Sept. 3, 2012
Kelly Stickney
[email protected]
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled March 5 that Colorado citizens with a concealed carry license are permitted to carry concealed weapons on campus, a decision that includes UCCS.
But on Aug. 16, the university issued new rules regarding concealed carry, having a housing contract that will not allow weapons in dormitories that house freshmen and banning guns from ticketed athletic and cultural events.
Concealed carry requires permit holders to be 21 or older, undergo criminal and mental health background checks and have physical and legal gun training.
Students who do have concealed carry are required to make sure their weapon is not visible at any time. Despite the precautions, some students are still against the ideas of weapons on campus.
“I really feel less safe with people with concealed carry on campus,” said Mikaila Ketcherside, a freshman on campus.
“I feel as though they’re not trained, and I know I need a permit, but we’re still young, and a lot of us are teenagers and hot-headed by nature. I don’t feel secure knowing there are hot-headed teenagers on campus with guns.”
Perhaps the largest concern on campus is the lack of information presented to students. A short email was sent out to students, and a printed version was posted at locations without Internet.
Still, students like Sarah Simco feel like they don’t have all the information. “I feel like I am not completely informed,” she said.
The chancellor and university offered details of the new regulations on the UCCS website before the start of the fall semester.
“The safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors is a top priority,” Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said in the statement issued Aug. 16.
“UCCS will implement all practices as directed by the CU Board of Regents with this priority in mind and in accordance with state and federal law.”
Specifics of the regulations regarding concealed carry can be found on the faculty and staff website (communique.uccs.edu).