Student Assembly

R.17 Resolution Regarding Concealed Carry on Campus

Whereas, recent campus shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University represent an intolerable failure of the “gun-free zone” to ensure the safety and the security of the students within it;

Whereas, the restrictions inherent to such a zone � despite the good intentions of the state and university officials in enforcing them � have proven time and again to hurt those they are intended to help and help those whose intent is to hurt;

Whereas, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. of Utah signed legislation in March of last year allowing concealed carry on all public university campuses in his state, and, in so doing, proved that taking such a step is neither radical nor impractical;

Whereas, there has been no reported rise of gun-related violence on Utah campuses in the preceding months, leading us to believe that the fear of lawfully obtained firearms is unfounded and misdirected;

Whereas, the oft-quoted Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states, in part, that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”;

Whereas, we, like one of that amendment’s greatest advocates, believe that any such infringements merely “make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants,” and that “they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man” ;

Be it therefore resolved that this assembly hereby express its support for concealed carry on campus;

Be it further resolved that, should the administration disagree, we ask President David Skorton to instruct the proper authorities to prepare a detailed position paper on this issue explaining that disagreement and the reasons for it.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark Coombs ‘08,
Director of Elections, ‘07-‘08
Executive Vice President, ‘06-‘07

Ahmed Salem ‘08,
At-large Representative
Chair, Cornell College Republicans

Carol Glenn ‘08
Senior, Arts and Sciences

Rachel Quigley ‘09
Junior, Hotel Administration