Gun rights supporters who want to legally carry guns on Georgia’s college campuses warned Thursday of confusion whether they could do just that, despite being told no.
Their warning came as the Technical College System of Georgia and other institutions begin work on policies related to the state’s new gun laws.
“I can see how the interpretation of the two laws could be confusing to people,” said Thomas Weaver, 27, a gun rights supporter who attended a Technical College System meeting Thursday. “According to interpretation of one law, weapons would be allowed (on campuses), and interpretation of the other law they wouldn’t be. I think there is enough room for play between the two laws that this could get to an appellate court.”
That argument stems from an obscure bill passed earlier this year by the state Legislature that some gun rights supporters assert legalized so-called “campus carry” in Georgia.
House Bill 826, which otherwise would no longer force officials to expel or suspend students caught with a fishing knife or baseball bat on school grounds, includes a paragraph that supporters said implicitly allows licensed gun holders to carry weapons on college grounds statewide.
Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, however, confirmed last week that it did not, noting in an online legal FAQ that campus carry is explicitly banned under an overriding piece of legislation known as House Bill 60.
HB 60, signed into law earlier this year, has garnered international attention and expands where Georgians may legally carry firearms with some conditions, including into public schools, bars, churches and government buildings. HB 60 takes effect July 1, as does HB 826.
Lawmakers during debate on HB 60 expressly removed campus carry from the bill to curry support for its passage. Gov. Nathan Deal, too, said he consulted with attorneys and made a point to sign HB 60 after he had signed HB 826 — the signing order matters legally because it places HB 60 as the pre-eminent bill.
Powerful institutions such as the state Board of Regents have also strongly opposed efforts to allow guns on campuses, including in the University System of Georgia. Opponents also included Ron Jackson, the commissioner of the Technical College System. The technical system is expected to set policy in August acknowledging HB 60.
“We will be in a period of time after July 1 where there could be people who believe they have the right to carry weapons on our campuses,” Jackson said. “We’ll have folks who want to test the law. … We are following the direction of our lawyer (state attorney general) who says that weapons are not allowed on our campuses.”
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