Nine states across the country are hearing legislation that could legalize concealed weapons on campus.

According to CNN, legislation is being considered in nine states, including Michigan and Ohio, and has been passed in Utah and Colorado, except on the University of Colorado–Boulder campus.

Legislation for concealed weapons was introduced to a committee in Virginia after the Virginia Tech shootings, where it failed in committee. In Indiana, the bill passed in the house but failed in the senate committee. “I can’t imagine that politically it would have a chance,” said Dirk Johnson, coordinator of Professional Outreach at NIU. “I think it would be a bad idea and I think it would make the campus more dangerous.”

Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-Sycamore) said he has not heard about a bill like that in Illinois, but said another concealed weapons bill is being heard.

“I am not aware of any bill allowing guns on campus,” Pritchard said. “There is a bill that is not being heard that deals with guns being concealed.”

Pritchard said he would have to see what the bill entailed before gathering an opinion on it.

“I am concerned with the frequency that guns are used in our society,” Pritchard said. “We put safeguards in place to require FOID [Firearms Owner Identification] cards and background checks. Security on campus is an issue and the administration is looking at ways to protect students, whether they’re in high school or college.”

According to CNN, a group from the University of Cincinnati – Students for Concealed Carry on Campus – supports making guns legal on campuses. The group has over 25,000 members, led by sophomore Michael Flitcraft.

“What is a better situation: Someone coming in and shooting in a classroom [or] someone in that classroom having a chance to defend their life and take out that threat?” Flitcraft said in a CNN interview.

Junior sociology major Julian Jackson does not see a problem with allowing concealed weapons on campus if it is controlled.

“It’s very important that guns get into the right hands,” Jackson said. “We don’t need people running around, playing jokes and having gun fights on campus. As long as we don’t have gun fights, I don’t have a problem with concealed weapons.”

NIU graduate student Micaela Kavanagh has a different view on concealed weapons being allowed on campus.

“Personally, I would say no,” Kavanagh said. “I think it usually makes a place less safe with more opportunities for people to get angry and for guns to be stolen.”

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