churches, and schools. It also shows the tragic consequences that result when guns are brought into a confrontational situation. Studies show that where there are more guns, there are more gun deaths and injuries.

"The tragedy of this incident is not only that three people are dead and three others are injured (two critically), but also that a Harvard-educated university professor, wife, and mother of four children will likely spend the rest of her life in prison. All because she brought a gun into the workplace during an argument."

While school shootings such as the recent shooting at UAH receive a great deal of national attention, in the universe of gun violence, such incidents are relatively rare. The fact is that America's educational institutions are among the safest environments for students, faculty, and staff. Much safer than the communities that surround them. A Dept of Justice study found that 93 percent of violence against students occurs off campus. This is due in no small part to the fact that nearly all colleges and universities have policies that prohibit firearms on campus.

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is urging colleges and universities to band together to oppose the gun lobby's push to allow guns on college campuses. To date, more than 120 colleges and universities in 30 states , including the University of Alabama-Huntsville, have joined the campaign.

Guns on College Campuses Hits Wall of Opposition in 2009

January 5, 2010

Bills Fail In Michigan and 11 Other States in 2009; Colorado State University Bans Guns On Campus In December; Momentum Builds To Protect Universities and Student Safety From Being Hijacked By Gun Lobby

CROTON FALLS, NY - The gun lobby's radical and extremist agenda to force hidden and loaded handguns on college campuses hit a stiff wall of opposition in 2009. Gun violence prevention advocates, campus security officials, administrators, professors and especially students repeatedly defeated the gun lobby's irresponsible legislation that would have stripped universities from being able to determine their own safety policies with respect to firearms on campus.

The gun lobby has tried in vain to capitalize on the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting tragedy that killed 32 students and professors to advance its extremist ideology to arm students and teachers.

In the 12 states it attempted to ram through its dangerous legislation, the gun lobby ended 2009 without a single "guns on campus" bill being enacted into law, most recently losing bills in both the state Senate and House in Michigan. Conservative states such as Texas, Alabama, Missouri and Louisiana, among others, where the gun lobby claims its power is unmatched also firmly rejected the gun lobby's agenda.

And in December, Colorado State University's Board of Governors voted unanimously to ban all firearms - concealed or not - on its campuses at Ft Collins and Pueblo. The gun lobby's losses are unparalleled. The Wall Street Journal reported in July 2009 that the gun lobby suffered 34 consecutive defeats over the last two years in trying to permit students to carry loaded and deadly handguns into dorms, classrooms and sporting events.

"There needs to come a point where the gun lobby's agenda becomes too extreme for state lawmakers to support," said Andy Pelosi, the Director of the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus. "Do lawmakers really want to have to explain the fact that they risked the safety of college students just to appease the radical ideology of the gun lobby?"

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is urging lawmakers, parents, advocates, law enforcement officials and university administrators to band together to strongly oppose the gun lobby which has vowed to push its extremist agenda even stronger in 2010.

Since the Campaign was launched just one year ago, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and more than 97 colleges and universities in 25 states have signed onto a resolution opposing legislation that would take away an educational institution's right to prohibit or adopt policies to regulate possession of firearms on campus.

View current list at www.keepgunsoffcampus.org .

Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus Statement: Colorado State University to Ban Guns on Campus
December 4, 2009

CROTON FALLS, NY - Colorado State University's Board of Governors voted unanimously today to ban all firearms - concealed or not - on its campuses at Ft Collins and Pueblo. Colorado State was the only college in the state to allow concealed weapons on campus until today's landmark decision.

Andy Pelosi, the Director of the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus said: "We applaud the decision by Colorado State University to ban firearms on campus. Today's decision puts Colorado State in line with other colleges in Colorado and nearly every major college nationwide. "College campuses are among the safest environments for students - much safer than the communities that surround them. This is due in no small part to the fact that nearly all colleges and universities have adopted policies that severely restrict or prohibit firearms. We want to keep it that way."

Said John Johnson, outreach coordinator for the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, "It takes courage to stand up to the gun lobby. But Americans support courage."

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is urging colleges and universities across the country to band together to oppose the gun lobby's agenda to push guns onto college campuses. Since the Campaign was launched just one year ago, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and more than 90 colleges and universities in 24 states have signed onto a resolution opposing legislation that would take away an educational institution's right to prohibit or adopt policies to regulate possession of firearms on campus.

