A conflict between state law and public university power might lead to an increase in the presence of guns on MSU’s campus. The MSU Board of Trustees voted Friday to allow concealed weapons on campus, assuming the owner has the proper permits. Any person with a concealed weapons permit might bring a gun on campus, but not into any buildings, such as the dorms.
The board said it approved this measure to avoid conflicting with a state law. Allowing properly documented weapons on campus didn’t seem like a big enough issue for the university to fight the state on, so the trustees passed the measure. It’s worth pointing out the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University — all of which are public schools — still have outright bans on weapons across campus. If there was to be a quarrel with the state, it doesn’t seem like MSU would have to fight alone.
It’s likely the board was looking to avoid controversy by claiming state law as the reason to lift the ban. Perhaps it really did believe allowing concealed weapons would make campus safer, but didn’t feel the need to come out and say it to escape some backlash. If that was their reasoning, that’s fine. A large number of MSU students come from a background with guns and know how to operate them safely. Weapons are still banished from MSU buildings, so students still wouldn’t have to be worried about guns being in classrooms.
Tragedies like the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University shootings might seem like ancient history at this point, but both events are less than three years old. Gun safety at colleges is a sensitive subject to say the least. Hearing that MSU will allow more weapons probably won’t invoke a greater feeling of safety among students, but that apprehension should subside. Ultimately, this measure isn’t about preventing an attack; it’s about personal safety for the people who commute to campus. East Lansing might not seem like an area that warrants a concealed weapon, but many students commute to campus from areas with higher crime rates such as Lansing.
Maybe a student carrying a concealed weapon is worried their car might be stolen or that they may be mugged while on their way to campus. If that person is stopped by MSU police, they shouldn’t have to be penalized for something the state allows. To get a permit in the first place, gun owners must complete training designed to teach how to avoid using the gun in a problem situation, and then — if needed — to use it at the latest possible time. They are certified by the state to be responsible enough to handle a weapon safely, and the university shouldn’t have to worry about them being around campus.
Any possible increase in weapons on campus might be an uncomfortable thought for many. These weapons hopefully won’t make their way into classes or dorm rooms, and offenses there will be treated as harshly as they were before. The explanation is a little weak, but the Board of Trustees’ decision is still justifiable.
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