Photos: Campus carry protest at UGA

Education

Campus Carry protest at UGA

A large group of students and faculty gathered at the University of Georgia Arch on Wednesday protesting the Campus Carry bill, asking Gov. Nathan Deal to veto the legislation.

The bill would allow those 21 and older with a concealed-carry license to have a gun on public college or university campuses, but not inside dormitories, fraternities and sorority houses and at athletic events.

State lawmakers passed the bill last week, sending it to the governor’s desk.

Earlier this week, Deal called for lawmakers to consider making on-campus day care centers off limits for guns, and expressed concern about high school students who are also enrolled in college courses on campuses.

UGA’s Franklin College Senate, University Council and student government association are opposed to the bill, as is president Jere Morehead.

Morgan Beavers, a senior at the University of Georgia, makes a sign before the protest against Campus Carry.

Georgia would become the ninth state to allow campus carry, following Texas, whose campus carry law takes effect in August.

Hundreds of faculty members in Texas have said they would not allow guns in their classrooms, some have resigned and others have been warned about teaching controversial topics that could increase tension in a classroom.

Gov. Deal said he likely wouldn’t detail to lawmakers how to make the changes he seeks, saying he’s “a little reluctant to try to tell them how to draft legislation.” The best route, he said, could be giving higher education officials more flexibility to draft their own rules and regulations. Lawmakers face a hard deadline of midnight on March 24 – the final day of the 40-day legislative session – to make the changes. If they fail to meet the governor’s demands, as ambiguous as they may be, Deal said he won’t rule out a veto.

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A large group of students and faculty gathered at the University of Georgia Arch on Wednesday protesting the Campus Carry bill, asking Gov. Nathan Deal to veto the legislation.

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