University of Utah seeks limited gun ban
Monday, December 04, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY -- The University of Utah is hoping to strike a compromise with state lawmakers to ban guns from certain parts of campus.
In September, the Utah Supreme Court on Friday struck down a ban on guns at the school, saying campus officials could not adopt a policy that runs counter to state law, which prevents state and local agencies from restricting possession or use of firearms on public or private property.
State law prohibits firearms on school property, unless the weapon holder has a permit.
The Legislature amended the law in 2004 to specifically include "state institutions of higher learning," among other things.
Students, faculty and staff had been subject to the university's ban on carrying guns since the 1970s. Those who violated the rule could have been expelled from school, although university officials said that has never happened.
University of Utah President Michael Young said he is now working with legislators to see if guns could be banned in residence halls and athletic venues.
"My sense is that at the end of the day, the Legislature and the university ought to share the same agenda, which is the issue of safety," Young said.
The Legislature is where Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said the discussion should have taken place all along, noted Brent Burnett, assistant Utah attorney general.
"The university needs to take its concerns to the Legislature, and they were not doing that," Burnett said. "The U. originally made claims that they had the right to make decisions independent of the Legislature. The Utah Supreme Court said, 'No, it's for the Legislature, not for the university."
Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said he's already put together an informal task force to work with Young on finding a middle ground on banning guns.
Valentine said most legislators want to work with the university to address communal living situations like dormitories that can complicate the rights of concealed-weapons permit carriers.
"Coming to a university can be a stressful experience, and we're concerned that if guns are in some of these areas, there could be accidental discharges," said Kim Wirthlin, the university's vice president for government relations. "People could be injured could be killed and that kind of an environment is one where circumstances could be out of someone's control, so it makes sense not to have guns."
Monday, December 04, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY -- The University of Utah is hoping to strike a compromise with state lawmakers to ban guns from certain parts of campus.
In September, the Utah Supreme Court on Friday struck down a ban on guns at the school, saying campus officials could not adopt a policy that runs counter to state law, which prevents state and local agencies from restricting possession or use of firearms on public or private property.
State law prohibits firearms on school property, unless the weapon holder has a permit.
The Legislature amended the law in 2004 to specifically include "state institutions of higher learning," among other things.
Students, faculty and staff had been subject to the university's ban on carrying guns since the 1970s. Those who violated the rule could have been expelled from school, although university officials said that has never happened.
University of Utah President Michael Young said he is now working with legislators to see if guns could be banned in residence halls and athletic venues.
"My sense is that at the end of the day, the Legislature and the university ought to share the same agenda, which is the issue of safety," Young said.
The Legislature is where Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said the discussion should have taken place all along, noted Brent Burnett, assistant Utah attorney general.
"The university needs to take its concerns to the Legislature, and they were not doing that," Burnett said. "The U. originally made claims that they had the right to make decisions independent of the Legislature. The Utah Supreme Court said, 'No, it's for the Legislature, not for the university."
Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said he's already put together an informal task force to work with Young on finding a middle ground on banning guns.
Valentine said most legislators want to work with the university to address communal living situations like dormitories that can complicate the rights of concealed-weapons permit carriers.
"Coming to a university can be a stressful experience, and we're concerned that if guns are in some of these areas, there could be accidental discharges," said Kim Wirthlin, the university's vice president for government relations. "People could be injured could be killed and that kind of an environment is one where circumstances could be out of someone's control, so it makes sense not to have guns."