By Tiana Foster and Robert Preston Jr.
The controversial campus carry law will go into effect July 1. Just how will the law affect the two college campuses in Douglas? If you ask the presidents of both South Georgia State College and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College – which DouglasNow.com did – you won’t get very much information.
Gov. Nathan Deal signed the measure on May 4, which allows anyone with a concealed weapons permit to carry a firearm onto a Georgia’s public college or university system campus. There are, however, several exceptions – to the point that permit holders actually have very few places on campus that they can carry a firearm. To carry a firearm on a college campus, an individual must possess a concealed carry permit. And one of the requirements to hold a permit is a person must be 21 years old. That in and of itself will limit a number of college students from carrying.
Additionally, students and visitors can’t carry a weapon in a residence hall, administrative buildings or faculty offices, buildings where discipline hearings are taking place, sporting venues, childcare facilities on campus, and buildings/rooms where high school students are present – such as Move On When Ready students and the like (of which both campuses in Douglas have plenty).
DouglasNow.com asked both Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers, president of South Georgia State College, and Dr. Tina Anderson, president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, for comment on the bill. Dr. Sellers said little in the way of addressing the bill directly, instead deferring to a lengthy statement released by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. “Thanks for reaching out to us at South Georgia State College regarding our thoughts on the Campus Carry Bill. At this time, the only statement that we can give mirrors Chancellor Wrigley’s statement on this issue which can be found on the USG’s website. Have a wonderful day and please let me know if I may be of further assistance,” stated Dr. Sellers. She included a link to the Chancellor’s statement, which can be found at http://www.usg.edu/news/release/guidelines_for_the_implementation_of_house_bill_280
Dr. Anderson released a one-sentence statement through Wiregrass’s public relations department: “Our college will continue to follow the laws of the state. The college is working with the TCSG System Office to implement changes in the law by July 1st.”
Coffee County Sheriff Doyle Wooten released a statement as well regarding the bill: “I understand this new campus carry law has been controversial for many reasons. At the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, we support the Second Amendment and citizens’ rights to bear arms. At the same time, we are sensitive to the issues that could result from carrying firearms on college campuses. This bill goes a long way in addressing these issues. It allows citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights while minimizing any potential problems campus carry could cause. We are committed to keeping this community as safe as possible and that includes the campuses of South Georgia State College and Wiregrass Technical College. As always, we stand ready to enforce the laws of the State of Georgia and provide any resources we have that two important institutions may need.”
The Legislature considered approving this measure for five consecutive years. Last year Gov. Deal vetoed the measure and argued that it didn’t have enough boundaries and that college campuses have always been a gun-free environment to advocate for good learning practices.
Others went on to support the measure admitting that if concealed weapons were allowed on campus then students are given the chance to protect themselves.
Those who oppose the law have argued that concealed weapons on campus would promote an unsafe environment for attending students and faculty. They’ve also argued that allowing guns on campus would advance to more shootings, suicides and killings. Others fear that this law would make it easier for potential criminals to come onto a campus with a firearm.