The Colorado State decision comes at a time when America's colleges and universities are under attack from the gun lobby. Utah is the only state that prohibits its public colleges and universities from banning guns on campuses. Over the last two years, guns on campus bills similar to the Utah law have been introduced in at least 18 states.

Commentary: Guns on campus bills are not about safety

November 30, 2009

America's colleges and universities are under attack from the gun lobby. Following mass shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007 (32 students and faculty killed and 15 wounded) and Northern Illinois University in 2008 (6 students killed and 16 wounded), the gun lobby is pushing legislation that would prohibit colleges and universities from maintaining gun-free campuses. The proposed legislation would allow conceal carry license holders, including students, to keep guns in their student dormitory rooms, and carry concealed handguns on campus - in classrooms, at sporting events, and other school activities.

The gun lobby argues that college campuses would be safer if students and other private citizens (faculty, staff, and visitors) were allowed to carry concealed weapons. However, a growing body of evidence shows that conceal carry permit holders are a threat to public safety. Current background check systems are simply inadequate to weed out all potentially dangerous individuals who apply for and are issued permits to carry.

A recent study by the Violence Policy Center found that during the period May 2007 through October 2009, conceal carry permit holders killed eight law enforcement officers and 77 private citizens (including 10 shooters who killed themselves after the attack). In addition, permit holders committed at least eight mass shootings (three or more victims).

In addition, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and more than 90 colleges and universities from 24 states have signed a resolution by the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus that they are opposed to legislation that would mandate that colleges and universities allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus.

Opinions aside, the gun lobby's plan is not practical. For example, will every class have a designated shooter? What about classes where no conceal carry license holder signs up? What about freshman and sophomore classes where students are generally not old enough (21 in most states) to obtain a permit to carry?

Nonetheless, legislation to allow guns on college campuses has been introduced in at least 12 states, including Michigan, so far in 2009. So how does this legislation get legs in so many states?

The answer is that this legislation is not about safety. The gun lobby is not interested in the safety of students, faculty, and staff. They are only interested in being able to carry concealed handguns in public places where they are currently prohibited from carrying in many states - schools, churches, hospitals, government buildings, courthouses, bars, and public parks.

They are using the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University as cover for their real agenda which is to push guns into every nock and cranny of society.

One can only hope that lawmakers are intelligent enough to see through their scheme.

In Michigan Gun Extremists Pushing Bill to Force Colleges to Allow Guns in the Classroom

October 19, 2009

LANSING, MI - A state House Committee says it will hold a hearing tomorrow morning on a dangerous measure that would force all public colleges and universities in Michigan to allow many students 21 and over to carry loaded, hidden handguns into college classrooms. Similar bills have been killed 34 times in 22 states in the past two years.

The bill that will be considered by the House Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources, HB 5474, was introduced by Traverse City Republican House member Wayne Schmidt. The bill, if passed, would prohibit any institution of higher education from enforcing any ordinance or regulation on "possession of pistols or other firearms, ammunition for pistols or other firearms, or components of pistols or other firearms, except as otherwise provided by federal law or a law of this state."

"America's college campuses are among the safest environments for students because they do not permit guns on their premises," said Andy Pelosi, president of GunFreeKids.org and head of The Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus. "We need to keep guns off college campuses, not bring in more guns."

"We need to do more to make it harder for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "Michigan should reject this bill, just as all other states have done."

Similar bills have been categorically rejected, over and over, for the past two and a half years since the Virginia Tech tragedy where a student brought guns into classrooms and murdered 32 students and teachers. All told, 34 independent efforts by the National Rifle Association and Students for Concealed Carry on Campus to pass guns-on-campus bills in 22 different states have failed miserably, with even ultra-conservative state legislative leaders who have been longtime reliable allies of the NRA opposing the idea. The broad opposition to such bills included students and universities who felt under attack.

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus , which is organizing a national coalition of universities and colleges to reject the gun lobby's agenda, lists support from 90 schools in 23 states and counting.

The following states have rejected bills in 2009, 2008 or 2007 to force colleges and universities to allow students to carry concealed firearms into classrooms: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

Gun Lobby Fails To Force Hidden and Loaded Guns On College Campuses In Texas As Legislative Session Ends

June 2, 2009

Campaign To Keep Guns Off Campus Shows Strong Momentum As Over 90 Universities Oppose Gun Lobby's Radical Agenda

AUSTIN, TX - The legislative session in Texas ended without enacting a dangerous bill that would have forced the carrying of hidden and loaded guns at universities and colleges. Students and gun violence prevention advocates were ecstatic for the initial victory and that college campuses would remain safe from the gun lobby's threats. But advocates cautioned that the gun lobby would not stop pushing its deadly legislation and called on lawmakers to protect universities from being run over by the NRA's radical agenda.

