Minnesota: "U might ban faculty, staff from carrying guns"

[cuchulainn]

from the Minnesota Daily (U of Minn student paper)

http://www.daily.umn.edu/articles/2003/05/06/5893

U might ban faculty, staff from carrying guns

May 6, 2003

U might ban faculty, staff from carrying guns

While rules ban students from bringing firearms on campus, no such policy exists for faculty and staff.

By Kari Petrie
The University’s general counsel is investigating options for creating a policy prohibiting faculty and staff from carrying guns on campus, University Provost Christine Maziar said Monday.
The discussion comes after Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the Minnesota Citizen’s Personal Protection Act into law April 28. The law mandates standards in issuing permits for carrying handguns.

The student conduct code currently bans students from bringing guns on campus, but there is no policy relating to faculty and staff carrying guns.

University Vice Provost Craig Swan said the University should create such a policy.

“(A new policy would) make clear the expectations of the University and puts us in a stronger position should anything happen,†Swan said.

Minnesota’s new law has a provision stating public colleges and universities may establish policies restricting employees from carrying or possessing a firearm “while acting in the course and scope of employment.â€

Institutions may take action against employees who do not follow its gun-related policies.

The provision also states “a post-secondary institution may not prohibit the lawful carry or possession of firearms in a parking facility or parking area.â€

Regent Dave Metzen said he is unsure why the University does not have a faculty-staff gun policy. He said before the bill was passed, the University did not need a policy because it was harder to get a gun.

Metzen added that the administration should look at making policy changes.

“We have an obligation to study and look at the ramifications of how it affects the University — both students and staff,†he said.

Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said the University should bar employees from bringing guns on campus because they might compromise the safety of students and staff on campus.

“This is a lunatic law,†she said. “We have to do everything we can to find loopholes in the law to protect ourselves. … I’m embarrassed that this kind of thing has passed.â€

Pappas said Minnesota’s law is less strict than a similar conceal-and-carry gun law in Texas.

Monty Jones, associate director for public affairs at the University of Texas-Austin, said Texas law specifically states students, faculty and staff cannot carry guns on university and college campuses.

Kari Petrie covers the Board of Regents and administration. She welcomes

comments at [email protected]
© Copyright 2002 The Minnesota Daily

 

[Leatherneck]

Sounds like the next step for the MN legislature is a state-wide preemption bill.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Desertdog]

Sounds like the making of another safe zone for multiple murders to me.

 

[Frohickey]

Sounds like the University will be liable if persons disarmed by its policies are harmed, who otherwise would not have been, if they were able to protect themselves.

Sounds like a big financial liability to me, to be funded by Minnesota taxpayers.

 

[pytron]

Great. Disarm the law-abiding students, staff, and faculty. What about visitors to the University? What about criminals? So I guess your right to self-defense only exists if you don't work or attend the college.

Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said the University should bar employees from bringing guns on campus because they might compromise the safety of students and staff on campus.

I can't even reply to this drivel I'm so disgusted.

-Pytron

 

[Standing Wolf]

Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said the University should bar employees from bringing guns on campus because they might compromise the safety of students and staff on campus.

Leftist extremists believe their irrational hoplophobia trumps the nation's civil rights. In this, as in so much else, they're rock-solid wrong.

 

[vmi93]

DFL?

DFL= Dumb ??? Liberal

Seriously, is the DFL that weird Communist party that wins some elections in MN?

 

[HankB]

When I lived in Minnesota, we had a number of terms for the DFL . . . Deviants, Flakes, and Leftists was the kindest, inspired by the party's core constituency. Centered in Minneapolis, these people are so hoplophobic that back in the late 60's their party adopted a platform saying police should be disarmed, just like the bobbies in the UK.

They had a police chief in Minneapolis (former NYC transit cop, appointed by the DFL mayor) for years that NEVER was supported by the rank and file - this idiot had done wonderful things like eliminating two-man cars, even at night, in the worst parts of town. During a televised debate, he even referred to the 2nd Amendment as "garbage." And this police chief's jailbird wife (locked up for repeated tresspass during her goofy protests, while her husband was chief) was a real piece of work . . .

The comments about U of M assuming liability for disarming people may be valid. The Texas Building Owner's & Manager's Association sent a letter to its members a couple of years ago raising this issue . . . if the State licenses someone to carry, and YOUR policy disarms them, it may be argued that YOU assume responsibility for their safety. In today's "sue-happy" society, that's liability that many companies won't accept.

If I were a U of M student licensed to carry concealed, I would carefully study the LAW and obey it. On the other hand, if school RULES say otherwise . . . well, I would obey the LAW but ignore the RULES. Discretely, of course . . . nobody - and I mean NOBODY - would ever find out that I was ignoring the RULES unless/until I seriously NEEDED the pistol.