Story by Destinee Marking, Staff Writer
Two new bills regarding safety and protection on school grounds have been introduced to the Kentucky Legislature.
Two members of the Kentucky House of Representatives are co-sponsoring a bill that would allow law-abiding students to carry concealed weapons on public college campuses.
Republican Reps. Tim Moore and Wesley Morgan introduced House Bill 210 Jan. 18 to amend KRS 237.115.
“A publicly funded college, university or postsecondary education facility shall not restrict the carrying or possession of a deadly weapon on any property owned or controlled by the institution by a person who holds a valid concealed deadly weapon license,” the unofficial copy of the bill states.
According to Campus Safety magazine, a publication dedicated to serving those involved in the safety and security at hospitals and schools in the United States, 11 states currently allow the permitted concealed carry of guns under law on public college campuses.
However, concealed carry policies can differ from state to state. For example, according to Campus Safety, though concealed guns are allowed by state law, Wisconsin colleges have the ability to prohibit guns if signs forbidding weapons are posted at the entrances of buildings.
According to National Conference of State Legislatures, Kentucky is one of 23 states in which individual colleges may make the decision to ban or allow concealed carry weapons on campuses.
Legislators are also proposing legislation aimed toward school employees.
Three Kentucky Senators are co-sponsoring a bill that would allow designated school marshals to be exempt from the ban of possessing firearms on school property.
Republican Sens. Steve West, Ralph Alvarado and Stephen Meredith introduced Senate Bill 103 Jan. 23 to amend KRS 520.070.
“The board of a local public school district or governing body of a private or parochial school may appoint any person who meets the requirements… to possess, transport, deposit, or carry a firearm in any public or private school building on any public or private school campus owned, used, or operated by the board or governing body,” the current draft of the bill states.
J.T. Payne, junior from Henderson, Kentucky, and President of Murray State College Republicans, said he does not support HB 210 or SB 103.
“By allowing permitted concealed weapons on the premises of postsecondary institutions and other governmental grounds, you are introducing more weapons in a highly populated and high stress area,” Payne said.
He said this change would introduce another time-consuming factor campus police would have to take into consideration.
With SB 103, Payne said he is worried employees possessing firearms would create paths toward more “careless and tragic” occurrences.
“When untrained civilians of any demographic are trusted and appointed to protect the general population, there is a greater chance for unintentional tragedy,” Payne said.
Murray State is prepared to follow the progress of these bills.
“University administration includes staff who both directly and regularly interact with elected officials in order to ensure that we receive the latest developments while advocating on behalf of the best interests of Murray State University,” according to university officials.