Proposal to allow hide carry weapons in all UW buildings

The Campus Carry Act introduced by state Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, and Sen.

The UW Police Department issued a release Tuesday denouncing a recent proposed bill that would allow concealed carry on UW campus grounds and inside buildings, saying the change could put people at risk.

The circulation memo to state lawmakers describes how a Nevada college student was raped at gunpoint in 2007.

“The evidence does not support the idea that our campus would be safer if concealed firearms are allowed in our buildings”, UW-Madison police spokesman Marc Lovicott said in a statement.

Republicans have majorities in both houses of the Legislature. The bill’s author says that increasing the concentration of guns on a campus can help prevent such mass shootings. Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, announced the bill Monday and said in a memo the intent is to ensure college students can defend themselves should the need arise.

Winkler said research shows that it doesn’t appear that having guns on campus will lead to any significant reduction in mass shootings because of age restrictions to get a hide carry license.

The move comes after a gunman at was able to enter classrooms without facing armed resistance at Umpqua Community College (UCC) on October 1.

The agency went on to add its concern that “allowing concealed weapons inside a building like Camp Randall Stadium, filled with 80,000 people, creates a major security issue”.

UW-Milwaukee’s student body president has written a letter to lawmakers asking they reject the bill.

“I think it’s unsafe”.

“That would not make me feel very safe knowing that my professor has a gun because maybe someone else would also bring a gun to try and counteract that so they feel more safe.” said Tyler Leslie, a UW-La Crosse junior.

The proposal, to be filed in both chambers this week, repeals current Wisconsin law that prohibits carrying, possessing, or using any risky weapon on university or technical college lands, buildings or facilities.