"Although the gun lobby claims it has a monopoly over states like Texas when it comes to guns, clearly House Representatives did not think that arming college students and professors was a priority. Thankfully this bill did not pass, which would have put students' lives at greater risk," said Andy Pelosi, Director of the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus.

Five Texas universities joined the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus including Texas University of the Incarnate Word, LeTourneau University, Quinn College, Southwestern University and Texas College.
The Campaign is organizing universities to sign resolutions opposing hidden and loaded guns on college campuses. As of June 2nd, 92 colleges in 23 states have joined the Campaign .

View current list at www.keepgunsoffcampus.org .

John Woods, a student at Virginia Tech whose girlfriend was killed during the shooting tragedy and now a graduate student at the University of Texas, said, "By pushing this dangerous legislation, the gun lobby effectively created a backlash from college students as well as from thoughtful conservatives and moderates. Texas had a handful of gun violence prevention advocates; now it has a lot more who are willing to fight to keep guns off of college campuses."

"In just this year alone, Texas is the 10th state to say no to the gun lobby on this dangerous legislation. Our elected officials heard a tremendous outcry against the legislation from school administrators, students, advocates, parents as well as campus law enforcement officials. Lawmakers listened and did the right thing by not enacting this dangerous bill," said Marsha McCartney, President of the North Texas Brady Campaign.

Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus Statement: Louisiana House of Representatives Overwhelming Rejects Gun Lobby's Move to Arm Students

May 29, 2009

BATON ROUGE, LA - Andy Pelosi, executive director of GunFreeKids.org and head of the Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus issued the following statement after yesterday's 86-18 vote on HB 27 by the Louisiana House of Representatives that would have allowed hidden and loaded handguns on campus.

We thank the members of the Louisiana House of Representatives for agreeing with law enforcement, college administration officials and students that guns have no place on college campuses. Yesterday's resounding vote for public safety over the interests of the gun lobby should send an important message to those who think that arming students is a good policy. As of today, Louisiana joins nine other states that have rejected guns on campus legislation, including Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia.

The Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus is a national project of GunFreeKids.org and currently includes 90 colleges and universities from 23 states .

View current list at www.keepgunsoffcampus.org .

Louisiana Colleges and Universities Oppose Gun Lobby's Agenda to Push Guns Onto College Campuses

May 21, 2009

BATON ROUGE, LA - Seven Louisiana state universities have signed resolutions opposing legislation to permit the carrying of loaded guns on college campuses: Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, NcNeese State University, Nicholls State University, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, University of Louisiana-Monroe, and Southern University A&M College.

According to the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus , 88 colleges and universities in 23 states have signed resolutions to keep university and college campuses safe by opposing efforts to arm students.

View current list at www.keepgunsoffcampus.org .

During the current legislative season, bills to permit guns on campus have been introduced in at least 12 states, including Louisiana. The Louisiana bill (HB 27) would allow students, professors and staff who have concealed weapons licenses to carry hidden and loaded handguns onto campuses, classrooms, sporting events, and permit students to keep guns in their dorm rooms.

College and university administrators and campus law enforcement officers oppose arming students and feel that campus safety should be left to trained security professionals. Permitting deadly firearms on college campuses will weaken safety and put students' lives at greater risk of violence.

"America's college campuses are among the safest environments for students because they do not permit guns on their premises," said Andy Pelosi, president of GunFreeKids.org, which launched the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus last December. "If the gun lobby's dangerous agenda succeeds, our universities will become less safe and prone to more violence. And if lawmakers truly believe in creating a safe learning environment for students, they will oppose the gun lobby's extremist legislation."

"The gun lobby is using the Virginia Tech shooting as cover for their real agenda which is to push guns into every nick and cranny of our society, including our schools," said John Johnson, outreach coordinator for the Campaign. "The gun lobby's efforts are not about safety, but simply an extension of their radical agenda, and it needs to be stopped."

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus urges Louisiana lawmakers to listen to college administrators, campus law enforcement professionals, students and parents on this important issue and oppose legislation to force guns onto college campuses.

