Wisconsin divided on UW campus safety
Wisconsin lawmakers want people on campus to feel safe, but have different ideas on what that looks like.
State Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) and Sen. Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) propose allowing concealed weapons inside of University of Wisconsin campus buildings in a new bill introduced Monday.
“Gun free zones don’t actually keep guns out. What we need to do is preserve the ability for individuals to protect themselves and protect others around them,” said Rep. André Jacque (R-DePere), who signed on to co-sponsor the proposed law.
But some Democrats are calling the bill a “knee-jerk reaction” in the wake of deadly shootings on college campuses, like this most recent one in Oregon earlier this month.
“Here we are again with some outlandish issue that should not be an issue,” said Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay). “The locals can control it and take care of it, and that’s the way it should be. I’ll stand by that and I can’t support this.”
UWGB officials are closely following the bill to see what changes might occur.
“The university really can’t get involved in the controversy or take a side on any proposal,” said UWGB Director of Communication Christopher Sampson. “We’ve got to enforce the law, and since fall 2011 the law has been no concealed carry–even though it’s legal in Wisconsin– the UW system policy is that it’s not legal in buildings of its campuses.”
Meanwhile in Madison, UW-Madison Police spokesman Marc Lovicott issued a statement Tuesday coming out against the bill.
Lovicott says the campus would not be safer if firearms were allowed in the buildings. He says, “Allowing concealed weapons inside a building like Camp Randall Stadium, filled with 80,000 people, creates a major security issue.”
Back in Green Bay, UWGB students had mixed reactions to the idea of carrying a gun on-campus.
“People who bring guns onto campus are going to find a way to do that anyway, so that’s kind of how I stand on that whole issue,” said senior Rachael Robbins. “You should have the option to protect yourself.”
“Some people feel safer having a gun. For me, the idea of other people having them here freaks me out,” said junior Katie Andrews. “This is a place for learning and I don’t think we need them.”
“I wouldn’t feel safe allowing everyone to have guns because allowing everyone to have guns could lead to more gun violence,” said senior Ben Dudzik. “But administrators, you know, like the dean, certain faculty members, I would agree with them having guns.”
The bill is looking for more co-sponsors, like Jacque. “On campus right now is a gun free zone, but if there are those that are seeking to do harm, there’s nothing wrong with allowing those that have the training that are actually going through the process to be able to responsibly carry a firearm, they should be able to use it when danger arises,” he said.
“I think the universities and tech schools in Wisconsin are very able and capable to do it the way they see fit. This whole idea of telling them what to do and how to do it is just taking us in the wrong direction,” said Hansen.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.