Campus Gun Ban Draws Fire
Rasheed Lawal, a fifth-year physiology and international affairs student, speaks during a student government meeting convened in June to discuss the campus ban on concealed weapons. Mark Leffingwell courtesy Boulder Camera
CU has no authority to prevent people from carrying concealed weapons on campus, according to an April ruling by the Colorado Court of Appeals, which set off a campus debate regarding guns.
In June the CU student government voiced its support for the long-standing campus ban, which stretches back to 1970 when CU banned guns on campus, with the exception of law enforcement personnel. Other groups supporting the gun ban are the Intercampus Student Forum, which represents students on all four CU campuses, and the Boulder Faculty Assembly.
“I feel that the constitution and liberty don’t matter when you’re dead,” said junior Kristine Gutierrez during a student government open forum. “It’s not about having rights — it’s about safety.”
But other students disagree. Junior Colby Kamin said the issue was not about more guns on campus but allowing properly trained individuals to practice their right to bear arms.
CU regents voted 5-4 in the summer to keep the weapons ban on campus and appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court to overturn the Court of Appeals concealed weapons ruling. The divided regents cited their right to set university policy and the safety of students and faculty.