Local academics: No guns on campus

A recent proposal by an Arizona lawmaker to allow firearms on college campuses has drawn some intense crossfire from academics.

A bill, called SB1011 and supported by state Sen. Jack Harper (R-Surprise), would allow university and community college faculty who have state-issued permits to carry concealed weapons to bring firearms on the campus where they teach.

Larry Gould, Northern Arizona University-Yuma branch's campus executive officer, said he is not in favor of the idea. Gould noted the importance of not only being trained how to use a weapon, but when to use a weapon, too.

"Police academies train officers between 40 and 80 hours each year just to know when to use a firearm," Gould said. "I'm not in favor of extending the use to faculty, because we don't have the facilities to train people when it's proper to use a weapon."

Gould served as a detective in the Louisiana State Police from 1971 to 1985. He then taught criminal justice at several universities before taking his present post at NAU-Yuma.

Gould stressed that despite extensive training and frequent updated professional development, even police officers can occasionally use a firearm when they should not. He explained that firing a weapon amounts to a monumental decision that often requires split-second judgement. He added that he would not want to turn that responsibility over to civilians.

While Gould says he supports the possession of firearms in the home for self-defense, he said he felt being armed is inappropriate in a public setting such as a college campus.

In a prior Yuma Sun story, Sen. Jack Harper was quoted as saying: "It has been a long-time goal of mine to make sure there are no defense-free zones where criminals know they can go into an establishment and there will be no law-abiding citizens there that can legally protect themselves."  

While it is uncertain whether SB1011 will become law, Harper was previously successful in getting a measure through the Legislature last year that allows guns in bars, as well as restaurants that serve alcohol.

Llewellyn Young, NAU-Yuma assistant dean, said that from a personal perspective, he felt uncomfortable with either faculty or students being allowed to have firearms on campus. Young serves as the director of the Violence Prevention Program sponsored by the Department of Justice and in partnership with AWC/NAU-Yuma. He said the sight of firearms gives off the perception of more violence.

Lisa Nelson, NAU-Flagstaff director of public affairs, noted that a weapons-free campus constitutes a living and learning environment.

"The bottom line is that guns on campus increase the potential for even more tragic and devastating consequences," Nelson said.

John Edmundson, chief of police at Arizona Western College, said he takes issue with the proposal because with so many full and part-time faculty at AWC, it is difficult to determine who is faculty and who is not.

Edmundson added that in a high-stress situation police must make a lot of decisions very quickly, and if someone does not obey a command in a chaotic situation, police may focus on the wrong target.

"What also worries me about guns on campus is even if the weapon is concealed, if it's not concealed on a person but a briefcase or backpack, you have potential for theft or accessibility by the wrong person."

Johnny Cruz, University of Arizona director of media relations, said that since he has not read the text of SB1011 he declines to comment on its specifics.

However, Cruz did note that a shooting that took place on the UA campus eight years ago when three faculty were slain is still a sensitive issue for people who were there at the time. He added that "a weapons-free environment is the safest one for our community."

William Roller can be reached at wroller@yuamsun.com or 539-6858.