Texas Senators Who Voted to Force Hidden and Loaded Guns Onto College Campuses Put Students' Lives at Greater Risk of Gun Violence

May 20, 2009

Gun Lobby's Dangerous Legislation Now Moves to House; Advocates Call for Leadership and Serious Efforts to Keep Guns Off Campus

AUSTIN, TX - Today the Texas state senate passed dangerous legislation that would force the carrying of hidden and concealed guns at public universities and colleges. The measure now heads to the House where college students and gun violence prevention advocates are calling for leadership to prevent the bill's passage. The bill threatens the safety of students, professors, and staff and increases the risks of gun violence on college campuses by making weapons more readily available.

John Woods, a student at Virginia Tech whose girlfriend was killed during the shooting and now a graduate student at the University of Texas, called the proposed Texas legislation an "insult" to the victims and survivors. "The fact that the state senate refused to accept an amendment keeping guns out of campus bars and hospitals shows that this bill is ideologically motivated and has little to do with student safety and campus security."

"The majority of Texas senators have chosen to ignore the fact that Texas college administrators, campus law enforcement, parents and students have asked them not to pass this dangerous legislation. Doing the bidding of the gun lobby is more important to these senators than the safety of our colleges," said Marsha McCartney, President of the Texas Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Most troubling is that Texas state law prohibits university administrators, educators and campus law enforcement officials from lobbying the state legislature. These institutions are "gagged" from speaking out about this dangerous legislation that directly affects their security and safety.

Gun proponents continue to say that prohibitions against carrying guns on campuses violates their Second Amendment rights. But even Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority in the Heller case that stripped D.C. of its handgun ban, stated conclusively: "Nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings."

"This issue goes well beyond Texas, and represents the encroachment of the gun lobby's radical agenda into dictating the safety of higher education in America. I think parents, students, and universities need to realize that their communities and colleges are at risk of being run over by the gun lobby," said Andy Pelosi, who heads the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus.

The Campaign is organizing universities to fight the gun lobby's agenda. To date, 88 colleges and universities in 23 states have joined the Campaign.

View current list at www.keepgunsoffcampus.org .

Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus Statement: Shooting of Wesleyan University Student

May 7, 2009

CROTON FALLS, NY - A Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) female student was shot and killed at a university bookstore where she worked on Wednesday, May 6. The victim, Johanna Justin-Jinich (21) was shot multiple times. A semiautomatic handgun was recovered at the scene, Broad Street Books, located near the Wesleyan campus. It has been reported that the alleged gunman, who was not a student at Wesleyan, had a connection with the victim and had made previous threats against her.

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus released the following statement in connection with this shooting.

"We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Johnanna Justin-Jinich, and the Wesleyan University community. Sadly, this incident reminds us that we are all at risk of gun violence, even in what should be safe environments such as a university book store. All too often, this is the result when guns are introduced into a confrontational situation."

Although the victim was a Wesleyan University student, this shooting is technically not a "school shooting" in that the bookstore where the shooting occurred is located two blocks from the main campus. According to a U.S. Justice Department study, 93 percent of violence against college students occurs off campus.
In the universe of gun violence, college campuses are among the safest environments for students - much safer than the communities that surround them. This is due in no small part to the fact that nearly all colleges and universities have adopted policies that severely restrict or prohibit firearms.

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is working to keep it that way. The answer to gun violence is not more guns.

Missouri College Students, Administrators, and Advocates Urge State Lawmakers to "Keep Guns Off College Campuses"
April 29, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - Student leaders from the University of Missouri, along with college administrators, gun violence prevention advocates, and state lawmakers joined together to oppose HB 668 , a bill that would force concealed and loaded guns onto college and university campuses.

The gun lobby's dangerous legislation would completely strip the right and ability of Missouri's higher education system from deciding for itself how to protect the safety and security of its students, faculty and staff. Student leaders and university administrators lashed out at such an audacious power grab by the gun lobby to weaken safety at Missouri's public colleges and universities.

"I am strongly against any legislation that would allow concealed weapons to be carried onto college campuses," said Sen. Jeff Smith (D-4). "College is wonderful but it doesn't come without stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. Combining these volatile emotions, binge drinking, and guns will not have positive results. Over 40 percent of all college students are binge drinkers according to Department of Health and Human Services, and bringing guns into this tumultuous campus culture will only increase the already high number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths. Further, this will detract from an atmosphere that promotes a free exchange of ideas and opinions. Intellectual debate may be stifled if students fear their classmates are carrying weapons. This misguided proposal will hamper the social, intellectual, and emotional development of Missouri's college students, and potentially endanger their welfare."

