Last week a prominent feminist blogger cancelled an appearance at Utah State University, citing Utah's lax gun laws allowing firearms on campus as a reason.
Our "Political Insiders" are split whether lawmakers should rethink that law, with Republicans favoring the status quo while Democrats want to change the current statute.
However, they are united in their belief that legislators will not change the law during the next session.
Selected anonymous comments:
"It is wrong for universities to not be able to make their own rules, or to be able to prohibit guns IN CERTAIN circumstances. I would like to see Universities able to make occasional bans when issues like this arise."
"I do not understand why she cancelled. A shooter would not obey a law to keep guns off campus anyway. With armed good guys she is actually safer than if guns are banned on campus."
"Colleges should be able to decide for themselves if firearms should be allowed. These are not the days of Wyatt Earp."
"It is hard to imagine that laws banning guns on campus would make any difference to the lawless and the mentally unstable."
"Firearms are the best way to keep a minimal amount of people being killed by criminals. If firearms are allowed, a good guy can stop a bad guy from being shot before dozens of people are killed."
"If I can carry a gun at the Capitol, I should be able to carry a gun on campus."
"It takes just one person with a gun to create a bloodbath of innocent students."
"I am ultimately fine with folks carrying firearms (although have strong reservations about open carry, that is becoming nutty and even the NRA wants to cool it on open carry) but there should be a mechanism for law enforcement – yes, I said it Utah legislature, law enforcement – to restrict weapons at events when there is a threat. Law enforcement will have guns. You know law enforcement, right? The people taxpayers pay to be experts at this stuff?"
"As long as the law continues to require that concealed carry permit holders keep their firearm concealed, I have no problem with firearms on campus. It's the notion that you should be able to carry openly whenever and wherever you want that makes people nervous. The issue of the speaker at USU could have been handled differently and still be held safely, but the schools are running scared when it comes to the legislature's pro-gun hard line stance, so are afraid to rock the boat when it comes to security."
"The right of self defense is not subject to the whims of activist speakers with tender sensibilities."
"If churches are exempt, so should schools be exempt."
"Firearms should be regulated, like automobiles and anything else that kills people."
"People have a right to carry, just like she has a right not to come."
"I teach at the U of U. It disturbs me, and frankly my students, to not know if someone in the class has a concealed weapon. If they do, they are a danger to themselves and others, not a productive educational environment."
"The 2nd Amendment doesn't mean any gun any where. Our obsession with broadening our open carry laws under the guise of 2nd amendment rights has had a negative impact on 1st amendment rights."
"Unfortunately, the legislature seems to equate unlimited guns with freedom. I don't own a gun and I feel very free!"
"Even those who think there should be changes, fear the gun lobby. Is it the campaign donations they give or threats of taking them out with a more extreme gun rights legislator? Ask your legislator."
"Our legislators are gun-toting, flag-waving, NRA supporters. Won't matter what anyone says, they'll go the way of the gun."
