Bill allowing guns on college campuses clears House

ATLANTA - More guns could soon make their way onto Georgia's college campuses--legally.

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The House of Representatives passed the "campus carry" bill Monday, which would allow anyone with a concealed carry permit to bring their guns onto property owned by the state's public colleges, universities and technical schools.

"Criminals, thugs, terrorists--when you put up that gun-free zone, well they know they can come in," said Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, who supports the measure.

House Bill 859 would not allow people to bring firearms to sporting events nor student housing, including fraternity and sorority houses. 

Democrats vehemently opposed the legislation, saying it will not improve safety and will force colleges to spend more money on additional security measures.

"The presence of concealed weapons will only increase the public safety risk to campus communities and are inappropriate in an educational setting," argued Rep. Karla Drenner, D- Avondale Estates.

The state's powerful Board of Regents, which governs the University System of Georgia, has long opposed changes to existing law that prevents weapons on its campuses.

The House passed the bill, 113 to 59, despite that objection.

Several recent armed robberies at the library on the Georgia State University campus in downtown Atlanta renewed backers' argument for carrying on campuses. Rep. Rick Jasperse, R- Jasper, said the change would prevent Georgians from becoming victims of crime on college or university campuses.

"We can put our heads in the sand and say nothing is happening but the numbers don't lie," Jasperse said

GSU students are split on whether guns would make them feel safer on campus.

"I can see the intent behind the idea," said Bakithi Nkomo, a junior from Rex, Ga.  "But essentially if you're looking at it from an objective standpoint, it's like we're kind of solving guns with more guns, which kind of presents its own issues."

Senior Hunter Gilkenson, however, said as the owner of a carry permit, he does not believe his right to protect himself should change based on the venue.

"I do feel that if someone can come into a restaurant that I'm eating at with a gun, I have the right to protect myself there," Gilkenson explained.  "What's the difference between there and here on campus?"

Existing law requires license applicants to be at least 21 years old and complete a background check; people are ineligible based on hospitalization for mental health or alcohol or drug abuse in the last five years or because of conviction for certain felonies or misdemeanors.

A law approved in 2014 expanding where Georgians can carry guns included college campuses when it first passed the House. But the Senate removed that provision before its own approval of the bill.

House Speaker David Ralston believes the bill has a better chance in the Senate this year because of the concern from people across the state.

"I think they will maybe give it a different look than they chose to a couple of years ago," Ralston said.