The gun lobby has yet to pass legislation to force "Guns on Campus" in any state. State legislation has failed in all nineteen states where it has been introduced . Most recently, a handful of NRA-endorsed and "A-rated" Senators voted against North Dakota's "Guns on Campus" bill sending it to defeat. Tremendous pressure from students, advocates and university officials have caused ardent gun lobby supporters to reconsider their positions on these bills.

The flawed notion that college students could carry a loaded and concealed gun into a classroom is a chilling prospect that our student body vehemently opposes, and it's time our voices are heard on this matter," said Brian Roach, a member of the University of Missouri Student Senate. "Students deserve a safe learning environment. Permitting armed students into a unique campus environment would break that fundamental promise of safety."

Colin Goddard, a student who was shot four times during the Virginia Tech tragedy, called the proposed Missouri legislation a "fantasy borne out of watching too many movies." Goddard continued: "The fact that the Missouri gun lobby looks at the horror of the Virginia Tech tragedy as an opportunity to push its deadly agenda is completely unsettling to those of us who were shot and wounded. It represents a lack of serious thought about what happens in this kind of situation. I lived through that nightmare, and I can tell you more guns would have made matters worse, not better. I would work toward removing the two guns that were there, in the hands of the shooter, instead of putting five more in the hands of students. This proposal is reckless, and won't reduce gun violence."

Presidents and administrators of the University of Missouri System strongly oppose legislation to permit students to carry guns on campus such as Columbia University of Missouri, Kansas City University of Missouri, St. Louis University of Missouri, the University of Missouri of Science and Technology (at Rolla), as well as Missouri Southern State University.

Nationally, the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is organizing colleges and universities to band together to fight the gun lobby's agenda. The Campaign has 80 colleges and universities in 21 states that have signed resolutions calling on lawmakers to prohibit the carrying of firearms on college campuses.

View current list at www.keepgunsoffcampus.org .

"The gun lobby does not make idle threats. American's colleges and universities cannot afford to stand on the sidelines on this issue, said John Johnson, outreach coordinator for the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus. "College and university administrators must become active in their state legislatures if they want to keep their right to maintain gun-free campuses."

On Anniversary of Virginia Tech Tragedy, University Students, Faculty and Advocates Rally at State Capitol to Tell Texas State Lawmakers:
"Keep Hidden and Loaded Guns Off Our College Campuses"

April 16, 2009

Public University Officials "Gagged" From Speaking Out; Parents Threaten Boycott of Texas Public Universities if Legislation Passes

AUSTIN, TX - On the second anniversary of the Virginia Tech tragedy, university students, faculty, gun violence survivors, and advocates rallied at the state capitol in Austin, Texas to send a clear message to lawmakers: "keep hidden and loaded guns off our college campuses." The shooting rampage at Virginia Tech, the deadliest shooting in American history, killed 32 students and professors, and wounded 17 others. The tragedy is being exploited by the gun lobby in Texas and other states to push its dangerous agenda to expand the carrying of concealed guns onto college campuses.

Most troubling, however, is that state law prohibits university administrators, educators and campus law enforcement officials from lobbying the state legislature. These institutions are being "gagged" from speaking out about this dangerous legislation that directly affects their security and safety. The current legislation, House Bill 1893 and Senate Bill 1164 , exempts private universities, but strips the right of public colleges and universities in Texas from prohibiting deadly guns on campuses. Utah is the only state that forbids its public universities and colleges from restricting students with gun permits to carry firearms on campuses. Last year similar legislation was defeated in each of the 17 states where it was introduced.

John Woods, a student at Virginia Tech whose girlfriend was killed during the shooting and now a graduate student at the University of Texas, called the proposed Texas legislation an "insult" to the victims and survivors. "The fact that the Texas gun lobby looks at the horror of the Virginia Tech tragedy as an opportunity to push its deadly agenda is utterly disgusting and reprehensible to those of us who lost loved ones in this tragedy, and to those who survived as well."

"The gun lobby is trying to hijack higher education in Texas, and across the country, to force public universities, against their will, to permit armed students to carry hidden guns in college classrooms. This is one of the most dangerous legislative agendas we have ever seen, and it needs to be stopped in its tracks," said Andy Pelosi who heads the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus and is the Executive Director of GunFreeKids.org.

