MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The sponsor of a bill to let professors
and some students carry guns on Alabama's college campuses believes
the legislation likely will draw more support after a suicidal
gunman killed five people at Northern Illinois University.
The new law proposed by Montevallo state Senator Hank Erwin has
been sitting in the Senate Education Committee and awaits a
hearing. He said some universities hope to keep his bills from
getting out of committee and going to the Senate for a vote.
Colleges and universities generally ban handguns on campus.
The Alabama Higher Education Partnership, a lobbying group for
Alabama universities, has not taken a position on Erwin's
legislation. But David Lanoue, chairman of the political science
department at the University of Alabama, said guns in classrooms
could create an intimidating atmosphere.
Erwin, a Republican, said he started working on the legislation
after 32 students were killed by a gunman last April at Virginia
Tech.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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