According to Lawmaker, students should be able to protect themselves.
Under pending Arizona legislation to allow school have, student gun rights may be protected.
State Sen. Wendy Rogers ( pictured ), a Flagstaff Republican, brought up the recent murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley and problems with illegal immigration as some of the reasons why Senate Bill 1198 is , important.
In a recent phone interview, Rogers stated that” we are stipulating that a 21-year-old who has a concealed carry permit should be able to take on campus to protect oneself.
The bill forbids status higher education from allowing concealed carry of weapons for those with concealed carry permits on Arizona college campuses.
After passing the condition Senate in February with a 16-to-10 voting, the bill is now being debated in the Arizona House.
According to Rogers, a typical argument made by gun control activists is that college students are a” combustive mix of hormones and overindulgent of drinking and for them to have weaponry aggravates an already combustive condition.” I say that is a smokescreen argument”.
She explained to The Fix that this was her fourth time introducing the legislation. Last year, it passed the state legislature, but Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed it, according to the AZ Mirror.
Rogers claimed that because her constituents chose her as a supporter for such causes, she keeps fighting to get the bill passed.
She told The Fix she is dedicated to defending her constituent’s Second Amendment rights, which the state has no right to restrict.
MORE: Professors are quiet about untrue accusations that campus violence would stoke violence.
In 1994, Arizona passed its concealed carry law. To apply for a concealed carry permit, an individual must be a resident of Arizona, a U. S. citizen, and at least 21 years old. Additionally, the citizen must not be a convicted felon or mentally incompetent, and must complete firearms safety training.
However, Arizona State University, the largest university in the state, prohibits” all firearms, loaded or unloaded, real or simulated”, according to its weapons policy.
The university media office responded to a request for comment on Rogers ‘ bill in an email statement this month, saying,” We’re not commenting on this pending legislation at this time.”
The Arizona Board of Regents also prohibit the possession, display, and storage of weapons on university property with certain exceptions, according to a legislative fact sheet about Rogers ‘ bill.
However, concealed carry is not one of them.
” Anyone who has a concealed weapons permit is not exempt from the policy.” Only certified police officers performing their official duties may carry a weapon on university grounds, according to the policy.
There are many misconceptions about concealed carry on campuses, according to Charles Heller, co-founder and communication director of Arizona Citizens Defense League. His group supports legislation that supports Arizonans ‘ right to keep and bear arms.
First, you can NEVER raise security by disarming potential victims on campus. Second, people with concealed carry weapons permits are very law- abiding”, he told The Fix in an email this month.
Heller claimed that the right is also well-supported by Article 2 Section 26 of the state’s constitution. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men, as it states that” the individual citizen’s right to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired.”
MORE: West Virginia passes campus carry law, expanding gun rights
IMAGE: College Republicans at ASU/Facebook
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