OregonJohnny
Member
I searched and did not find any thread about this story, so I thought I'd post it. A CHL holding student at Western Oregon University was suspended for possesing a concealed weapon on campus. But it sounds like he's got a lot of good support. Here is the story:
Oregon student's suspension renews gun debate
07:11 AM PST on Friday, February 13, 2009
Associated Press
MONMOUTH, Ore. (AP) -- An ex-Marine with a concealed weapons permit has been suspended from Western Oregon University for the rest of the spring term because he carried a handgun on campus last month.
Jeffrey Maxwell, 30, of Lebanon was arrested Jan. 28 for possessing a firearm in a public building, but the charge was later dropped by the Polk County district attorney. But Maxwell's suspension from school, which requires him to write a paper and take a mental health evaluation before he can return, has a gun-rights lobbying organization and at least two Republican state legislators rallying to his defense.
"I put in a lot of work and effort already into this semester, and now it's nothing, it's worth nothing," Maxwell, a junior studying psychology, told the Statesman Journal newspaper.
Maxwell is appealing the disciplinary decision and has the support of the lobbying group Oregon Firearms Federation. The federation's executive director, Kevin Starrett, said the group wants Maxwell reinstated, given an apology and compensated. Otherwise, the organization would help Maxwell seek civil damages.
"He was behaving lawfully and bothering no one," Starrett said.
Western Oregon University officials declined comment on Maxwell, citing student privacy. A spokesperson with the Monmouth school said the no-weapons rule is drawn from policies established by the Oregon University System.
House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna of Roseburg and State Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, wrote a letter to Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner in defense of Maxwell, asking higher education officials to remove administrative rules that conflict with the rights of legal gun owners.
"I hope the universities will recognize that those with concealed handgun licenses are legally able to bring their arms on campus," Thatcher said.
Monmouth Police Chief Darrell Tallan said police officers cited Maxwell last month after consulting with the Polk County District Attorney's Office.
District Attorney Stan Butterfield acknowledged that his office initially advised the police department to issue the citation, but decided not to prosecute after reviewing the police reports and doing further legal research.
Tallan said Maxwell's case is the first he can recall in which a person on campus had a concealed handgun license.
"It does need to be reviewed and looked at, as how to apply it in university settings," he said.
Oregon student's suspension renews gun debate
07:11 AM PST on Friday, February 13, 2009
Associated Press
MONMOUTH, Ore. (AP) -- An ex-Marine with a concealed weapons permit has been suspended from Western Oregon University for the rest of the spring term because he carried a handgun on campus last month.
Jeffrey Maxwell, 30, of Lebanon was arrested Jan. 28 for possessing a firearm in a public building, but the charge was later dropped by the Polk County district attorney. But Maxwell's suspension from school, which requires him to write a paper and take a mental health evaluation before he can return, has a gun-rights lobbying organization and at least two Republican state legislators rallying to his defense.
"I put in a lot of work and effort already into this semester, and now it's nothing, it's worth nothing," Maxwell, a junior studying psychology, told the Statesman Journal newspaper.
Maxwell is appealing the disciplinary decision and has the support of the lobbying group Oregon Firearms Federation. The federation's executive director, Kevin Starrett, said the group wants Maxwell reinstated, given an apology and compensated. Otherwise, the organization would help Maxwell seek civil damages.
"He was behaving lawfully and bothering no one," Starrett said.
Western Oregon University officials declined comment on Maxwell, citing student privacy. A spokesperson with the Monmouth school said the no-weapons rule is drawn from policies established by the Oregon University System.
House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna of Roseburg and State Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, wrote a letter to Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner in defense of Maxwell, asking higher education officials to remove administrative rules that conflict with the rights of legal gun owners.
"I hope the universities will recognize that those with concealed handgun licenses are legally able to bring their arms on campus," Thatcher said.
Monmouth Police Chief Darrell Tallan said police officers cited Maxwell last month after consulting with the Polk County District Attorney's Office.
District Attorney Stan Butterfield acknowledged that his office initially advised the police department to issue the citation, but decided not to prosecute after reviewing the police reports and doing further legal research.
Tallan said Maxwell's case is the first he can recall in which a person on campus had a concealed handgun license.
"It does need to be reviewed and looked at, as how to apply it in university settings," he said.
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