[Vision2020] Students attend guns on campus forum

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (September 18, 2014) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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Students attend guns on campus forum
UI officials answer questions from students about gun policy
University of Idaho officials are hoping Idaho colleges and universities will see the same results as Utah and Colorado when it comes to allowing concealed firearms on campus.
Matt Dorschel, the executive director of UI public security and safety, and Kent Nelson, general counsel for the UI, led an open forum Wednesday to discuss Idaho's legislation that allows students, faculty and staff with enhanced concealed carry permits to carry concealed weapons on the campus and at other public universities and colleges throughout the state.
This is the second such forum held by the university. The first was held in early July to answer questions from UI faculty and staff. Wednesday's meeting, held in the Student Union Building, was directed toward students and was attended by about 25 people.
"We thought it was important to do this for all of you as well," Dorschel said to the students.
One student asked whether the new law will do more harm than good in regard to student safety. Dorschel responded by saying his opinion on that matter is irrelevant, but states that have similar laws, like Colorado and Utah, have not seen considerable changes to campus safety.
"They have not had an increase in gun violence," he said. "They have not had an increase in weapons incidents."
Having said that, he said, accidents can still happen. He referenced an incident that occurred earlier this month when an Idaho State University instructor accidently shot himself with his concealed weapon in a classroom.
He said university policy is based on what the legislation stipulates. Students, staff and faculty must have a permit to conceal carry and are allowed to store their weapon in items like a purse, handbag or a specially designed holster. Dorschel reiterated that guns are not allowed in university-owned student housing, the Kibbie Dome, Memorial Gym and the SUB.
Dorschell said the law still requires guns to be be hidden from sight.
"Concealed means concealed," he said.
Dorschel and Nelson encouraged students to call 911 if they see a firearm, but he said it is not a crime if the gun's owner inadvertently exposes his or her concealed weapon. It could be a violation of school policy, however, if it happens regularly.
Nelson said law enforcement and the university have not changed their previous policy regarding how they respond to the sighting of a weapon, and it is up to law enforcement to determine what is and isn't a crime.
University penalties will vary depending on whether the person deliberately brandished the weapon or if it occurred by accident, he said.
Dorschel said local law enforcement is planning to train security officers on campus to respond to an armed person. He said the cost of training will be "minimal."
He has asked for additional resources to install more security cameras, as well. The university does not currently have a "very robust" security camera system, which is limited mostly to student housing, he said.
A man in the audience asked what the policy says about guns found in vehicles on campus. Dorschel said this is not strictly enforced, but it is still prohibited by the university. The owner of the vehicle will be asked to remove it from campus, he said.
Nelson also encouraged students not to leave guns in cars because they make the vehicle a target for thefts.
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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still.
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon
  
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