MPSA Statement in Opposition to “Campus Concealed Carry Laws”
October 21, 2015 – Since 2011, states including Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin have enacted “Campus Concealed Carry Laws” that allow licensed handgun owners to bring concealed weapons onto college campuses. The
specifics vary substantially from state to state. For example, Arkansas allows universities to “opt out” of the law, and so far every school in Arkansas has done so. On the other hand, Texas law allows all licensed handgun carriers to bring concealed handguns on campus, as well as into campus buildings, and includes criminal penalties if university administration does not comply with the state law.
The free expression and exchange of ideas is a central part of a student’s educationalexperience and the MPSA leadership believes it will be harmed by these laws. Moreover, the laws prevent universities from taking reasonable measures to ensure the personal safety of faculty, staff and students. These laws have met with opposition from manywithin the academic community and the law enforcement community.
As such, the MPSA opposes “Campus Concealed Carry Laws” and urges the repeal of the state laws to allow Institutions of Higher Education the latitude to determine the bestmethods to protect their campuses, classrooms and dorms.
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The MPSA was founded in 1939 and is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship in all areas of political science. The purposes of the MPSA are to promote the professional
study and teaching of political science, to facilitate communications between those engaged in such study, and to develop standards for and encourage research in theoretical and practical political problems. As such, MPSA is a nonpartisan association.
It does not support political parties or candidates.
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