Second Amendment Week starts with a bang
OSU's College Republicans group aims to prove that allowing guns on campus could potentially save lives
Shanna Woodruff
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: News
Should guns be allowed on campus?
OSU's College Republicans group has organized Second Amendment Week to help answer this question from Monday, April 13 to Friday, April 17. The week includes events such as influential speakers, a concealed weapons class, a rally and a raffle to win a rifle.
In addition to teaching students about the history and importance of gun rights, there is an even bigger concern about gun rights on campus that this week will be addressing to some extent.
Oregon state law states only the Legislature has the right to regulate concealed weapons (ORS 166.17). OSU has banned all possession or use of firearms on campus regardless of if the person has a concealed weapons permit, creating a direct conflict with state law.
"Oregon law is very clear. Universities cannot regulate guns, only the Legislature," said Senator Brian Boquist on the issue. "However, expecting honesty from Oregon University System officials is like expecting the fox in the hen house to tell you he is guarding the chickens from harm."
The president of the College Republicans, RJ Friedman, plans to present a resolution to the ASOSU Senate Tuesday night to address this issue. At the previous senate meeting it was agreed that OSU should abide by all Oregon state laws.
"I don't think that it's right that the university can circumvent the law," said Friedman, a junior in political science. If the university is regulating the possession of firearms on campus, then according to Friedman, it is not obeying Oregon state law.
"I just look at it where we have a constitution with a rule of law and we have an institution that changes the rule of law," said Cory Rea, a junior in electrical engineering.
The purpose of the Second Amendment Week is not necessarily to resolve this concern, but to help students understand more about gun rights and how they affect them.
"It will be educational for students in several ways. They will learn about their rights, then they will learn how different levels of government either protect or deny them their rights," Boquist said.
OSU's College Republicans group has organized Second Amendment Week to help answer this question from Monday, April 13 to Friday, April 17. The week includes events such as influential speakers, a concealed weapons class, a rally and a raffle to win a rifle.
In addition to teaching students about the history and importance of gun rights, there is an even bigger concern about gun rights on campus that this week will be addressing to some extent.
Oregon state law states only the Legislature has the right to regulate concealed weapons (ORS 166.17). OSU has banned all possession or use of firearms on campus regardless of if the person has a concealed weapons permit, creating a direct conflict with state law.
"Oregon law is very clear. Universities cannot regulate guns, only the Legislature," said Senator Brian Boquist on the issue. "However, expecting honesty from Oregon University System officials is like expecting the fox in the hen house to tell you he is guarding the chickens from harm."
The president of the College Republicans, RJ Friedman, plans to present a resolution to the ASOSU Senate Tuesday night to address this issue. At the previous senate meeting it was agreed that OSU should abide by all Oregon state laws.
"I don't think that it's right that the university can circumvent the law," said Friedman, a junior in political science. If the university is regulating the possession of firearms on campus, then according to Friedman, it is not obeying Oregon state law.
"I just look at it where we have a constitution with a rule of law and we have an institution that changes the rule of law," said Cory Rea, a junior in electrical engineering.
The purpose of the Second Amendment Week is not necessarily to resolve this concern, but to help students understand more about gun rights and how they affect them.
"It will be educational for students in several ways. They will learn about their rights, then they will learn how different levels of government either protect or deny them their rights," Boquist said.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
kyle kelley
posted 4/15/09 @ 8:45 AM PST
Its time for the schools in this state to realise they are not the law makers,we all follow the laws like it or not they are no differant. I don't like seat belt laws but I wear a seat belt, I don't like some of the smoking laws but obey them anyway. (Continued…)
Aaron S.
posted 4/15/09 @ 7:47 PM PST
The poll on the website that I took before reading this article asked the question "Do you believe that anyone should be able to legally carry a concealed weapon on campus?"
What kind of a question is that? It's not even the issue at hand. (Continued…)
Bill Brooks
posted 4/20/09 @ 7:14 PM PST
First, even the legislators can't regulate firearms here in Oregon, let alone schools (except private schools - private schools can do what they want). (Continued…)
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