The Biggest Little Bill: The Future of Campus Carry Laws in Nevada
By Braden Hudnall
The recent mass shootings in Brussels and Paris have caused a massive resurgence in the debate on gun control. Amidst all of this chaos, American citizens are starting to wonder if drastic measures need to be taken.
Less than a year ago, the Nevada Assembly had two bills in circulation regarding this controversial issue. Bill AB-2 allowed for the possession of a firearm in an occupied or locked vehicle. Bill AB-148 permitted the possession of firearms on college campuses for students with concealed carry permits. There was a large reaction from students and staff of the University of Nevada, Reno in regard to these proposals, most of which were unfavorable. However, with the recent mass shootings around the world and a gradual feeling of global unrest, opinions may be changing.
The "campus-carry" bill appears to be dead at the Nevada Legislature after the Assembly voted, 24-18, not to add it as…www.rgj.com
Recent random polling conducted by Braden Hudnall across the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno shows results that may display the changing opinions of college students. One hundred UNR students were asked if they support the concealed carry of firearms on college campuses by students with concealed carry permits. Of the 100 students polled, only 20 students expressed opposition to this measure, while 80 students were fully in support of campus carry.
“It’s our constitutional right [to carry guns],” said freshman Blake Rodriguez.
Current Nevada gun law forbids the carry of firearms on any college campus unless given specific permission from the dean of the university.
Nevada prohibits concealed firearms permittees from carrying a concealed firearm while on the property of the Nevada…www.armedcampuses.org
The last time campus carry legislation was proposed, it was met with great protest by University of Nevada, Reno students and staff alike. The bill, proposed by Republican Assemblywoman Michele Fiore, was originally passed in Nevada Assembly but was eventually denied legitimacy by the Faculty Senate. Amanda Collins, a victim of rape in a parking garage on the University of Nevada, Reno campus in 2007, was a large factor in setting the bill in to motion.
The results of the random polling on the University of Nevada, Reno campus are interesting, especially considering the massive protests to the passage of campus carry laws less than a year ago. The proposed campus carry law last year did not have as much support from students and faculty. Both sides had voices in the debate but the anti-campus carry voice reigned supreme, eventually leading to the destruction of the proposal under the Faculty Senate.
The gun control debates have become more relevant in the present day, however. Just recently, a man was shot outside of a tattoo parlor in Reno. The victim was not killed but was taken to the Renown Regional Medical Center with several gunshot injuries. The event has left many Nevada college students shaken and in need of some form of security.
“If the good guys have guns, they can beat the bad guys with guns,” said freshman Lindsey Adams.
The students interviewed also sighted school shootings as one of the best reasons for legalizing campus carry. The shooting at Sparks Middle School on October 21, 2013, in which two people were killed and another two were injured, added a more personal touch to the gun debate for Reno students.
“[Having guns] would make it more likely for us to stop a school shooting,” said Adams.
Students also seem to be more comfortable in charge of their own security as opposed to relying upon campus police services.
“Who better to protect the campus than the students who attend it?” said Rodriguez.
The campus police services, on the other hand, have different ideas.
“From a professional standpoint, I have concerns about the campus carry laws because I understand [the university’s] dynamics a lot better,” said Officer Todd Renwick, a police officer for the University of Nevada, Reno.
According to Renwick, the majority of the opponents to the current campus carry legislation are neither students nor faculty. Rather, many of those in support are individuals who visit the campus for activities such as football games.
“If the entire student body and the entire faculty came to us and said, ‘We want to be able to carry guns,’ that would be a whole different story,” said Renwick.
Renwick says that campus police services would be rather ineffectual in the case of an active shooter on campus, however.
“Most active shooting incidents happen in three minutes or less. The chances of us being able to get there and stop it before it happens are pretty slim,” said Renwick.
The future of campus carry law in Nevada remains rather ambiguous as more proposals in favor of campus carry are highly likely. Were legislation to be introduced once again, there would likely be protest once again from select students and staff but, if the results of the random poll are any indicator, the opposition would not outweigh the support.
“[A campus carry proposal] will come up every legislative session until it passes,” said Renwick.
Not much can be done by the students of Nevada as a campus carry bill requires support from the state government and Faculty Senate.
“At the end of the day, we should support each other as citizens,” said Renwick.