Guns On Campus Bills On Hold

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Bills to let professors and some
students carry guns on Alabama's college campuses got delayed today
by a state Senate committee chairwoman. State Senator Vivian Davis
Figures of Mobile had put the bills on the agenda for the Senate Education
Committee. But then she decided to postpone action and have a
public hearing after having several people express concerns about
the bills.
The bills are sponsored by state Senator Hank Erwin. He began
working on the bills after 32 students were killed at Virginia Tech
in April. The bills attracted more interest after five students
were killed last week at Northern Illinois University.
One of Erwin's bills would prohibit any state-supported college
or university from banning professors from carrying firearms on
campus. The professors would have to get the proper gun permits,
though.
His other bill would allow students at state-supported colleges
and universities to carry guns under certain circumstances. They
would need the proper licenses, a clean record, a completed gun
course and participation in a campus ROTC program.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)