House Bill 859 was recently passed in the Georgia House and State Senate, making its next move to the desk of Governor Nathan Deal, where it awaits a signature to become a law. The bill would allow those who are 21 and older, as well as law-abiding Georgia Weapons License holders, to carry firearms on campus, with the exception of areas such as dorms, Greek life houses, and athletic venues. So far the bill has been met with mixed reviews from both students and professors, who question whether the thought of college students carrying guns poses a threat to the school’s general safety.
Georgia lawmakers believe concealed carry on campus actually calls for a safer environment should students be faced with violent scenarios and be in need of self-defense. They also believe that our Second Amendment rights don’t end at college campuses. However, students themselves have been more wary about their fellow peers carrying on campus, especially under stressful circumstances or the influence of alcohol. Students under 21 especially have expressed fear about gun violence on campus because they won’t be permitted to carry as well. Seeing someone carrying on campus may make them feel uncomfortable or helpless because they won’t have that same type of self-defense.
Yet, there are some students who do support the bill, as they agree with Georgia lawmakers that the bill calls for extra measures of safety. The idea of enforcing concealed carry will ensure that those who do carry have a permit to do so, rather than allowing guns to get in the wrong hands. That way those who wish to carry will have to pass a background check and go through fingerprinting. Even some students under 21 feel safer with their peers carrying on campus in case of a robbery or assault. They want these fellow students there for security and defense that they themselves cannot provide without a gun.
As the bill looks like it will soon become a law, it will undoubtedly be met with an uproar from concerned students and applause from supportive students. We’ll see within the coming days or weeks if students’ reactions have changed to become more comfortable with the bill.
What are your opinions about campus carry? Will it cause more harm or more help in the state of Georgia?