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University Employees Can Soon Go Armed In Tennessee, After Governor Allows Bill To Become Law

Campuses like Middle Tennessee State University will soon allow employees to carry a firearm if they have a state-issued permit.
Lauren Frederick
Campuses like Middle Tennessee State University will soon allow employees to carry a firearm if they have a state-issued permit.

Hear the radio version of this story.

Guns will be allowed on the campuses of public colleges in Tennessee starting July 1. A bill that allows employees with a carry permit to go armed on campus became law without the signature of Gov. Bill Haslam, who was pressured to veto the legislation.

"I have long stated a preference for systems and institutions to be able to make their own decisions regarding security issues on campus, and I again expressed this concern throughout the legislative process this year," Haslam said in a statement meant to explain his thinking.

In explaining the reasons for avoiding a veto, Haslam cited some protections that were added to the bill, like one that protects universities from lawsuits if there's a shooting on campus.

Administrators still aren't in favor about the prospect of more firearms on site.

“Our position has been and continues to be that we do not support, as a general premise, any measure that would increase the number of guns on college campuses other than already are allowed by law," University of Tennessee president Joe DiPietro said in a statement.

Yet school officials also saw that the "guns-on-campus" legislation was broadly supported by Republican lawmakers, so they proposed amendments. One requires employees who intend to go armed to notify campus police first.

At Middle Tennessee State University, psychology professor Jerden Johnson said he questions the logic, no matter who has the guns.

“I don’t think it makes one safer," Johnson said Monday. "It just adds to the potential chaos and bad things happening.”

But some people will feel safer. MTSU student Kiana Chandler is one of them.

“We can’t be sitting here without a gun while other people have guns on campus," she said. "We want to be protected as well.”

Georgia's governor is also weighing whether to sign similar legislation. He's expected to make a decision this week.

Meanwhile, Haslam did sign legislation in April that makes it easier for both students and employees to have firearms nearby. The new law allows people to keep guns locked away in a parked car and prohibits public colleges and universities from punishing them for it. 

Reporter Lauren Frederick contributed to this story.

Copyright 2016 WPLN News

Blake Farmer
Blake Farmer is WPLN's assistant news director, but he wears many hats - reporter, editor and host. He covers the Tennessee state capitol while also keeping an eye on Fort Campbell and business trends, frequently contributing to national programs. Born in Tennessee and educated in Texas, Blake has called Nashville home for most of his life.