H. Scott Caven Jr. , the immediate past chairman of The University of Texas System Board of Regents, expressed concern over legislative proposals that would take away a public university system's authority to determine its own weapons policies. "Our public universities should decide for themselves the best way to protect our students and faculty," Caven said. "The UT System Police Academy trains its peace officers to handle law enforcement activities unique to campus environments. The more than 450 commissioned officers spread across the 15 UT institutions are trained to protect life and property. Permitting concealed handguns on a college campus creates more public safety challenges than it would prevent, and, therefore, is bad policy."

Universities are already the safest places in the country in terms of low crime rates and violence because they don't allow firearms on campus. Professors also say the possibility that a student might be carrying a hidden and loaded gun in class will greatly disrupt the college learning environment.

"This legislation is a solution to a nonexistent problem," said Marsha McCartney, President of the North Texas Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "If our lawmakers would listen to the university presidents, campus law enforcement officials, students, and parents who oppose this legislation, they would know that our students are safest on college campuses because guns are prohibited. But if this bill passes, students will be exposed to the threat of gun violence, all because our legislators want to please the gun lobby."

Arming students is ineffective at stopping a mass shooting. On Friday, April 10th, ABC News' 20/20 investigative report demonstrated conclusively, through repeated tests, that armed students could not stop a rampage shooting even after being clued into the experiments . A real-life encounter would be even more surprising, disorienting and virtually impossible for armed students to defend themselves and others. In fact, ABC News concluded that an armed student or professor could easily kill or injure innocent students while attempting to flee or hide from an attacker.

Allowing guns on campus could also cost Texas universities money, students, donors and prestige. The legislation to arm students could easily push away thousands of parents and students from out of state who pay much higher tuition fees, especially when they have other universities to choose from. Several Texas parents said that they would not allow their teens to attend any university that permitted students to carry hidden and loaded guns on campus and threatened to boycott any public university in Texas if the legislation is enacted.

Still another grave concern is that college students, in an environment of great stress, would have easy access to guns, alcohol and drugs. These factors would likely lead to more suicides, unintentional shootings, murder-suicides and armed assaults.

"This issue goes well beyond Texas," said Pelosi of the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus. "Arming college students across the country is the gun lobby's next big target. There is every indication that they will try to steamroll their extremist agenda despite the fact that the American people strongly oppose it."

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is building a national coalition of colleges and universities urging them to band together to oppose the gun lobby's agenda to permit concealed guns on campus. So far 48 colleges and universities in 19 states have signed resolutions in support of the campaign, including three schools in Texas, a sign that momentum is quickly building.

View current list at www.keepgunsoffcampus.org .

Gun Lobby Threatens Safety of America's Colleges and Universities According to Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus

February 12, 2009

Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus asks college and university presidents to band together to fight gun lobby's agenda to push guns into college campuses

CROTON FALLS, NY - In response to school shootings at Virginia Tech (2007) and Northern Illinois University (2008), the gun lobby is promoting state legislation that would preempt a public college or university's current policies restricting firearms on campus and allow students to keep firearms in their dormitory rooms and carry concealed handguns on campus - in classrooms and at sporting events and other school activities.

One state - Utah - has already enacted such legislation. The Utah law was the model for similar bills introduced in 17 states in 2008 - Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. These and other states could be on the gun lobby's agenda in 2009. Legislation has already been introduced in at least three states - Indiana, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.

"While school shootings such as those that occurred at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University are horrific events that attract national attention, the fact is that in the universe of gun violence America's college campuses are among the safest environments for students," said Andy Pelosi, president of GunFreeKids.org. "This is due, in no small part, to the fact that nearly all colleges and universities have adopted policies that prohibit or severely restrict firearms. We want to keep it that way."

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is writing letters to the presidents of all state supported colleges and universities across the country (approximately 500) urging them to band together to oppose the gun lobby's agenda. The letter asks the college or university to sign onto a resolution opposing "legislation that would preempt a college or university's right to prohibit or adopt policies to regulate possession of firearms on campus."

The list of colleges and universities that have signed the resolution will be provided to lawmakers in states that are considering legislation to allow guns on campus. View current list at www.keepgunsoffcampus.org .

Added John Johnson, director of Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence, "I am proud that Iowa law currently prohibits possession of firearms on any school property. As a parent, I would not send my children to any college or university that allows students to possess firearms on campus."