The vast majority of Arizonans oppose gun control, but on Wednesday the Arizona Board of Regents voted unanimously to ignore public sentiment and to oppose HB 2072 regarding guns on the campuses of Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona.
The only reason the Board offered in opposing the bills was that “the board is vested with the authority to govern the state’s public universities.”
According to the Board’s press release, the Board “will discuss relevant policy with the universities’ presidents and chiefs of police and explore measures to advance campus safety. One measure discussed included the potential of a ‘campus marshal’ program that might enlist former and active law enforcement, military and other highly trained personnel on campus to provide additional security.”
HB2072 provides:
A faculty member or registered student of a public university, college or community college who is carrying or transporting a firearm on the property of the public university, college or community college if the faculty member or registered student possesses a valid permit issued pursuant to Section 13-3112 and is registered with the institution’s administration indicating that the faculty member or registered student is armed and possesses a valid permit that is issued pursuant to Section 13‑3112.